Last Train to Toronto: A Canadian Rail Odyssey

This is a travel book of the very best kind, because it not only gives information and personal impressions of places and people, but with its fine writing and beautifully vivid descriptions, puts us right there. The author takes his time, and by doing so, allows us to get a more complete and deeper understanding not just of the Canadian railroad system (which used to be the finest in North America) but of the country, its citizens and its problems.Of course, it strongly appealed to the gypsy in [...]

An excellent book with just the right amount of history and current Canadian culture and natural history with engaging biographies of people he met on his rail travels. His travels occurred just before PM Brian Mulroney cut back service on the VIA system leaving many poor and elderly in the lurch. It also disrupted a bond that the railroad formed to hold the country together. It also saved me from going to such places as Churchill, Manitoba to see the polar bears. His account of his encounter wa [...]

Most Americans tend to think of Canada as simply an extension of the United States; the only difference being their use of different colored currency. Americans also know very little about the history of Canada and how their political system works. While the primary purpose of this book is to anecdotally describe the author's rail travels through Canada prior to VIA Rail's 1990 cutbacks, it is also a condensed yet informative lesson in Canadian history and politics. As the author travels each of [...]

Interesting book from a rail enthusiast and somewhat disenchanted American who decides to ride 20,000 miles over Canadian rails, chronicle the people he meets and detail the historical and current day politics of Canada, especially those surrounding the construction of the rails.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading about, the history of Canada's railways and about the people who the author meets along the way.

A lovely account on Canadian history and its rail.