As the train leaves the platform and begins heading north, the skyscrapers, sirens and frenetic pace of the urban landscape melts away within an hour as we begin passing hillsides that sing in every shade of green in summer and sleep under a blanket of snow in winter. In a sense, the route is a journey not only through space but through time: a way to enjoy the picturesque Hudson Valley in much the same way that people have since the advent of the railroads.

Indeed, the region has been referred to as the birthplace of American tourism. While it was inhabited by Native American societies for thousands of years, holidaymakers began visiting the area in the late 18th century. And as the 19th century got underway, newly built railroads brought flocks of tourists to the area for activities such as skiing and horseracing, which still draw many travellers today.