NEED TO KNOW
ROUTE The train runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles, USA
LENGTH AND TIME
1,995 miles (3,211 km); 2 days
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES
Jan: 57°F (14°C); Apr: 70°F (21°C); Jul: 84°F (29°C); Oct: 73°F (23°C)
Sunset Limited is the nearest thing to a transcontinental railway in the USA, currently running from New Orleans to Los Angeles. Until 2005, the train ran from Orlando to Los Angeles, and may do so again in the future. The journey offers a fascinating snapshot of the continent’s contrasting landscapes, from the swampy landscape of Lousiana to the vast expanses of Texan plains and the towering mountains of California. Students of engineering will enjoy the crossing, just outside New Orleans, of the fittingly named Huey P. Long Bridge – the longest railroad bridge in the USA, 5 miles (8 km) in length – which carries the train 135 ft (41 m) above the great Mississippi River.
Practical Information
Train Schedule Departs three times a week in each direction.
When to Go Early spring or late fall (roughly Feb to May & Oct), avoiding the worst of the summer heat, and hurricane season in the south.