Just like the holidays, train travel is better when it's shared with friends and family. That's been true for our 42 years of business! So this Throwback Thursday we're going all the way back to 1981 with this retro pic!

Joe shared this awesome #TBT picture with us. He's the one on the right and little sis is in the middle. (Nice hats, guys!) While it might look like Halloween, this photo was snapped while Joe and his family were aboard a long-distance train from Illinois to Texas.

The year was 1981, and Amtrak was a young 10 years old. That was also the year our computer reservation system went into service. Since then we've continued to add new technology to our ticketing system.

Today you can book your reservation straight from your smartphone, thanks to our awesome app. There's also the option to use our website Amtrak.com to book your travel and check train statuses.

Other Amtrak milestones that occurred in 1981 include, the unveiling of our first Amfleet II cars, our Coast Starlight was converted to bi-level Superliner cars and a new Albany/Rensselaer station opened.

Do you have old family pics to share from your trips on Amtrak? We'd love to see them and share them on our blog! Just tag them #Amtrak on Instagram and let us know your story in the caption.

Read More All Aboard!: This Throwback Thursday was a Real Relic

We can't go all the way back to Plymouth, Mass., this Thanksgiving, but our 1980s dining car is just as good for Flashback Friday!

For the 42-year history of Amtrak, our dining cars have been a special feature on our long-distance trains. Not only are they the hub of activity, they're also great for special holidays like today.

Depending on where you are seated on our trains, your meal may already be included in your ticket price.

Passengers who have booked roomettes or rooms have their meals included and must bring their tickets with them to meals. Passengers riding in the coach section do not have their meals included but are free to walk to the dining car to make a reservation. So come on down!

It might surprise some travelers, but when dining on a train you are often seated with other passengers. This is a great opportunity to meet your fellow travelers, hear their stories and maybe even make a life-long friend.

So from #TeamAmtrak to you and yours ... eat up and leave the driving to us!

Who did you celebrating Thanksgiving with? Let us know in the comments below!

Read More Amtrak History: History.Amtrak.com

Ryan is an adventurer and the gnarly nomadic blogger behind the popular travel blog "Just Chuickin' It." Recently he found freedom and a few friends when he set off on a cross country train. What started in Washington, D.C., and ended in Seattle was an epic adventure with lots of selfies and a few slices of deep dish pizza along the way.

Ryan chronicled his adventures with blog posts full of deep thoughts and beautiful photos of the great American landscape.

"Like a zipper, the train pulled the fabric of America together," Ryan mused has he traveled across the country by train.  Read More →

Scenic train rides are awesome for novice and pro photographers because they allow for capturing breathtaking photos along the journey. Jordan Oram, known as the Maple Musketeer to his followers, recently took one such trip. "I teach, I speak, I ramble, and adventure," says the guitarist and photographer. Lucky for us, he also likes taking the train!

Here is Jordan's recent excursion on our Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles told through 7 mind-blowing photos.

1. Early in his trip, Jordan captured this melancholy view as his train crossed over the Columbia River. The Columbia River basin comprises some 260,000 square miles, from its headwaters in British Columbia, Canada, to its mouth at Astoria, Ore., bordering Washington and Oregon.

2. The scenery along the Coast Starlight route is unsurpassed. The dramatic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush forests, fertile valleys and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline provide a stunning backdrop for  the journey.

3. Along the 1,377-mile route, passengers traverse steep mountain ranges, explore rolling, gentle valleys and skirt along the beautiful sandy shores of the Pacific Ocean. The scenery is breathtaking, the cities are unique, and the history is fascinating.

4. The name "Coast Starlight" is derived from the former Southern Pacific Coast Daylight, the premier daytime train. The Starlight was an overnight all-coach train between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

5. The Pacific parlour car is a feature available for sleeping car passengers who want to stretch out and enjoy the spectacular views in comfort. This newly refurbished car features coffee and bar service, wine and cheese tasting, and an onboard theater.

6. The sightseer lounge is the perfect car for scenic viewing like this. Large panoramic windows and informal seating provide the perfect atmosphere for sightseeing and chatting with fellow passengers.

7. The dining car is a great place to meet fellow passengers and enjoy a delicious meal while the scenery glides by your window. Sleeping car accommodations include meals in the dining car while passengers ticketed in coach may purchase dining car meals separately.

Have you traveled on our Coast Starlight before? If so, what was your favorite part of the trip? Tell us in the comments below!

All Photos by Jordan Oram

Read More All Aboard!: Freedom at Her (Instagram) Fingertips

Your votes have been tallied from the far corners of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and the winner of this week's Photo of the Week is Ray, who captured this cool pic aboard the Texas Eagle!

Ray took an epic adventure all the way from Tucson, Ariz., to Detroit  aboard our long-disatance Texas Eagle, which makes daily trips between Chicago and Los Angeles via San Antonio, Texas. On the second half of the trip, he captured this awesome Instagram photo in the shadow of the St. Louis Arch from the observation car. Oh, hello, Arch!

Adventures on our Texas Eagle include sleeping car accommodations, a dining car serving fresh complete meals and spectacular views from a sightseer lounge car.

If you’d like to submit your best Amtrak pics for our Photo of the Week contest,  tag your photo #Amtrak. Each Friday we’ll pick the best one from that week to feature here on our blog!

From the country's sweet potato capital (North Carolina) to America's No. 1 producer of turkeys (Minnesota), Amtrak is taking customers to a lot of destinations this Thanksgiving!

Recently we asked you on Facebook and Instagram just how far you were traveling with us for mom's home cooking, and your answers even surprised us! (And we seriously love trains.) Here are the top 10 most interesting places people are going this Thanksgiving!

10. "I'm going home to Vermont for Thanksgiving!" -Josh Farber
Route: Vermonter (seems appropriate to us)

9. "Home to Chicago!" -Sam Perez
Routes: Michigan Services, Lincoln Service, Hiawatha

8. "Louisiana!" -Amy Utter
Route: City of New Orleans

7. "All the way from California to West Virginia." -Barbara Schipke
Routes: California Zephyr & Cardinal 

6. "Next door, and I wouldn't have it any other way!" -Andrew Love
Route: Hmmm ... maybe he lives next to a train station?

5. "I'm going from Salem, Ore., to Tacoma, Wash., so 165 miles!" -Katherine Brown
Route: Cascades or Coast Starlight

4. "I have kids coming in from New York and Washington, D.C.! I can't wait! Thanks, Amtrak!" -Mary Williams<---an official mom herself!
Route: Northeast Regional

3. "I'm heading from Wilmington, Del., to Winter Park, Fla.!" -Michael Sensor
Route: Silver Service

2. "I'm traveling 1,200 [for mom's home cooking], and it's worth every mile!" -Lisa Carvey McWhorter
Route: Perhaps our Empire Builder route, which is 1,377 miles long?

1. "I'm going to Wisconsin to see my mom, baby sister, dad and uncle all the way from Arkansas. #17hoursofpurebliss" -ToiNisha Griffin
Route: Texas Eagle

Now it's your turn! Where are you traveling on Amtrak this Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments section below.

For some people, riding on one of our long-distance trains is a dream come true. For Shelby, taking in the scenery aboard the Sunset Limited was just part of her adventure. Shelby boarded the train in New Orleans on her way to compete in the USTA National Tennis Tournament in Tucson, Ariz.

The Sunset Limited travels between New Orleans, Lo., through Bayou Country, southwestern deserts and the mountains of western California arriving in the City of Angels, Los Angeles.

“Thanks to Amtrak for being my partner,” says Shelby, “What a Ride!”

Thanks Shelby, for letting us play doubles. We make a great team!

Enjoy reading #AmtrakStories like this one? Share your own experiences with us for a chance to win prizes like free travel at AmtrakStories.com. For 31 days, we're highlighting our favorite travel stories in honor of the 31.6 million passengers who helped Amtrak reach its highest ridership record ever. 

Your votes have been tallied from the far corners of Twitter, Facebook and Google+! The winner of this week's Photo of the Week is Ben, who snapped this beautiful pic from an observation car looking out over the Puget Sound!

What makes the observation cars so cool is that they have floor to ceiling windows, giving them their nickname "sightseer lounges." They bring daydreaming out the window to a whole new level … literally. That’s because when you’re in one you’re actually on the second floor of the train.

Below the window-filled observation car is the café car. It (conveniently!) sells snacks like hummus, pizza, chips and beer and has its own booth seating area.

Meanwhile, back upstairs there’s no assigned seating and anyone can hang out in the observation car. There’s single seats, family seats for groups up to five and even tables for card games and laptops.

Thanks to the awesome views, it’s always a favorite for first-time riders and Instagramers.

Have you ever ridden in an observation car? Tell us about your trip in the comments below!

If you’d like to submit your best Amtrak pics for our Photo of the Week contest,  tag your photo #Amtrak. Each Friday we’ll pick the best one from that week to feature here on our blog!

Christopher Hainey, drummer for the band Maps & Atlases, recently learned the rhythm of the rails on a scenic 19-hour trip from New York to Chicago on our Lake Shore Limited.

“I've driven the interstate route between these two cities many times, and I can't say it's all that exciting,” he says. “[Taking the train] was kind of like taking the scenic route but actually getting to your destination quicker.”

But just how does one fill a 19-hour journey? Well, headphones are key. “It consisted of a little time listening to audiobooks and a lot of time spent being completely enamored with the view of upstate New York,” Christopher says.

Despite being in awe of the “spectacular” fall foliage that was the backdrop of the trip, Christopher is no first-time rider. In his home state of Illinois, he has lots of experience riding the Hiawatha service, which connects Milwaukee and Chicago.

Read more All Aboard!: 5 People Having Too Much Fun on Amtrak

For those adventurers who don’t have as much railroad cred as Christopher, he has a key piece of advice for traveling between New York and Chicago: “I would suggest catching the earliest train you can to make sure to spend as much of the trip in the daylight as possible, especially if you are planning on doing any photography along the way.”

According to him, traveling between the two metropolises by train is, “by far the most stress free and relaxing way.”

What do you enjoy about traveling between New York and Chicago on Amtrak? Do you have any insider tips? Tell us in the comments below.

In honor of her son’s 18^th birthday and high school graduation, Jessica and her son boarded Amtrak for a cross-country train trip beginning in sunny Los Angeles, California, and ending in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

White Sulphur Springs is home to the famous Greenbrier resort and is served by the Cardinal, which runs three days a week between New York City and Chicago, Ill.

“We were so very lucky to have Mama Janice taking care of us and making us laugh all the way,” says Jessica. Go #TeamAmtrak!

Have you ever celebrated a milestone on Amtrak? We recommend you go big like Jessica and her son and celebrate aboard a long-distance train!

Enjoy reading #AmtrakStories like this one? Share your own experiences with us for a chance to win prizes like free travel at AmtrakStories.com. For 31 days, we're highlighting our favorite travel stories in honor of the 31.6 million passengers who helped Amtrak reach its highest ridership record ever. 

Your Facebook votes have been tallied and you “liked” the California Zephyr over the Empire Builder as your favorite cross-country route.

Haven’t had a chance to experience the Zephyr yet? Here are a few things you can expect as captured by our Photo of the Week artists!

Making Family Memories: Dragana snapped this heart-warming pic while riding in the observation car. The 51-hour trip from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif., means tons of quality time onboard.

Scenic Views: Phil snapped this perfect pic while riding our California Zephyr this summer. No matter the season, the California Zephyr is one of our most popular trains!

Plenty to Blog About: Alex blogged throughout his trip on the Zephyr at his website, keeping fans & followers updated throughout his adventure from the Bay Area to Chicago.

Time for Quiet Reflection: Irvine caught this Moment of Zen aboard the California Zephyr as the train crossed over the route's breathtaking landscape, which includes the plains of Nebraska, the Rockies and even the desert of Salt Lake City.

What's your favorite part about riding our California Zephyr? Share your memories in the comments below or tweet us your #AmtrakStories on Twitter @Amtrak!

Your votes have been tallied from the far corners of Twitter, Facebook and Google+ and the winner of this week's Photo of the Week is this beautiful pic from the Observation Car of our Coast Starlight!

The Coast Starlight connects Los Angeles and Seattle on the West Coast. When you travel on it, you'll see the snow on the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta and some of the West Coast's coolest cities (Portland, Seattle, Bay Area).

If you've never ridden one of our long-distance trains, the Coast Starlight is definitely a must-see. It's a bi-level train, which means you can even ride on the second level of the train to enjoy the view from up top!

If you’d like to submit your best Amtrak pics for our Photo of the Week contest,  tag your photo #Amtrak. Each Friday we’ll pick the best one from that week to feature here on our blog!

Aaron Durand is more than a Twitter guru, he's also a life-long rail fan who recently enjoyed both passions while traveling on our Coast Starlight and Cascades trains. In fact, while friend and fellow photographer Jessica Zollman captured still images on her iPhone, he created this brief but beautiful micro-music video.

"A natural byproduct of being a rail fan are tunnels, trestles, and bends. I loved watching us pass through, over and around them all," he says. "For me, there are few things as pretty as light hitting rails."

During his 18-, 3- and 24-hour journeys, he spent time walking throughout the train, grabbing a snack in the cafe car, snapping photos and meeting fellow travelers.

"I met a cage fighter from Alaska on his way to Klamath Falls for the winter," Aaron says. "We met a charismatic gent at our dinner table on the way home who we wound up having the best time with. He was on his way to Mexico to watch dolphins. I swear."

For first-time train travelers, Aaron recommends one simple essential: bring a friend. "Traveling with a buddy was probably my favorite part," he says. "Also don't forget about the kind people of Amtrak! All of the staff on the train were exceptionally kind and charismatic."

Enjoy reading #AmtrakStories like this one? Share your own experiences with us for a chance to win prizes like free travel at AmtrakStories.com. For 31 days, we're highlighting our favorite travel stories in honor of the 31.6 million passengers who helped Amtrak reach its highest ridership record ever. 

This weekend the #AmtrakRivalry train leaves Chicago headed to East Lansing, Mich., to see the MSU Spartans take on the University of Michigan. And it will be chock full of football fans—from opposing teams. Yep, we’re doing it, folks!

But Michigan isn’t the only place for big #AmtrakRivalry games. Here’s the top college rivalries served by Amtrak.

6. Georgia Tech vs. Clemson University
ATL-iens can take the Crescent route up to Clemson, SC, to watch the Yellow Jackets and Tigers face-off. In fact, the route even serves another ACC team, the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. While the Wahoos might not draw the football crowds of the other two Crescent teams, they do have the No. 1 women’s soccer team in the country.

5. Harvard vs. Yale
There’s brains on trains for this #AmtrakRivalry! Our Northeast Regional connects both Boston and New Haven, Conn. And if you really want to get fancy, you can ride the Acela Express, our high-speed train, to watch these two top schools battle it out at The Game, which dates back to 1875.

4. University of Oregon vs. Oregon State
This #AmtrakRivalry gets its kicks on the Cascades route which connects the rival towns of Eugene, Ore., home the of University of Oregon Ducks, and Albany, Ore., of Oregon State. Luckily for these schools, the views are so awesome along the route, that passengers might not even notice their rivals are onboard.

3. Notre Dame vs. Purdue University
These football powerhouses are such rivals, they can’t even share the same route through the state of Indiana. Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind., is served by the Hoosier State while Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., has the Lake Shore Limited and the Capitol Limited. Technically that’s 2-1 in favor of Notre Dame. Is it too bold to declare them the winner?

2. Alabama vs. Anyone
Our #AmtrakRivalry list wouldn't be complete without calling out the No. 1 football team in the country--the Crimson Tide of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Not only does our Crescent route serve the town, you can see the stadium from your seat on the train. Roll Tide!

1. Oklahoma University vs. University of Texas
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the #AmtrakRivalry is no different. Austin, Texas, home of the hook ’em Horns, is on one of our longest routes, the Texas Eagle, which travels from Chicago all the way to LA. But the Sooners at Oklahoma University in Norman, OK, will not be out done. Their route, the Heartland Flyer, recently experienced record ridership growth for the year!

Is there an #AmtrakRivalry we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

The #AmtrakRivalry train will travel Nov. 1 from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing, Mich., one day before in-state football rivals Michigan State University and the University of Michigan face off in East Lansing. Follow the action and show your own school spirit by using the hashtag #AmtrakRivalry!

You love taking the train (we're looking at you, our 31.6 million riders!) and we love working to improve your travel experience. That’s why we’re bringing 130 new single-level long distance cars to the rails by 2014.

Manufactured by CAF USA in Elmira, N.Y., these new passenger cars have a little bit of everything and a whole lot of improvements. We could talk about how cool these new cars are forever, but to keep it short and sweet, here are the 5 facts you need to know about our new long distance cars.

1. How Many Cars?
The new cars include 25 sleeper cars, 25 dining cars, 25 baggage/dormitory cars and 55 baggage cars. Yes, that's a lot of new equipment, and we can't wait!

2. Can You Say Upgrade?
We know it’s been awhile since we've added new equipment, that’s why we’re modernizing the look and feel of our interiors (All together now, "ooohh, aaahh").

3. Hot and Cold or Somewhere In Between
We ride our trains, too. So we know the temp can be, shall we say, fickle. That’s why our new cars have more efficient air conditioning and heating systems to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Did we mention more outlets? Yup, that's right! Now you'll be able to plug in ALL of your electronic devices.

4. A Place to Hang Your ... Bike
Our new baggage cars even have bike racks, which means no more bike boxes!

5. Speedier
With the new design features, the cars traveling on the Northeast Corridor will have the ability to increase their top speeds to 125 mph. 

Check back here soon for more information about the future of our new cars. We can't wait to have you experience them first-hand.

Got questions about the new cars? Let us know in the comments, and we will do our best to answer all of your questions in upcoming posts. 

Read More All Aboard!: Roomette with a View (or Two)