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As a frequent train traveler, I am unabashed in my love for Amtrak, but I know that today's trains lack the glamor and luxury of trains from the golden age of train travel decades ago. So when I heard about vintage train rides to upstate New York with Hudson River Rail Excursions, I jumped at the chance to go.
The journey on a 1949 train car ended up being one of my all-time favorite experiences in NYC—equal parts awe-inspiring and relaxing. These vintage trains date back to the 1940s when they boasted modern amenities and the most talented staff to cater to the highest of society, so getting to experience one of these relics was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Let me walk you through it, but first, if you're inspired to get tickets (starting at $179/person), you can do that right here. Fair warning that tickets are only on sale through March 2 and then these trips will be paused indefinitely, so I'd recommend doing it now.
RECOMMENDED: Let me tell you—I spent six hours underground at a midtown subway station. You should, too.
The trip began at Moynihan Train Hall, a place I've visited frequently. Typically, as I stand and wait in the packed train hall, I gaze longingly at the Metropolitan Lounge full of fancy people sitting daintily on a balcony and eating off of actual plates. Meanwhile, I stuff a bagel sandwich into my mouth while balancing my luggage and trying not to break a sweat. On this experience, though, I got to be one of those fancy people. I felt like a Rockefeller as I ate my egg sandwich, fruit bowl and a latte (all complimentary!) on a plush banquette in the well-appointed lounge.
After that and already feeling relaxed, it was time to board. Here's how it works: The Hudson River Rail Excursions vintage train cars are hitched to a regular Amtrak train that's going on its daily route. In our case, that was a route to Albany. Three vintage train cars were in use during my trip, and we were seated at a first-class reserved table for four on the Swift Stream car. The table was spacious, and the bench seats were comfortable, but the real stunner was the views of the Hudson River outside of the window. I also found myself admiring all the vintage details—a big metal ash tray, a rounded booth and retro lettering, in particular.
As soon as we sat down, the staff—dressed in time period-appropriate attire of crisp white shirts and bowties—served soft drinks. During the ride, we heard expert narration from the staff, including dramatic tales about Bannerman Castle, which you can see off in the distance. There's even an app you can follow along with to learn more about points on the journey, like Sing Sing and Storm King.
Soon, it was time for lunch. I ordered a veggie sandwich and watched out the window as we passed towns like Poughkeepsie and Hudson. The icy Hudson River became a talking point for our fellow passengers. Everybody couldn't help but ooh and ahh over its majesty and its massive ice floes. I watched as the trees cast shadows on the snow and admired the jagged rocks of the Palisades.
While my group and I brought laptops on the journey to work with our mobile hotspots, I have to admit that I was glad when the signal cut out around Poughkeepsie, delightfully forcing us to turn away from our screens and actually talk to one another—what a throwback.
At the halfway point in Albany, we had time to explore a bit, so we hopped into an Uber and checked out some of the architectural sites like the Egg and the state capitol. We grabbed lattes along the town's cute Lark Street and picked up a bottle of local wine (did I mention the train is BYOB?!). Be sure to make a plan for your Albany layover, so you can make the most of it.
Back at the train station, I explored the other vintage cars on the train, including cozy sleeper cabins. Each train car has its own character and design. In addition to our Swift Stream, there's also the Hickory Creek and Tavern-Lounge No. 43. The Hickory Creek was known as the crown jewel observation car of the 20th Century Limited. It carried many famous people, earning it the moniker "The World's Most Famous Train." It was inaugurated in 1948 with a bottle of Hudson River water instead of champagne. Today, you can admire its ornate carpeting, couch seating and windows offering panoramic views. The Tavern Lounge car offers rows of plush seating along the windows, along with a few tables, all beneath a metal roof with green accents.
We had time to snap photos—and my kudos to the staff for using their expertise to help us pose. While it's certainly not a requirement to dress up, I was happy to have worn a gray knee-length dress with vintage vibes and a hat that I hoped would evoke the styles of the 1940s. These train rides are a great excuse to play dress up.
Eventually, it was time to take our seats and begin journey back to New York City, so we decided to pop open the wine we brought. We were served some fruit and cookies as we watched the sunset dip over the Hudson.
Finally, before we departed, there was one more historic surprise: a chance to write a postcard from the train. Back in the day, you could actually mail items from the train, which seems advanced even by today's standards. Though contemporary trains don't serve as functioning post offices, the staff provided stamps and promised to ship out our postcards from Penn Station for us.
As we thundered back into the tunnels leading to Penn Station seven hours later, our train whisked us from 1948 back to the reality of 2025. For a moment, we got to live in another era and imagine a different world. It led me to dream about the future of train travel. My hope is that someday our country's train system will look just as grand as it once did—and even become a viable alternative for more Americans. Perhaps the golden age of train travel doesn't have to be in the past.
A girl can dream, right?
