The City of New Orleans train is an Amtrak service that travels overnight from Chicago all the way to New Orleans, a journey of 900 miles. We join this historic train in Memphis, a four-hour section of this beloved musical route, all the way to New Orleans. Our journey takes us through the musical crossroads of the Mississippi Delta, following the mighty river and passing snowy-white cotton fields, to New Orleans- also known as the 'Big Easy' and the birthplace of jazz. Along the route we ride in the shadows of musical giants like Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters before we finally pull into New Orleans at Union Passage Terminal.
Through the Deep South to Jackson
We board the City of New Orleans at
Memphis's beautifully restored Central Station and shortly after
leaving the city, we cross the Tennessee/Mississippi State Line.
The train passes through the Lower Mississippi Delta region, an
area dotted with historic farms and small towns with strong African
and Caribbean architectural influences. Our first stop is
Greenwood, the heart of the Deep South's cotton industry and once
home to notable Blues musicians including Mississippi John Hurt. We
pass through Yazoo City and continue to Jackson, noted for its
important roles in the American Civil War and the Civil Rights
Movement. Famed for its Gospel, Blues and R&B, Jackson also has
a rich musical heritage and the world famous Malaco Records
recording studio is located in the city.
To Louisiana
We catch a glimpse of the pine trees of the Piney Woods
as the City of New Orleans leaves Jackson and
continues south through the floral cities of Brookhaven and McComb
towards the Mississippi/Louisiana State Line. The architecture of
the towns and cities becomes more French in its influence as we
head through Louisiana to the exotic swamps of the bayou. Sit back
and enjoy the beautiful landscape of marshland, cypress trees and
waterways unfold, and be sure to keep an eye out for basking
alligators and pelicans.
Along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain to New
Orleans
We cross the Pass-Manchac waterway and head towards the
western shores of the vast Lake Pontchartrain. The City of
New Orleans hugs the shoreline for several miles as we
continue south and then east towards our destination, New Orleans,
an exciting, vibrant city noted for its historic French Quarter,
its streetcars, and for being the birthplace of Jazz.
Classic
(117 reviews)Historic tracks lead us on an unforgettable rail tour through the heartlands of great American music - from Nashville, home of country music, to the blues, soul and rock 'n' roll of Memphis and the expressive jazz of New Orleans. Starting our journey in North Carolina, we discover the music legends of Tennessee, then continue on the City of New...
