Many thanks Ron for answering my query - it's great to hear from someone who has done the journey several times - thanks for sharing your experience.

Thanks to you too drandreww, although I think I already have my answer! I hardly ever travel by train in England so I'm afraid I can't advise you about scenic routes between Oxford and Scotland. Sorry I can't be more help. (P.S. I didn't mean to give you a -1 vote - pressed the wrong arrow and couldn't delete it)

The two best scenic areas are in the Sierras and in the Rockies, The Zephyr is timed such that when traveling in either direction, that you are scheduled to pass through both these two areas in daylight. The keyword here is "scheduled" as the Zephyr can be delayed and run behind schedule by hours, however traveling in May or June with the longer days and daylight savings time in effect, you have a good chance of viewing the best areas in either direction in daylight. I've been Chicago - San Fran twice and San Fran - Chicago once and didn't notice much difference in either direction.

Good question...I have only been the west to east route...ask Amtrak or get a route timetable online and check it for times going through Co and the ca sierras.. I will be going to oxford england next year for three weeks...any suggested one day scenic train trips from there up into Scotland? Cheerio