I am think next summer we plan a trip to Windsor, Canada. Is there any train service to that part of Canada from the USA side? I know from sure we are stay at Harrahs Casino&Hotel in Windsor. What else is up in Windsor to do for 3 plus days? Do you need a Passport or Birth Cert? Better to Drive than take Amtrak or VIA?[?]
Crossing the border = Take your passport. Makes life easier on both sides of the border.
Your best bet would be to find the issue of Trains that has the Detroit “Trackside Guide.” I think that other magazine had a similar feature not too long ago.
I haven’t fanned down into Detroit, having mostly stuck to the area to the northwest, where I used to live.
I want some good spots watching trains in Windsor city itself? and i want some city tours and other fun stuff to do in Windsor, Canada.
Lots of train stuff to do, and Windsor is in Ontario and Ontario is in Canada, who ever heard of Omaha, U.S.A. ???
Railway map of Windsor;
http://www.proximityissues.ca/Maps/RAC-2004-Windsor.pdf
Railway Map of Ontario;
http://www.proximityissues.ca/Maps/RAC-2004-ON_sub.pdf
Topographical Maps of Canada;
http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/topo/map
Work your way down to Windsor and you’ll find decent topographical maps of the area.
There is no really good passenger service from Johnstown/Latrobe to Windsor. The shortest route takes you from Latrobe (flag stop) at 6:41 in the evening to Pittsburgh, where you change to the Capitol Limited for Toledo (arrive at 4:56 in the morning). Amtrak has a Thruways arrangement which gets you into Detroit at 7:35 a. m. Then, you can take a taxi, but you have to specify that you are going into Canada, as not all taxi drivers may go in and out of Canada (we learned this this past spring when we went from Chicago to Ottawa through Detroit. Never again for us). You may be able to work out the details of taking a bus from near the Amtrak station in Detroit to the tunnel and taking the tunnel bus into Windsor.
If you want to go by rail all the way, you go to New York City, leaving Johnstown at 8: 54 a. m., and arriving in the Big Apple at 4:54 that afternoon. You will have to spend the night in New York, and leave on the Maple Leaf at 7:15 in the morning, and arrive in Toronto at 7:36 that evening. You will have your choice of several trains to Windsor, from about 8:00 a. m., at noon, and 4:00 p. m. The trip takes about four hours.
Coming back is similar.
I have no recommendation for a hotel in New York City, but we like the Royal York in Toronto (across the street from the station).
Currently, you need at least a certified birth certificate and a government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license to satisfy customs and immigration.
I think its better to drive up there its only 6 hour drive.
Yes, unless you really want to go by train, driving is better. Forty years ago, I might have considered going by Toledo, but not now.
We might take a side to trip Chesterfield, MI to tour the Lionel Factory there.[tup]
Lionel in Chesterfield is no longer open for tours. BUT check out Wild Bills in Clinton Twp., MI.(http://www.wildbillstrains.com/ ) It is closer to Windsor and has a great layout.
Why did Lionel change that?
Windsor is also in Nova Scotia, and while there is freight service there, there is no passenger service there. Windsor, NS is also the birthplace of hockey. Just had to toot our horn!! [:D]