Planes may be the quickest mode of transportation, but there's something to be said about taking the scenic route aboard a train.
While you might have romantic notions about riding the rails, train travel isn't what it used to be. Gone are the days when people packed their belongings in posh trunks and drank champagne in luxurious dining cars.
To illustrate how glamorous train travel once was, we rounded up photos from the 1910s to the 1950s and compared them to images from the present day.
Let's take a look on some of them:
There have always been crowds, but they seemed more civilized.
Modern travelers are more impatient and don't always respect personal space.
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People used to pack up their lives in stylish trunks.
Even the youngest travelers had fancy luggage.
Today, people mainly travel with one suitcase and a smaller bag such as a backpack or tote.
Back in the day, there were porters to lug around that heavy luggage...
Now, travelers generally have to carry their own luggage.
Back then, there were paper timetables.
Today, most train stations use electronic displays.
Dining cars used to be the height of luxury.
Today's dining cars are more modest.
Train provisions are generally unpretentious.
Taking the train didn't mean you had to skip teatime.
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Travelers today take their coffee or tea on the road.
Sleeper cars were more like hotel rooms.
Today's sleeper cars are comfy, but not as opulent.
Before phones and computers, people entertained themselves with a good book.
People today use train time to get work done on their laptops. Most trains now boast WiFi.
With couches for seats, first-class cars were truly classy back in the day.
Today's first-class cars are spacious, but the seats are pretty standard.
