Runte asks us to reevaluate existing modes of transportation and to recognize the need for railroads-not just as a safe, efficient, and interactive means of travel, but also as effective stewards of our dwindling landscape and natural resources. Challenging the notion that speed is the only way to conquer our nation's expanse or that beauty does not matter, Runte reminds us of our love for distance and the joys of open space. Travel is not only about arriving at our destination quickly, but is also what we experience along our route. Recalling train travel experiences of his own, Runte invites us to interact as we travel, to look out the train window at our country, and to care passionately about the landscape we see.

Noting our own history as well as Europe's, Runte points out what has gone wrong with the U.S. railroad system and calls us all to task: railroad companies, Amtrak, the U.S. government, environmentalists, economists, politicians, railroad historians, and ordinary citizens. As a true visionary with a deep respect for the land and its people, Runte asks us to open our eyes and our minds to the idea that beauty could once again be part of our daily lives. He gives us hope that railroads we so carelessly threw away may still be restored to preserve the remaining glories of our continent.