New England

• The Mount Washington Cog Railway (thecog.com), in Bretton, New Hampshire, takes visitors up the world's oldest steam-driven cog railway to the top of New England's tallest mountain. Passengers receive panoramic views of foliage across New England. The Berkshire Scenic Railway (berkshirescenicraliroad.org) takes passengers on a round-trip tour between the Massachusetts villages of Lenox and Stockbridge. Trains depart from Lenox Station (built in 1903) and pass through the fall foliage along the Housatonic River in restored passenger cars from the 1920s.
  
  

Midwest

• The Branson Scenic Railway (bransontrain.com), in Branson, Missouri, takes passengers on a 40-mile trip through the Ozark foothills, passing through tunnels and crossing bridges and trestles. The train features three dome cars with panoramic views ideal for fall foliage. The train departs from the 1905 train depot in downtown Branson. The Toonerville Trolley Train (superiorsights.com) takes guests through Tahquamenon Falls State Park, on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on an authentic narrow-gauge railroad dating from 1927. As passengers enjoy fall foliage, they may catch sight of bears, wolves, moose and other animals.
  
  

South

• The Cass Scenic Railroad (cassrailroad.com) takes passengers through Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, West Virginia, to Whittaker Station, where passengers may leave the train to explore an authentic logging camp, take in the views, and/or eat lunch. In fall, the round trip passes through a red and gold wilderness that is home to moose and eagles. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (gsmr.com), based in Bryson, North Carolina, travels a 19th-century rail line that runs along the side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The route crosses through valleys and river gorges and includes spectacular fall foliage.
  
  

West

• Pike's Peak Cog Railway (cograilway.com) based in Manitou Springs, Colorado, travels 9 miles along a route that includes cascading streams, giant boulders, waterfalls and bright fall foliage before reaching the top of Pike's Peak. Passengers will likely see marmots and bighorn sheep during the journey. Mt. Ranier Scenic Railroad (mrsr.com), which leaves from Mineral, Washington, takes passengers through forests and glens along the base of snow-capped Mt. Ranier. Visitors will experience fall foliage along the banks of mountain streams and along the sides of tall wooden trestles.