I have visited the great Railroad Museum they have in old Sacramento many times and it is really something. When I was a kid and my Father worked construction we crossed the country several times on trains and I still love the old steam engines over the modern more efficient ones. I did get to ride the Grapevine several times before they started using buses. Great scenery and several locomotives pulling.
Also riding the Santa Fe Special through the Raton Tunnels was exciting the first time or so. The conductors used to point out points so of interest and I could walk the length of the train and they would take me out on the back of the last car to watch the tracks behind us. I once even saw a small heard of buffalo. Flying is much easier and faster, but I still visit every railroad museum I happen to come across.
Ron