Taking A Train Ride Through a Gorge

Related: Read the Review of Our Wine Cruise on AmaKristina

By GERRY BARKER
Photos/Video by Gerry Barker

On Day Five of our river cruise on the AmaKristina, we are taking an "exciting and nostalgic steam train ride through the magnificent landscape carved along the Gorge du Doux" near Tournon, France. All true except for one thing: The steam engine is out of service, so we get the diesel variety. But that's okay -- the scenery is indeed magnificent.

The train boasts a lot of history. Work began in 1886, and took 1,000 workers five years to complete in 1891.  The cars date from 1891, and provide an open air, panoramic look at the gorge (which, by the way, passes a nudist beach).  Take a look (sorry --there are no views of the beach area):