Christmas Trains

Alberta Prairie Railway
Stettler, AB
• Saturday 06 December
Celebrate the Christmas Season on diesel powered rail excursion featuring full course turkey and ham buffet, hay rides, Christmas caroling and dancing. Reservations recommended.

Bear Creek Park Train
Surrey, BC
• Friday 28 November 2003 - Sunday 04 January 2004
Climb aboard the "Magical Christmas Lights" train and enjoy Christmas characters and other seasonal displays. Advance ticketing advised.

Halton County Radial Railway
Milton, ON
• Saturday 06 & Sunday 07 December
• Saturday 13 December
Kids of all ages will enjoy a ride on the Holly Trolley.

Kettle Valley Steam Railway
Summerland, BC
• Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 December
Bring the whole family to meet Santa and join in the fun on the Light Up Santa Train. Reservations required.

Le Train du Haut-Saint Francois
East Angus, QC
• Sunday 30 November
• Sundays 07, 14, 21 December
Kids of all ages will enjoy a ride on the Santa Claus Train. Check on train site for details nearer the date.

Port Stanley Terminal Rail
Port Stanley, ON
• Saturday 06 & Sunday 07 December
• Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 December
• Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 December
All aboard the Santa Express for a festive holiday ride. No further details available.

South Simcoe Railway
Tottenham, ON
• Saturday 06 & Sunday 07 December
• Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 December
• Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 December
Join Santa's annual fundraiser for Tottenham's community food bank as he visits with families and shares treats on steam train ride through winter countryside. Reservations required.

Spirit of Kamloops
Kamloops, BC
• Friday 19 - Tuesday 23 December
• Saturday 27 - Tuesday 30 December
• Friday 02 - Sunday 04 January 2004
Come for a "Dickens Christmas" ride.

York Durham Heritage Railway
Stouffville & Uxbridge, ON
• Sunday 30 November
Start your holiday season with a ride on the Santa Train. No further details available.

December 29, 2003

Restructuring plan for E&N still on track
Nanaimo Daily News

Sometime in the new year, a proposed restructured E&N Railway should hit a major milestone. Cowichan Lake Mayor Jack Peake, who has been leading efforts to develop a community railway, expects to see the Vancouver Island Corridor Foundation, made up of five regional districts and as many First Nations, acquire CPR's assets sometime in February or March. The plan requires getting agreements between the foundation, the Vancouver Island Railway (a consortium of user groups that will eventually run the railway), CPR, RailAmerica, Ottawa and Via Rail. "This is probably the most complicated business deal that was ever put together," Peake said. The Vancouver Island Corridor Foundation has applied for charity status so that it can issue tax receipts and once that is done, the foundation plans to acquire CPR's assets by issuing a tax receipt. It's not even sure how much those assets are worth -- somewhere between $30 and $75 million, Peake estimates. Once CPR's assets are acquired, the foundation would own the corridor, except for the portion owned by RailAmerica, which includes the stretch from Nanaimo to Parksville, and from Parksville to Port Alberni. "Our hope is that at some point in time, we will have an opportunity to take over these assets as well," Peake said. Once the E&N has changed hands, the Vancouver Island Railway company plans to make changes to the island's passenger service to make it more viable.

December 15, 2003

VIA RAIL CANADA'S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS GARNERS EUROPEAN AWARD

Vancouver, BC - VIA Rail Canada is the recipient of a 2002 Good Food Award from Saga Holidaymakers, a highly-respected European holiday operator. The award is presented in recognition of the quality, service, variety and food on Saga USA and Canada touring programs. The one rosette Good Food Award awarded to VIA is the highest recognition Saga bestows on a service provider. The recognition was presented for the West to East Canadian Rail Adventure featuring VIA's award-winning train, The Canadian.

This award is based on direct feedback from Saga Holidaymakers' customers. "VIA's most valued critics are our customers," said Joe Volk, Director, Western Services at VIA Rail Canada. "We are proud to receive this award and be recognized by our guests for our high standards. This is a reflection of the efforts of our dining car team, from our chefs and cooks who prepare the meals to the attendants who serve them and ensure that the entire dining experience is memorable in every way."

The dining experience is an important ingredient in VIA's "recipe" for success with Silver & Blue class. "Our menus are diverse and feature fresh, high quality ingredients to please all taste palates," said Paul Terpstra, on board Chef at VIA Rail Canada, and one of 20 winners of the Nestlé Canada Inc. Culinary Excellence Competition 2003 which took place earlier this year. "Including popular regional cuisine in our menu selections is part of our guests' travel experience." Paul was In the spirit of holiday giving, Chef Terpstra is sharing three of his award-winning recipes: Roast Turkey with Wild Rice, Sausage, and Apple Stuffing; Home Made Pumpkin Pie; and Ginger and Rum Glazed Ham (recipes available at http://www.viarail.ca/corporate/en_bkgdr_20031212_Recipe.html). The Canadian travels a beautiful three-day journey between Vancouver and Toronto starting on the Pacific coast, crossing the splendid Rockies and the western prairies, the picturesque lakelands of northern Ontario, and finishing its journey in Toronto. The Canadian's passengers have their choice of two classes of service: economy (coach) or Silver & Blue, featuring sleeping car accommodations and access to the domed observation car.

As Canada's national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient and cost- effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada's busiest corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. This year marks VIA's 25th year of connecting Canadians in over 450 communities across Canada. Demand for rail services continues to grow as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe and convenient travel choice. Passengers can book their tickets by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL, at kiosks in major Corridor stations, at www.viarail.ca or through their travel agent.

December 14, 2003

Spirit of giving by the boxcar-full
Entertainers ride Holiday Train to aid food banks

WHITEMOUTH -- Christmas crooner Tom Jackson explained he's giving out hugs as gifts this year, then waded into the crowd to greet children and adults who had come out to see CPR's Holiday Train. But Jackson got a bigger hug back when almost 400 people turned out in Whitemouth, population 200, on a cold, cold Friday night to donate to Canada's food banks and hear him sing. "Hi Tom," "Nice to see you, Tom," "We're your biggest fans, Tom," people called out, as if they knew him personally. And why not? Jackson is almost up there with St. Nick when Canadians think of Christmas. This is his fifth year performing on the CPR Holiday Train. His Huron Carole concerts to raise money for the needy are in their 16th year. "To me, I discovered the gift was in the giving," Jackson said after he was back on the train. "I discovered that this kind of work is a great addiction. It's the bigger reward than anything else on the planet." Joining Jackson on this year's cross-Canada Holiday Train is Brandon country singer Amanda Stott, singer Beverly Mahood, and Brad Johner of the Johner Brothers. They are performing from a boxcar that opens up into a stage. The music is piped but their voices are authentic. The concerts last from 20 to 30 minutes. Temperatures hovered around -20 C on Friday night. Fragments of ice crystals sprinkled down, more like decoration than an actual snowfall. Many bundled-up children watched the concert from a parent's shoulders. About 50 people watched from atop a flat-bed trailer surrounded by hay bales, including members of the nearby Whiteshell Hutterite Colony.

CPR spokesman Rick Poznikoff said Whitemouth is one of the smallest communities in which the train will stop, but it produced one of the best crowds -- comparable to the turnout in small cities like Sudbury, Ont., he said. "How often do you get a free concert in the middle of nowhere?" said Madeline Pelletier, who drove 35 kilometres with husband Andy to see the concert. The Whitemouth 4-H Club and Whiteshell Hutterite Colony choirs also gave outdoor performances. The 4-H Club went caroling after the Holiday Train left. The only admission to the concerts is the personal admission that you are fortunate in this life and can spare foodstuffs for others. "We brought two bags of macaroni, two spaghetti sauces, a cake mix and two tins of soup," said Lori Bachman, who moved from side to side to keep warm while three-year-old daughter Brittany sat on her shoulders. At the previous stop in Kenora, resident Orit Moore dug into her cupboard of organic food. "I thought, these people don't have a lot. Why should I bring junk?" said Moore, who brought "lots of beans, lots of consomme, pasta, dried potatoes." Moore tried keeping her two-month-old son Elliot warm by standing near one of the fire barrels. Gloria Redner was collecting foodstuffs for Kenora's Salvation Army for hampers to give out this Christmas. At the last minute, her husband, Val, discovered he couldn't make it. "He's manning a kettle. Someone didn't show up," she explained. The Redners weighed their van before and after food donations at the Holiday Train concert. Kenora residents donated 250 kilograms of food in half an hour. This is the fifth year the Holiday Train, decked in Christmas lights and Christmas trees, has chugged across Canada, collecting food and donations for the needy. In the first four years, it collected 166 tonnes of food and $1.3 million in cash donations. It's the second year on the train for Amanda Stott. "The biggest impact for everyone (associated with the train) is seeing the kids. They just love to see trains," she said. The biggest drawback? "Getting bruised in the shower" while the train's moving, Stott joked. The benefits include "getting to sing Christmas carols, and getting to meet with other artists, and we've become really great friends. And Tom does so much for the food banks, so the bruising I can handle," Stott said. Whitemouth has been trying the past two years to get trains to stop blowing their whistles at the public crossings in town. But when people heard about the Holiday Train, the local Lions Club lobbied the railway company to visit their burg. "This is something for a small town. We really appreciate it," said Don Nichol, reeve of the rural municipality also named Whitemouth.
The train arrived in Winnipeg around 9:15 p.m. It continued west with stops in Portage la Prairie and Brandon yesterday. Holiday Train sponsors include Hudson's Bay Company, General Electric, IMC Global, and Consolidated Fastfrate. A special trip was arranged for Winnipeg based media by Rail Travel Tours onboard the Holiday train to support the CPR’s commitment to food banks across Canada. If you would like to enjoy a special Canadian winter rail journey Across Canada with a stop in Winnipeg, MB or Jasper, AB contact Rail Travel Tours at 1-866-704-3528

December 1, 2003

Via Rail and Westjet Sign Agreement Offering Highly Flexible Fares Across Canada

CALGARY- VIA Rail Canada and WestJet announced today that they have signed an agreement, to provide travellers with "excursion-rate", multi-modal fares to destinations served by VIA and WestJet. Brewster, one of Canada's leading tour operators will be the exclusive sales agent for these package tours. Travellers will be able to combine rail/air travel with Brewster tour packages that include sightseeing and hotel stays. "Our shared goal is to provide customers with a seamless service that makes travel easier", said Steve Del Bosco, VIA Rail's vice-president, Marketing. "VIA is extremely pleased to partner with such a successful Western based airline. Our agreement with WestJet allows us to combine the strengths and benefits of air and rail travel to offer a flexible alternative at attractive fares for passengers who want to make the most of their travel time across Canada." Packages will go on sale in January for the 2004 winter touring season. Tours will include the following destinations: Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal and Moncton. Bill Lamberton, WestJet's Vice President, Marketing and Sales, said today: "This is another opportunity for WestJet to provide our guests with more flexibility and quality partnerships. This ultimately benefits our guests as WestJet and VIA offer Canadians one of the best all-around views of the country we live in at an affordable price."

VIA Rail Canada operates Canada's national passenger rail network, with 480 trains weekly on 14,000 kilometres of track, connecting more than 450 Canadian communities from coast to coast. For more information visit VIA's website www.viarail.ca or call 1-888-VIA-RAIL.

WestJet serves the 24 Canadian cities of Victoria, Comox, Vancouver, Abbotsford/Fraser Valley, Prince George, Kelowna, Grande Prairie, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Windsor, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Moncton, Halifax, Gander and St. John's. WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol WJA.

For further information: Media Contacts: Catherine Kaloutsky, Senior Officer, Public Affairs, VIA Rail Canada, Toronto, Catherine_Kaloutsky@viarail.ca, (416) 956-7683 ; Siobhan Vinish, Director, Public Relations & Communications, WestJet, Svinish@westjet.com, (403) 444-2615; Jim Fraser Brewster, (403) 762-6704

December 1, 2003

Prototype locomotive for Great Canadian Railtour Company's proposed expansion of service arrives in Vancouver
Diesel Multiple Unit carries latest technology and allows efficient servicing for the proposed new route for the Rocky Mountaineer

VANCOUVER- The prototype locomotive proposed for passenger service by Great Canadian Railtour Company (GCRC), owners and operators of the world renowned Rocky Mountaineer, was unveiled today, on the site where the Company will soon announce the location of their new Vancouver train station. Last week, GCRC announced their intention to participate in a request for proposal (RFP) for a passenger rail service on the BC Rail route between North Vancouver and Prince George. The services proposed by GCRC would see the introduction of the Whistler Mountaineer service operating between North Vancouver and Whistler. An additional Rocky Mountaineer service departing from Whistler would utilize Prince George as an overnight stop for travellers and extend the current Rocky Mountaineer along the BC Rail and CN routes to Jasper, Alberta. As part of a long-term strategy to develop tourism initiatives in British Columbia, GCRC will also operate 35 train excursions from Prince Rupert in 2004 to support the cruise ship program being developed by the Prince Rupert Port Authority. These excursions will assist GCRC in accessing the possibility of utilizing CN Rail's network between Prince Rupert, Prince George and Jasper. The Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) shown to invited guests today, is the only rail car of its kind in North America. It is a state of the art self-propelled passenger locomotive, complete with dome windows allowing for unparalleled viewing. GCRC is proposing use of the DMU on the northern route between Whistler, Prince George and Jasper. "The design of the vehicle is ideal for the route between Whistler and Prince George that is considered one of the most challenging in North America," said James Terry, GCRC's Executive Vice President and COO. "The power of the DMU and its ability to accelerate out of the turns, will enable the route to be covered in three to four hours less time than a traditional locomotive. Offering a quiet ride, fuel efficiency and sleek modern design, we feel this vehicle is the ideal complement to the current Rocky Mountaineer fleet of over 75 rail cars." In 1994, GCRC placed their first order for a custom built GoldLeaf dome coach and it became the first new addition to any Canadian passenger rail company in over 40 years. GCRC has since added another eleven of these bi- level coaches which have full length dome windows and include a galley, dining room, spiral staircase, elevator and observation deck. "GCRC has placed orders in excess of $40 million over the last several years becoming the largest customer of Colorado Railcar, manufacturer of the prototype locomotive displayed today," said Mr. Terry. "Our long standing relationship with Tom Rader and his organization will serve us well in ensuring that we have the most current technology operating on a route which follows some of the most spectacular scenery that British Columbia has to offer."

Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' acclaimed two-day, all daylight rail journey travels between the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper, Banff and Calgary, Alberta. During its regular season schedule from mid-April to mid-October there are over 60 package tours ranging from two to 17 days and in December. Canadian Rockies Winter Rail Vacations are offered in December, whilst year-round destination focused "Discoveries and Experiences" tours featuring the best of Canada's west are now available. Rocky Mountaineer Railtours, is Western Canadian owned and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The organization has become the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America with sales representation in 18 countries and 350 employees during the operating season. The mix of passengers from Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Mexico and many more countries evidences the organization's international reach. Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' recently updated website may be found at www.rockymountaineer.com.

For further information: Graham Gilley, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, ROCKY MOUNTAINEER RAILTOURS, (604) 606-7280,
ggilley@rockymountaineer.com

November 29, 2003

Winter rail tour across Canada

VANCOUVER -- A winter rail journey across Canada is one way of seeing the country in all its frigid vastness.

The 13-day guided tour, offered by John Steel Rail Tours, departs from Vancouver on Jan. 25 and winds up in Moncton, N.B., with stops along the way. "There is more joy in travelling than arriving," the company says, and for this tour Via Rail passengers are cosy in the Canadian's Silver & Blue class and the Ocean's Easterly class.

Vintage cars restored to their 1950s Art Deco style include the tail-end park car with its lounges and wraparound windows and views in all directions. Accommodations are in sleeping cars with private rooms. Showers are located close at hand in each car.

For information: 1-800-988-5778.

November 26, 2003

Via Rail Canada Wins Top Honours for E-Services
Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Public Service Each Recognize VIA's Innovative Technological Advances

MONTREAL,- VIA Rail Canada's innovative e-services program has been awarded top honours by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which recently named VIA's website the Best Business-to-Consumer Website for a large Canadian enterprise. VIA's project with the Government of Ontario to customize its e-business model for Government business travel was also recognized by the Ontario Public Service with a Gold Award at the province's Public Sector Quality Fair 2003, held earlier this fall. "We are thrilled to be recognized for our technological advances," said Steve Del Bosco, VIA's vice-president, Marketing. "VIA was the first passenger train company in the world to create an online booking engine, and since 1997 we've expanded our e-services to include ticket kiosks, 3D virtual tours, extranets for travel agents and journalists and Web site information in eight languages."

Canadian Chamber of Commerce Award

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce award is particularly significant because VIA's online team was competing against several large, nationally known enterprises, including Grand & Toy, Future Shop, Aeroplan and Canadian Tire. The awards recognize VIA's innovative industry leadership and stewardship in providing e-services for retail and other travel services. VIA's online booking and research services, available at www.viarail.ca, currently draw approximately 500,000 visitors per month. The web site has seen a 60% increase in new users since the start of the year and approximately 20% of all 2003 sales were booked online.

Features of the VIA web site include:

- Downloadable electronic schedules for handheld devices;
- 3-D virtual tours of train cars and stations;
- Virtual Communities - more than 70,000 members receive targeted information on new products, services, promotions and more;
- AskVIA - intelligent system providing immediate responses to email queries, in real time.

VIA also has a dedicated website for the student community (www.viacampus.ca); an extranet site for media, advertising and partnerships (www.extranet.viarail.ca) and an extranet for travel agents (www.viarail.ca/agents), which includes a dedicated booking engine for the tourism/transportation trade. VIA's site is offered in English, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Dutch and Mandarin.

The Ontario Government Public Sector Quality Fair Gold Award

The Public Sector Quality Fair Gold Award recognized the Ontario Government's Shared Services Bureau's customized reserVIA(R) project. As a first step in a new provincial e-Travel program, VIA Rail Online brought rail reservations securely to ministry travellers' desktops. The province reports the system made rail travel for its employees "faster, cheaper and better." It is estimated that the project could save the province $300,000 a year in previously paid transaction fees. "We really believed in e-services right from the beginning," noted Mr.Del Bosco. "Our goal is to make travelling as convenient and seamless as possible for our customers - whether they are government employees travelling
for business, or international tourists exploring Canada. We offer our customers convenient booking, thorough research options, and make last minute ticketing a breeze." VIA Rail Canada is the national passenger rail service, connecting some 450 communities from coast to coast. Demand for VIA's rapid intercity services in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor has grown in recent years, as more Canadians turn to train travel as a hassle-free and cost-efficient alternative to congested roads and airports. Passengers can book their tickets by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL, at kiosks in major Corridor stations, at www.viarail.ca or through their travel agents.

November 26, 2003

Entertainers brave elements to spend holiday on rails fighting hunger
Click here for the entire Holiday Train schedule

Entertaining crowds nightly for two weeks from a boxcar stage in the winter in the northern United States and Canada has its share of occupational hazards for musicians. "It was so cold one year in upstate New York, I thought my lips were going to freeze to my harmonica. I had to use Chapstick," entertainer and music producer Randall Prescott said by phone from his home and recording studio on a lake outside Ottawa. Randall and his wife, country musician Tracey Brown, will be back this December – lip balm in hand -- to lead 41 shows from one of two Canadian Pacific Railway lighted Holiday Trains in their annual runs to raise food, cash and awareness for food banks and food shelves.

Beginning Dec. 3 in Scranton, Penn., Randall and Tracey will be joined again on the Holiday Train's entire two-week run in the Northeast, southern Ontario and the Upper Midwest by pop musicians Bob and Clint Moffatt from British Columbia. Bob and Clint were two members of The Moffatts, which was made up of triplets Bob, Clint and Dave and their older brother, Scott. Bluegrass singer and musician John Cowan from Louisville, Ky. who was with New Grass Revival from 1974 to 1990, will join the Holiday Train for the run from Scranton through New York state. Tom Wilson and Kelly Prescott, the daughter of Randall and Tracey, will join the train Dec. 6 and 7 in southern Ontario. The Ennis Sisters, a folk-Celtic trio from Newfoundland whose first U.S. album will be released next spring on Rounder Records, will join the tour Dec. 9 in Chicago for much of the trip through Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. The train's U.S. journey will end Dec. 16 with a show on the international border at Portal, N.D., and North Portal, Saskatchewan. A second Holiday Train will follow CPR's mainline between Montreal and Vancouver, British Columbia, beginning Dec. 6 in St. Therese, Quebec, and ending Dec. 20 in Port Moody, British Columbia.

This is the fifth year for the Holiday Trains. In 1999, CPR began running a freight train decorated with thousands of Christmas lights as a fund-raiser for the Canadian Association of Food Banks. A second Holiday Train was inaugurated in 2001 in the United States to benefit a variety of local food banks and food shelves. In the past four years, the Holiday Trains have raised more than $1.3 million (Cdn) and more than 160 tons of food. Randall and Tracey count themselves lucky to be veterans of two Holiday Trains in 2001 and 2002. "I have to thank CPR for the opportunity to cross North America and to get into the Christmas spirit. It seems with all of the troubles in the world today, it can be hard to get into the Christmas spirit, but this train does it for me," said Randall, producer-of-the-year for 10 consecutive years (1989-1999) at the Canadian Country Music Awards. He also was nominated for a Grammy in 1999 for engineering work on a Robbie Robertson CD. Tracey released her first solo CD, "Woman's Work," on Popular/EMI Records in 1998. The title song became a top 10 hit on Canadian charts. Another notable achievement was recording a duet, "Wouldn't You Love Us Together Again," with Willie Nelson on a Family Brown 1985 album, "Feel the Fire." A veteran of several fund-raising concerts in Canada for food banks, Red River flood victims and people left homeless by this summer's forest fires in British Columbia, Tracey's favorite Holiday Train moment occurred one year at Rouses Point, N.Y. The tired performers' spirits were lifted when an enthusiastic crowd of a couple hundred people greeted them. "The show wasn't until midnight, but everybody was still up, waiting. When we did the show, the audience was singing along. They had done a nice job decorating the town and had brought homemade cookies for us. When we got ready to leave, the audience started singing to us `We Wish You a Merry Christmas,' " Tracey said.

Randall has railroading in his blood. Both grandfathers, Syd Prescott and Elmer Chassie, were welders at a CPR shop in North Bay, Ontario. His father, Irwin Prescott, left his job as a CPR shop hand at North Bay in the late 1950s to pursue a career in entertainment. Randall was 3 when he made his first TV appearance on his father's weekly show, Country Hoedown, which aired in northern Ontario. His father sang and played a lot of instruments, including mandolin and fiddle. ``I find it quite ironic that here I am years later entertaining for the CPR,'' Randall said. Randall met his wife, Tracey, through their fathers. A former underwater welder at the shipyards in Halifax and Pictou, Nova Scotia, Joe Brown, like Irwin, gave up the working-class life for music. He started a radio station band, the Hillbilly Jewels, with a sister. When she left to sing gospel music, Joe formed the Family Brown in 1968, which released 17 albums and toured North America and Europe. The Family Brown had a weekly TV show that was syndicated across Canada for 13 years. Tracey was the youngest member of the Family Brown, which Randall joined in 1984. Together, they have toured with Johnny Cash and George Jones. Randall was music director for the Family Brown's show for the last couple of years and produced demos, which led to his present production work. Randall put his production skills to work this year to design a special sound and light system for the Holiday Train stage car, which has doors that open from either side depending on which side of the track the crowd has gathered.

CPR employees Rob Stagg and Mark Hughes in Calgary made the infrastructure that supports the lights and speakers so they can be extended out of the car on either side. "It's going to be a spectacular light show, in addition to the thousands of Christmas lights on the outside of the train. We've got laser lights on the stage car, a special snowflake machine and a fog machine. Kids are going to love it. We're aiming to wow them,'' Randall said.Canadian Pacific Railway, recognized internationally for its scheduled railway operations, is a transcontinental carrier operating in Canada and the United States. Its 14,000-mile network serves the principal centers of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest. CPR feeds directly into the heartland from the East and West coasts. Alliances extend its market reach throughout the U.S. and into Mexico.

Click here for the performers' bios and photos

November 21, 2003

DISCOVER WINTER IN CANADA—COAST TO COAST!

It has been said that “the journey is the destination” and this is certainly the case when travellers choose to discover Canada aboard our trains—especially in winter! This is the time when Canada puts on a magical show with its sparkling expanse of whiteness stretching as far as the eye can see— towering white mountains against azure skies, enchanting snow-draped forests, dreamlike landscapes of icy-blue lakes and sculptured snowdrifts, glittering city lights reflected in suspended icicles. To experience this special season, John Steel Rail Tours offers Cross–Canada Winter Splendour, a transcontinental rail journey. The tour carries you across the country from Vancouver, British Columbia to Moncton, New Brunswick aboard three of VIA Rail’s fabulous trains: the Canadian, the Corridor and the Ocean. Along the way, travellers pay a visit to some of Canada’s fascinating cities including Toronto, Niagara Falls and Moncton. The thirteen-day guided group tour departs January 25, 2004.“There is more joy in travelling than arriving,” and while touring in winter with John Steel Rail Tours, VIA Rail’s passengers are cozy and comfortable in the Canadian’s award-winning Silver & Blue class and the Ocean’s Easterly class. Vintage cars restored to their 1950’s Art Deco style include the tail end Park Car with its lounges and wraparound windows and views in all directions! The Skyline Car is also for socializing and although there is always so much to see out of the train’s windows, on board Activity Coordinators add to the journey. Year round activities include wine tasting, movies, interactive group games and there are also board games available.

The great tradition of fine dining is found in the Dining Car with freshly prepared regional cuisine, local wines and four-course service for dinner. Accommodations are in sleeping cars with private rooms (single and double bedrooms), which by day provide comfortable seating and by night, cozy beds with down duvets. Showers are located close at hand in each car. VIA 1 Class daylight service on the Corridor pampers travellers with large roomy seats, big viewing windows and appetizing meals. For a truly unique Canadian winter rail journey, contact the friendly and experienced Tour Coordinators at John Steel Rail Tours at 1-800- 988-5778 or send an email to info@johnsteel.com.

About Our Company: Located near Vancouver, BC, John Steel Rail Tours is in its fourteenth year of creating unique Canadian rail journeys for groups and individuals. We specialize in Canada and take extra care to provide our guests with rail travel expertise and personalized service second to none. Registered by the Government of British Columbia, Canada. BC Reg. #2042-5.

John Steel Rail Tours
Tel: 1-800-988-5778 • Fax: 1-866-890-9370
info@johnsteel.com • www.johnsteel.com

November 18, 2003

“PALACE-ON-WHEELS” FOR SALE
LEGENDARY CLASSIC 1928 PRIVATE RAILROAD CAR OWNED BY ENTERTAINMENT IMPRESSARIO ISAAC TIGRETT, VALUED AT $2.8M, FOR SALE
Extraordinary Opportunity To Own Authentic American Traveling Timepiece With Lineage of Top Celebrities & World Leaders

Harry S. Truman, Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The Kingfish” Huey P. Long, The Blues Brothers & Others Have “Rode the Rails” On This State of The Art Palace on Wheels Los Angeles, CA November 18, 2003 -- One of the world’s most rare and lavishly furnished 1928 private railroad cars, valued at $2.8M is available for sale at http://www.tigrett.info This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a magnificent piece of operational American history – an opulent palace on wheels with an amazing 75-year lineage of famous guest riders including former U.S. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman; Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long and countless government officials, celebrity performers and industry mavericks such as Dan Ackroyd; the Blues Brothers; James Brown; members of ZZ Top; Microsoft co-founder & billionaire Paul Allen; Federal Express Chairman and CEO Fred Smith; Chicago Mayor Richard Daley; John Paul Dejoria, founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems, and many more. “This car is designed as a safe and secure location from which to conduct business, travel, reside, and entertain,” explains current owner, entertainment business mogul, Isaac Tigrett, who invested more than two million to renovate the railway car to its current magnificence. “Affectionately named Car 50, this chariot carriage has well served as my home away from home and my office on wheels for many decades. Traveling by private rail provides an unmatched sense of distance, majesty and meditation, whether alone or surrounded by friends and family or business associates.” Tigrett’s many friends and associates who have joined him as guests in the plush carriage on journeys across America certainly agree. Long-time friend and business associate Dan Ackroyd explains, “Considering today’s frightening airline conditions, terrorist threats and heightened security risks, private rail is truly the most civilized way to travel. I sleep better in Car 50 than almost anywhere else in the world. The incredible feeling of traveling over the ground at 80 miles an hour during the day and on into the night is indescribably amazing. We’ve all spent many a treasured moment in this car – deals have gone down and everlasting friendships have been cemented within these walls.” "Car 50 has been one of the most pleasurable experiences in my life,” said John Paul Dejoria, Co-Founder, President & CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems. “To be able to sit on the back porch of the Rail Car, as it went through America, showed me a part of the beautiful land that is rarely seen... homes with yards built to watch the trains go by! To view this part of America, basking in the absolute luxury of the finest Pullman Car is travel and life at its finest!"

Floor Plan, Interior Design and Décor: The carriage décor reflects Tigrett’s wildly eclectic flair for design. The carriage interior boasts Gothic revival architecture and is decorated in majestic colors and textures created from lavish cut and voided wall coverings and handmade fabrics from Russia, India and France. From state of the art automated jet air seating to the car’s original
heirloom sofa upholstered in a blend of Persian Mohair and velvet, the car is furnished with unparalleled opulence, uncompromising comfort, durability and modern-day convenience.

Exclusive Carriage Interior includes:
• Observation Room, seating up to nine guests
• Three Staterooms, sleeping up to six guests
• Grand Dining Room, seating up to nine guests
• Gourmet Kitchen in Stainless Steel with Polished Brass Accessories is fully stocked with China, Glassware, Cutlery, Bar and Chef Accessories
• Three Baths
• Wait-staff Sleeping Quarters for two
• English and Belgian Stained Glass Church Windows
• Rose Marble Flooring from Spain
• Carriage’s Original Brazilian Mahogany Walls
• Carved Teak Panels from a Maharaja’s Palace in India
• Open-Air Observation Platform
• Entertainment/Technology Center featuring DVD, CD, Cassette, AM/FM Stereo, Fax, Three Dedicated Phone Lines and Internet Access
• Security System including Monitor, Cameras and Alarm
• Automated Jet Airline Seating
• Bullet-proof Glass Windows
• Antique Buddhist Tankas as Roll-up Window Shades
• Artwork & Vintage Memorabilia: The car’s interior walls are adorned with artwork and historically significant memorabilia personally culled by Tigrett throughout his lifetime of world travel.

Among the highlights include a circa 1790 English painting of voluptuous cherubs, and a plaque honoring “The Kingfish,” Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long, who commented on one of his many Car 50 journeys, “There may be smarter men than me, but they ain’t in Louisiana.”

Capacity: The car is rated to comfortably accommodate up to 15 seated passengers and provides sleeping quarters for eight including staff. The carriage has been designed and decorated to achieve an exceptionally palatial look and feel within the 100’ by 9’ standard rail dimensions.

Location: When not traveling the rails, the car is docked at the most spectacular location in New Orleans’ French Quarter at Decatur Street & Elysian Fields. The car has transferable ownership of a highly sought-after Audubon Society leasing agreement entitling the car’s new owner to exclusive rights to live, work and travel from the prestigious address on the Mississippi River.
Recent Restoration: Tigrett spent two years and more than $2M to refurbish and overhaul the car making it compliant to today’s current railway standards. The car’s value includes the cost of
Amtrak’s $50K compliance inspection required of all railway cars every ten years, as well as the cost of exterior repainting and sound system upgrades estimated at $45K.

History: The original carriage was commissioned in 1928 by Tigrett’s great uncle, railroad baron Isaac Burton Tigrett I., founder of Gulf Mobile & Ohio Railroad, which operated the car
into the 1970s. Tigrett’s father, business magnate John Burton Tigrett, shared his brother’s and son’s passion for business on the rails, entertaining the likes of Sir James Goldsmith, Armand Hammer, the late Lord Thompson and more. After a term of private ownership, the car’s history came full circle when Tigrett reacquired the car and painstakingly restored the carriage to the masterpiece that is now. “It’s a one-of-a-kind,” Tigrett exclaims. ”There’s truly nothing like it anywhere in the world.” Isaac Tigrett II.’s illustrious career included founding the Hard Rock Café, which Tigrett grew to an International chain of rock & roll themed restaurants with iconic stature. Next, he launched the House of Blues, a burgeoning empire of themed restaurant/nightclub/performance venues in major market cities across America. During the development and expansion of House of Blues locations, Tigrett toured the U.S. in Car 50 for more than five years, often joined by top entertainers and investors excited to join the magnate on visits to each new location.
Railway Travel: Rail travel arrangements are made by contacting Amtrak, which schedules the car's pick up and delivery to the local railway station. From there, the car is attached to the rear of a train embarking to the desired destination. Amtrak transportation costs are incurred on a per mile basis. Private rail travel originated in the early 1890s when an estimated ten thousand cars operated on railways systems throughout North America. Today, there are less than 100 private rail cars meeting Amtrak standards of operation, yet private rail travel continues to be among the most affordable and convenient means of transportation in America.

For additional information, media photos.

November 18, 2003

Canada Post, Canadian Pacific Railway and Hudson's Bay Company to launch Mail, Rail, Retail Exhibit

What: Canada Post, Canadian Pacific Railway and Hudson's Bay Company announce the launch of Mail, Rail, and Retail: Connecting Canadians, a traveling exhibit that outlines the history of
each organization and their partnership in building Canada into the country it is today. The exhibit opens to the public on Friday, November 21, 2003, at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, where it will run until November 29, 2004 before moving to other communities across Canada. The Mail, Rail and Retail exhibit looks at how mail, rail, and retail services have been crucial to building and maintaining communication, transportation and commercial networks across Canada.

Where: Grand Hall
Canadian Postal Museum
Canadian Museum of Civilization
100 Laurier Avenue East
Ottawa, Ontario

Who: The Honourable Andre Ouellet, President and CEO, Canada Post
George Heller, President and CEO, Hudson's Bay Company
Marcella Szel, Strategy and Law and CPR Corporate Secretary, CPR
Sylvie Morel, Director General, Exhibitions and Programs, Canadian Museum of Civilization

When: Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. (EST) (Reception begins at 5:00 p.m., multi-media presentation follows at 6:00 p.m.)

November 15, 2003

Christmas Train a very special gift

GREG COATES
SPECIAL TO THE STAR

For the fifth consecutive year, CP Rail will operate two specially lit Holiday Trains, which will host live musical shows from boxcar stages while collecting money and non-perishable food to help feed the hungry this holiday season.The Canadian Holiday Train (there's also one running in the U.S.) will follow CP's main line between Montreal and Vancouver from Dec. 6-20. Stops (there are about 75 in total) include Belleville, Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Ont., Winnipeg and Brandon, Man., Regina and Swift Current, Sask., Medicine Hat, Calgary and Banff, Alta., and Golden, Revelstoke and Kamloops, B.C. For further details, call 1-800-766-7912 or visit http://www.cpr.ca.

November 11, 2003

Passenger rail service proposed to Whistler
Rocky Mountaineer tours would need new access to BC Rail line

Bruce Constantineau
Vancouver Sun

The owners of the Rocky Mountaineer have announced a proposal to operate services along the BC Rail route -- from Vancouver to Whistler and from Whistler to Jasper. The plan would require Vancouver-based Great Canadian Railtour Company to negotiate a successful track access agreement with the winning bidder for BC Rail's assets. Great Canadian Railtour president Peter Armstrong said his company was close to a track access deal with BC Rail before the province decided to sell the railway's freight operations and it has already talked with the potential buyers about a new tourism rail service along the Vancouver-Whistler-Prince George corridor. Three potential buyers remain in the bidding for BC Rail in a process that's expected to last several more weeks. They include Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and a partnership between OmniTRAX and Burlington Northern."We are very fortunate because we operate over CN and CP tracks so we have had a long relationship with both those railways," Armstrong said in an interview. "We have also met with Burlington Northern/OmniTRAX so whoever the government chooses, we hope to conclude something with the successful proponent." He envisions a high-end service between Vancouver and Whistler -- to be called the Whistler Mountaineer -- and a service from Whistler to Prince George that would use BC Rail and CN lines to connect to Jasper. Armstrong said that if the necessary approvals are obtained before the end of this year, he could start the new services by the spring of 2005. "This is part of a much bigger plan and we think there is a lot of potential in moving people through Prince George, Jasper and maybe intermediary points along the route," he said. "We have already started a shore-excursion program for cruise ships in Prince Rupert and in time, we'd like to see if we could connect Prince George with Prince Rupert." BC Rail shut down its tourism and passenger rail services last year because the operations lost money. The closures involved the Pacific Starlight Dinner Train and Whistler Northwind tourism operations and the Cariboo Prospector, a passenger rail service that lost an estimated $5 million in its last year. Armstrong said there are not enough passengers along the route to make a passenger service viable. "It's what has happened with rail and tourism all over the world," he said. "Over long distances, you're not going to get enough locals using the service on a regular basis. They might use it once in a while but that won't be enough to pay the freight." Armstrong said his company would invest millions of dollars on new equipment for the proposed rail services as it is anxious to expand its operations throughout B.C. He noted Great Canadian Railtour will conduct a trial run next spring to test the feasibility of a Kootenay service linking Golden, Cranbrook, Creston, Trail, Castlegar and Nelson. "We think rail tourism has a real potential in this province and we'd like to see how far we can take it," he said. A new Vancouver-to-Whistler rail service has also been proposed by Vancouver-based Whistler Rail Tours and Via Rail. Whistler Rail would provide the rail cars while Via would operate and maintain the service.

Octover 24, 2003

Trains chugged into ridership record

Whitehorse Daily Star

SKAGWAY - As expected, the White Pass and Yukon Route railway ended the 2003 season with a new annual ridership record of 348,559 revenue passengers. That broke the old record of 318,993 established in 2001. The railway broke the old record on Sept. 9 and kept adding to the new one until the season ended with the visit of the final ship of the season, the Veendam, on Sept. 24. "This new benchmark for ridership is testament to the many accomplishments of our team at White Pass and our brand value in the marketplace," railway president Gary Danielson said in a statement. "We responded to changing market conditions with new and innovative marketing programs. And working with industry partners, our people delivered a unique and authentic experience to our riders and did it safely and efficiently." For this season, the company completed a $3.5-million US expansion of the railway dock to accommodate the world-class vessels going to Alaska and completed the restoration of steam locomotive No. 73 at a cost of $500,000. For 2004, White Pass has committed to buy eight new railcars and begin restoring steam locomotive No. 69, a 1907 Baldwin that was the largest steam locomotive ever built for a narrow gauge railroad. "We're expecting an even better year next year," Danielson added. "The tourism markets are expected to rebound, the cruise industry is expanding capacity and we'll have an additional eight passenger coaches to help meet the demand." In a follow-up interview, Danielson said the eight cars will be constructed by Hamilton Manufacturing, which won the contract. They will be built in Washington. Hamilton completed the last new-builds a few years ago. No. 69 was moved in mid-July from Colorado to Wisconsin, Danielson said. Steve Butler, who helped with completion of No. 73, is handling the restoration for Midwest Locomotive and Machine Works in North Lake, Wisc. Meanwhile, Danielson is optimistic the railway can break the 350,000-passenger mark next year. He expects the same increase in ship numbers next season as this season, and "a stronger May than in recent years, that should help us all."

Danielson said the preliminary 2004 schedule, which won't be released officially until March, has these changes:
- Princess bringing two new ships: the Diamond and the Sapphire, and the Regal is returning to replace the Pacific.
- NCL adding new bigger ship Norwegian Star, replacing the Wind.
- RCL replacing the Legend with the Serenade of the Seas, sister to the Radiance.
- World Explorer Cruises returning with the Universe Explorer.
- Silver Seas Cruises goes to Skagway for the first time with the upscale Silver Shadow.

Beginning May 10, 2004, there will be no empty days in the week until the end of September. The Saturday voids have been filled with one to three ships on what this year was an "off" day.

October 22, 2003

Think Winter!

Winter in the Canadian Rockies — a special time, a special place. Nestled in the heart of magnificent Jasper National Park lies the perfect destination for your winter getaway. Whether it's a romantic holiday for two or a fun family outing, John Steel Rail Tours can help create warm and wonderful memories in Canada's crisp and invigorating snowy wonderland!

Come along for an old-fashioned country Christmas in the magnificent Canadian Rockies. Our Guided Group Tour, Rocky Mountain Christmas offers a special rail holiday aboard VIA Rail's Canadian, which travels to the renowned Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Guests are treated to wonderful Yuletide festivities and a whole array of winter activities. As with many of John Steel's tours, Rocky Mountain Christmas is suitable for all ages.

All aboard the Snow Train to Jasper! This unique outdoor adventure for independent travellers combines an exhilarating Rocky Mountain adventure and a scenic journey aboard VIA Rail's Canadian. A choice of accommodations is offered in the picturesque resort town of Jasper and the spectacular Rockies provide a whole host of activities to enjoy the Canadian winter — outdoors or indoors! Guests enjoy an abundance of other winter pursuits, including skiing or snowboarding at Marmot Basin. These winter adventure packages, originating from a number of cities with a choice of departure dates from November 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004, may be customized to fit any traveller’s needs. Itineraries are flexible and tours may be extended at the destination or the departure location. Guests from the United States are able to make convenient connections from Amtrak to VIA Rail at many points along the border.

For a truly unique Canadian winter escape, adventure or rail journey, contact the friendly and experienced Tour Coordinators at John Steel Rail Tours at 1-800- 988-5778 or send an email to info@johnsteel.com.

About Our Company: Located near Vancouver, BC, John Steel Rail Tours is in its fourteenth year of creating unique Canadian rail journeys for groups and individuals. We specialize in Canadian travel and take extra care to provide our guests with rail tour expertise and personalized service second to none.

John Steel Rail Tours is registered by the Government of British Columbia, Canada (BC Reg. #2042-5).

Canadian Escapes, Adventures and Rail Journeys
John Steel Rail Tours
Tel: 1-800-988-5778 • Fax: 1-866-890-9370
info@johnsteel.com • www.johnsteel.com
RR8, 825 Gibsons Way, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V8
BC Reg. #2042-5

October 21, 2003

Modern-Day Barons Take to the Rails
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK..

BY DONNA VIEIRA
DreamScapes October 2003

I’m sitting in the dining room of a vintage rail car in the very same chair that may have been occupied by Winston Churchill, Bill Gates, Francis Ford Coppola or a member of Britain’s Royal Family. My head reels as I conjure up what important conversations and decisions may have transpired here.

If that jumpstarted your imagination, then consider this. How would it feel to charter your own vintage train, plan your own unique itinerary with more than 14,000 miles of Canadian Pacific Railway trackage waiting to be explored, and sleep in the same compartment once occupied by Winston Churchill on board Royal Canadian Pacific’s vintage car called the Mount Royal?

Before you roll your eyes in disbelief, let me assure you it’s possible. And you won’t have to mortgage the house to do it.

The Mount Royal is just one of 10 vintage cars available for special tours and private charters "à la Orient Express," only better. In fact, you’d even use Churchill’s ashtray and cigar holder as your personal soap dish and toothbrush holder. Now, I ask you, how great is that?

According to David Walker, Managing Director of the Royal Canadian Pacific, "Royal Canadian Pacific has been using its vintage car fleet for theme trips since 2000. Past theme trips have included this year’s tour to the Kentucky Derby which was sold out with 32 passengers on board. The event was so popular, that two guests flew down in a private plane just for the culinary experience and the privilege to sit in the box at the finish line of the Kentucky Derby for which tickets are sold out 10 years in advance."

David firmly believes that for a brand to maintain success, it must change its product mix to stimulate new bookings and provide alumni with a forum of products with a slight twist. Hence, they’ll be heading for Saratoga Springs to attend the Travers Stakes next August rather than repeating this year’s very successful Kentucky Derby tour. The train will leave Toronto for Montréal and interchange at Rouses Point en route to Saratoga Springs. Ladder tracks to yard the train are in close proximity to the racetrack, so guests can actually walk from the comfort of the train to the racetrack and back again for meals, refreshments and relaxation between events.

Then, there’s the most expensive railway journey in the world; perhaps the most expensive rail journey in history. How does a 23-day Trans-Canadian Steam Journey from Vancouver’s Waterfront Hotel to Montréal’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel sound? Priced at US$29,000 for single occupancy or US$26,000 each for double occupancy, the trip is 50 per cent sold.

It couldn’t get any better than that! Or does it?

Charter your very own train
David continues, "Traditionally, 60 per cent of our business is generated from individuals booking one or more of our theme trips. This year, however, private charters represent 60 per cent of our revenues. It’s a product that needs to be experienced and defies description. The personal service, the cuisine, the spectacular views, the history associated with each vintage car… all come into play. More than 90 per cent of everything onboard— the wooden panels, the inlay and the fixtures—are original. Guests believe there is a real value to stepping back in time to travel in vintage cars from the 1920s. Some want to play conductor while others want to experience what it is like to have their own vintage train. With a maximum capacity for 32 passengers, our clients control their itineraries, their surroundings and their entourage. And that translates into a valued proposition price."

Lyle Bauer of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers thinks he’s struck gold. He has privately chartered the entire Royal Canadian Pacific train to travel from Winnipeg to Regina to attend this year’s Grey Cup. Being able to stable the train next to the stadium at Taylor Park in Regina will be most convenient for him and his guests on game day.

Private charters are so exclusive the guest-to-attendant ratio is three to one. The possibilities are endless. For instance, Montel Williams and his family chartered it for a week of ski and snowboarding excursions in Alberta. Bill Gates and Francis Ford Coppola have also bought into the fantasy of having their own private vintage train.

Other reasons to charter a bit of history include lighthouse tours, spa and golf tours, wedding and anniversary party tours, family reunions, to name just a few. Rail enthusiasts just want to collect "rare" track miles as a form of friendly competition, some accumulating as much as 250,000 rare miles in a lifetime. What’s your passion? Just get the right group together, let your imagination soar and anything is possible.

"Charters are ideal for corporate incentives, strategic planning and Board of Directors meetings, especially if spouses are invited along. It’s a great way to make points with your superiors, sales team or important clients," David says beaming.

I’m thinking this is ideal for my parents’ upcoming 60th wedding anniversary. "And the price of this fantasy?" I ask and hold my breath. David always has an answer. "Consider a first-class luxury cruise costing US$8,000 for a family of six—averaging US$1,350 per person. For US$24,000, you can charter a roundtrip between Calgary and Vancouver for a group of 32 kindred spirits. That’s an average cost of less than US$800 per person and gratuities are not expected or required. The service is all-inclusive including alcoholic beverages, meals, service, transportation and on board accommodation. It’s a one-stop shopping experience."

Executives, like David, help plan every charter to ensure your likes and dislikes are clearly understood. The soft-cushioned undercarriage of each vintage rail car is meant to cruise at a comfortable 45 mph and cars are stationary every night to ensure a good night’s rest. However, if you want to hear the clackety clack, well, that can be arranged, too. As the saying goes, "He who pays, says."

October 17, 2003

Railway Hall of Fame honours Lightfoot
Musician earns ticket for classic song about CPR

Randy Boswell
The Ottawa Citizen

Singer Gordon Lightfoot told the epic story of the CPR in his catchy song, Canadian Railroad Trilogy. His music is legend and he has more trophies and awards -- not to mention a hip new tribute album -- than most songwriters could ever dream of. If there were any lingering doubts about Gordon Lightfoot's status as a living icon of Canadiana, they've been erased by the announcement of his upcoming induction into, of all things, the Railway Hall of Fame, where the grizzled guitar-plucker will be honoured alongside 19th-century pioneers of the steel wheel and current titans of the transportation industry. Mr. Lightfoot, said to be "pleased and delighted" by the latest honour, earned his ticket to train fame by composing Canadian Railroad Trilogy, a folk classic that set the epic story of the CPR to a catchy tune and taught tens of thousands of Canadians about the nation's past. The song "fired the imagination of a generation," said Bill Rowat, president of the Railway Association of Canada, in announcing the 64-year-old singer will receive the Hall of Fame's special award this year. Popular historian Pierre Berton, who wrote a bestselling two-volume chronicle of the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway -- The National Dream and The Last Spike -- was last year's special inductee.Mr. Lightfoot nearly died last year from a stomach aneurysm and spent weeks in a coma before he recovered and returned home to his Toronto mansion. He recently had surgery on his larynx and is scheduled for an abdominal operation early next year.The Orillia native is known to have written some of his best songs in the 1960s while riding the rails to and from Western Canada. He's also crafted memorable tunes about other modes of transportation. But The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald probably didn't win him any friends in the shipping industry and his famous airport ballad, Early Morning Rain, reminded the world that "you can't jump a jet plane like you can a freight train."The Trilogy, which starts with the line: "There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run," captures the splendour of pre-industrial Canada, the greed-and-guts quest to build the CPR and the exploitation of Chinese "navvies" to get the job done. "When you hear that song you can sense the wheels turning," says Roger Cameron, spokesman for the 60-plus rail companies, museums and heritage groups behind the virtual Hall of Fame."Obviously, Gordon has a long connection with rail and it was a natural fit as far as the Hall of Fame if he was willing, and he was willing." Other inductees this year include Donald Smith, the man who drove the Last Spike in 1885 and spearheaded construction of the CPR, and former Canadian National vice-president Ross Walker.

October 15, 2003

Hostel la vista
Panoramic scenery, rail travel on display at free slideshow hosted by hostelling group

By Karen Wade

ONE of the best ways to travel is by rail. "It's a great way to see the country without actually being on the Trans-Canada, and it's a lot more comfortable than a bus," says Tara Wiebe, regional administrator for Hostelling International -- Manitoba, which is presenting Canadian Rail Travelogue and H.I. Hostel, a free travel slideshow to be held Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sport Manitoba Building, 200 Main St." I'll always have great memories of a rail trip I took from North Wales into Scotland this past spring." Wiebe will joined by Daryl Adair, author of The Guide to Canada's Railway Heritage Museums Excursions and Attractions, who has a new release coming out next spring called The Canadian Rail Travel Guide. The duo will be showing close to 140 slides from across Canada. Adair says he acquired his love of all things rail-related when he was a child. "I used to love to watch the Canadian Pacific train amble by my family's summer home in Lac Lu in Ontario." The St. James resident and owner of Rail Travel Tours says that for his latest book he travelled every railroad in Canada. "A journey on Canada's transcontinental railroad ranks as one of the greatest rail experiences in the world," says Adair. "Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, this journey takes in cities, small towns and some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth." Adair and Wiebe will be providing travel tips for getting around Canada by train and staying at hostels. Alison Letourneau, executive director of Hostelling International, says she's looking forward to the show. "I've ridden the rails in India, Mexico, Peru, Egypt, and throughout Europe (all memorable!), but I've not yet had the pleasure of discovering our own country by rail. I look forward to embarking on that journey once Daryl shows us the ropes!" Letourneau has fond memories of a rail journey she took outside the country. "A wonderful train journey is to follow the course of the Nile River south from Cairo to the Valley of Kings and beyond. I loved riding second class with the locals, their goats, farming implements and hoards of curious little children who had a hard time letting go of my blond hair or my unusually fair skin. "It was well over 50 degrees centigrade on that train, but I loved every minute of it."

For more information, call Hostelling International at 784-1131.

October 14, 2003

An Odyssey for Everyone

Hop aboard the train to Toronto and marvel at an extravaganza that combines the nobility of the horse with the human imagination. Starting October 14, the Cavalia fantasy will gallop across the pages of history in the Queen’s City!

Cavalia is for everyone-- spectacle fans, experienced riders and horse lovers alike. See equestrians and acrobats from all corners of the world, on stage with 33 horses from 4 different breeds. From the elegance of the Arabian to the power of the Percheron and Belgian, to the charm of the Andalusian and Lusitanian and the refined strength of the Quarter Horse, you will be enchanted by the teamwork between man and this noble beast.

Whether you are travelling alone, with friends or with the entire family, this is a fall excursion that will be unanimously enjoyed by all.

A Package in Full Stride

You’ll be in full stride with this all-in-one Cavalia package, a Hillcrest Vacations exclusive, which has all the horsepower you need to get to Toronto in total comfort, including your accommodations and the show.

Our package includes:
• Ticket to a Cavalia weekend performance, valued at $78 each;
• Return trip by train from any location in the Quebec City-Windsor
corridor.
• One-night’s stay at one of our partner hotels.

This incredible package comes at a price that's hard to resist. See for yourself :
From:
Windsor, $230*
London $165*
Kingston $195*
Ottawa $230*
Montreal $240*

* Prices starting at (per person, double occupancy, before taxes

Tuesday, October 7, 2003

Via issues statement in response to article in National Post today

Canada Newswire

VIA Rail Canada today issued the following statement regarding an article that appeared in this morning's National Post: "VIA rejects today's headline story in the National Post ("VIA revival hit by $110M overrun) as wholly inaccurate. "Here are the facts. "As part of its five-year business plan for the 2000-2004 period, VIA proposed the purchase of 100 cars, to be obtained second-hand and retrofitted, at a budget of $130M. "In the course of its worldwide search for the 100 cars, VIA discovered a fleet of 139 completed and partially completed new cars built by Alstom in the UK, available immediately as a package deal. This brand-new equipment represented the latest in passenger car design and technology. "In September 2000, VIA's Board approved a capital expenditure of $145 for the purchase and transport to Canada of all 139 cars, and the completion of the 100 cars needed by VIA according to its demand projections. "In early 2002, VIA identified the need for two new car types, a dining car and baggage car, to meet the needs of its customers in Atlantic Canada. VIA opted to complete six of these new car types, at a cost of $10M. "Other items that could not have been anticipated at the time of the project's approval were: modifications to improve accessibility, the acquisition of missing parts, and a number of safety corrections on the cars, as the result of a reversal of a decision made by the Transport department. These items totaled an additional $5M. "The final project cost is therefore $160M. "The additional 33 unfinished car shells are being kept in reserve in the event that demand for capacity increases. No moneys have been budgeted for this purpose at this time. "The acquisition of the new Renaissance cars represents extraordinary value for Canadian taxpayers. The current cost of similar new equipment would be at least $4.5M per car, compared to the $1.5M cost to complete the (106) cars required by VIA. "Today's article in the National Post reports conjecture as fact, depriving their readers of the truth; that is, that with the exception of minor cost corrections that are perfectly normal, given the particular nature of this manufacturing process, the project is in fact on budget."

Monday, October 6, 2003

Hundreds flock to ride steam train

Guelph Mercury
VIK KIRSCH

A vintage 1923 train steam engine pulling five passenger cars chugged and whistled into Guelph Saturday to pick up 300 passengers for an afternoon trip to Kitchener. The sold-out crowd enjoyed a leisurely excursion, on the St. Thomas Central Railway heritage steam train, past duck ponds, new housing developments, plazas and industrial complexes, fields, junkyards and bush, seeing parts of cities and countryside hidden to most road traffic. Along the way, in neighbourhood after neighbourhood from the downtown VIA station to Kitchener's counterpart, they were greeted by people waving from back yards and intersections, giving passengers a sense the ride was truly historic. Three generations came together on the train Saturday afternoon: one that lived at the tail end of the steam era, as well as their offspring who grew up when passenger trains had gone out of fashion, and now desire to introduce their children to them. They included semi-retired contractor Mike Clancy, 58, of Guelph, who brought his 32-year-old daughter, Kristen Clancy of Guelph and her daughter, Maya, 4. "I wanted to show Maya a steam engine. She likes trains," he said. The girl giggled and agreed with granddad, observing: "It's a long, long, long one." "It's nice to see people have a lot of enthusiasm for this piece of history," he continued. "I imagine its been a long time since a steam engine's been on these tracks." It's been more than a quarter century, said Dave Paterson, a member of the Guelph Historical Railway Association. The volunteer organization is hopeful the train, pulling five vintage blue- and-yellow passenger cars and four freight cars carrying water, coal and tools, will return to Guelph for a weekend outing sometime next year. "There's old people nostalgic for steam and young people who have never seen it," said Paterson. The No. 9 engine, built in 1923 at the Montreal Locomotive Works, was run by the Essex Terminal Railway before ending major service in St. Thomas in 1956. The Ontario Rail Association moved it in 1971 into storage in Milton. It arrived back in St. Thomas for restoration work in 1993 and returned to service five years ago as a tourist attraction. Saturday, the steam engine pulled a 1920 dining car, a 1923 former Canadian Pacific Railway coach and two former Canadian National Railway coaches from 1954, as well as an 1930s-era observation car, said coach conductor Charles Beckett. Jostling behind the lead dining car was an all-weather stand-up coach where passengers braved the chill air to lean out open windows, examine the landscape and sniff the slightly pungent steam. Huddled beside a stove in the dining car were Shawn Redmond, 36, of Guelph, wife Christina Redmond, 33, and the couple's two sons, Eric, 4, and six- month-old Neil. "It's pretty much the warmest seat," Shawn said with a smile. He'd become intrigued with trains during a past regular-service train trip to Eastern Canada and now wanted the family to experience the power of steam. "It's a good thing to do as a family event," added Christina. "It's kind of relaxing and you spend some time together, instead of concentrating on driving." "What you see from the train is stuff you never see driving," Ron Holloway, 65, of Acton said as he leaned out a window. "I've been a train nut from Day One. I go all over North America to ride trains," said the retired shipper- receiver. He liked the smell of steam, the sound of the train whistles and the bygone era look of the old coaches. "It's just got something to it. The aura," said Holloway. That 'something" for Ralph Vlietstra, 58, of Acton is the memorabilia from 40 railway companies that fills his recreation room, like lanterns dating back to the 1850s. Vlietstra, who sells automotive supplies, said vintage railways put their names on just about everything they ever owned. "That's what makes it so interesting." Staffing a gift shop in one of the cars, Elsie Gillian was thrilled to see young families so prevalent among the passengers. "It's the young generation wanting to find their past," she concluded. "I think that's exciting." "It's the railways that built this country," stressed Roy Broadbear, president of the St. Thomas-based Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society, which owns the St. Thomas Central Railway. They restored the train. "We think it's important to education the public, especially on steam power." The steam train is about to become a fixture in Kitchener, where it will be entertaining the public on tourist excursions throughout the region during Oktoberfest, Oct. 9 through 18.

vkirsch@guelphmercury.com

October 3, 2003

Rebuilding the trestles

Penticton Herald
Don Plant

The Myra Canyon trestles could be rebuilt for $15 million -- about half the cost originally estimated. An assessment team of eight experts flew to the burned-out canyon via helicopter this week and analysed the remaining structures. Four of the 16 wooden trestles were untouched by the Okanagan Mountain fire. The team found two steel bridges are relatively easy to repair, even though the flames destroyed the decking and many ties on one of them, and 10 metres of decking on the other. Dennis Frie, president of the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society, initially estimated the cost of replacing the 12 bridges vaporized in the fire at $30 million. Now, he's lowered his appraisal. "We could do a pretty good job for $15 million," Frie said Thursday. "It will be done one way or another, I'm sure." Frie is a structural engineer and expert in costing out steel structures. He inspected the damage with an engineer from Canadian Pacific Railways who specializes in wooden structures. Together, they've come up with four options for replacing the missing bridges -- with steel, wood, look-alike wood or suspension bridges. Parks officials like the idea of suspension bridges, but Frie doubts they'll be built. "It's not very practical. A horse won't walk on it," he said. The replacement spans must be strong enough to bear the weight of heavy snow, a small crane and horseback riders. Engineers are using 200 pounds per square foot as a benchmark. The cheapest way to replace the old trestles is with steel. But tourism operators and politicians are keen to restore them as close to their heritage design and construction as possible. The replacements will likely have more timbers with smaller dimensions because the 16-inch by 30-inch beams supporting the ties are practically irreplaceable. The originals were built with vertical supports called bents that were 15 feet apart. A "look-alike" bridge would be redesigned so the bents are 30 feet apart to save costs. As a last resort, crews could build a bypass cut into the side of the mountain so hikers can walk around the gorge. But those involved with the project are dedicated to duplicating the trestles as close to their original design as possible. "We know they won't be exactly the same," said Ken Campbell, who helped build the decking and guardrails on the old trestles in the 1990s. "They won't be built for a crossing train, but for heritage and esthetic value, we want to see them replaced with the same structure and look. "You'll see how marvellous it was that they were able to build a railway through there. The forest will regain. It will still be a very attractive place." The assessment team is spending the next few weeks calculating the costs. Members will meet with a restoration steering committee on Oct. 27 to decide on the best plan. Assuming there's money for the project, a contractor would be hired to rebuild the bridges. "A lot" of volunteers are offering to help out, said Frie. He estimates reconstruction would take two years.

September 28, 2003

'It's just knocked me out': Fire on the Mountain organizer says the spirit behind relief concert left him 'breathless'

Vancouver Province
David Wylie

KAMLOOPS -- Tracey Jackman cried as he watched 20,000 people pack a Kamloops parking lot to watch about a dozen mainstream Canadian bands rock for BC's fire victims. Jackman's Louis Creek home was destroyed in the Barriere fire last month. He said the concert was a welcome break from fighting with his insurance company. The fire victim watched the passionate performances from a 100-seat VIP section near the front of the stage, where he sat with other devastated home owners, firefighters and Canadian soldiers. "The support of everybody is just heartbreaking," explained Jackman, 40. The brains behind the event, Canadian music producer Randall Prescott, said it had been a roller-coaster organizing the concert but he was ecstatic with the way it turned out. "I am breathless. It's just knocked me out," he said. "A lot of artists came up for nothing. [It was] more than their expenses and their time. The point was to get out here and give people a day off." About 20,000 people flowed in and out of the parking lot behind Sport Mart Centre -- the stadium that was used a month earlier as a staging ground for evacuees. Concert-goers dropped donations into one of four garbage can-sized bins as they passed the front gate. Kamloops resident Melody Tompkins, 27, dropped $25 into the bucket. "It's Saturday. It's beautiful and there's music in the park," she said. Charlotte Smith, 35, who's also from Kamloops, donated $20 on her way in to the waterfront parking lot: "We've been donating all throughout the summer. The donations are going to help people who need it the most," she explained. Country stars Patricia Conroy, Tracey Brown, Lisa Brokop and Michelle Wright kicked off the concert, while Canadian rockers Natalie MacMaster, Chantal Kreviazuk and The Moffats closed it. Popular Vancouver rocker, Matthew Good, played the last set, which ended about 11 p.m. Performers were chugged to the stage by a restored 1913 steam engine. "I think the one thing [fire victims] should know is a lot of people from Vancouver are thinking of them," Good told reporters in an afternoon press conference. "As soon as this happened, I tried to start a benefit concert of my own volition." But that fell apart because he couldn't gather enough bands. Good added he'll be donating his concert earnings -- between $5,000 and $10,000 after expenses -- to Interior BC's fire victims. The music star said his main concern is that Louis Creek and Barriere might not recover. Louis Creek's main employer, a Tolko Industries sawmill, was incinerated. Several of Good's friends and family were forced to evacuate as the Okanagan Mountain Park fire destroyed nearly 250 Kelowna homes in late August. "I've probably played every small to medium-sized town in BC," said Good, adding all have supported him in his music. Good last rocked Kamloops in 2001. Darcie Park, spokeswoman for the event's main sponsor, Canadian Pacific Railway, said the main reason for the concert is not financial. "This is really just a way to pay tribute to the residents of the BC Interior for getting through such a devastating summer," she said. "All of the money will go directly to the people affected by the fire." The North Thompson Relief Fund will be a main recipient of the donations. George Evans, founder of the charity, said the cash will be spent on housing, food, transportation and replacing tools. The fund is now worth $2.1 million. Evans said he wants to rebuild the community and make it an attractive place. Six-months-pregnant star Chantal Kreviazuk says she watched on television from her California hillside home as the BC wildfires wreaked destruction. "I think it's really sad to think of someone's life being devastated like that," Kreviazuk said.

September 28, 2003

Engine 2816 puts benefit on the right track

Kamloops Daily News
Roxanne Hooper and Jason Hewlett

Steam Engine 2816 made an incredible backdrop for the stage of the Fire on the Mountain benefit concert held in downtown Kamloops Saturday. Hundreds of people participated in Railway Days, took a ride on the historic train, then ventured down to Riverside Park to watch an outdoor concert, which hosted electric performances by 10 of this country's top musicians. Between songs, in fact, the conductor on the locomotive pulled the train up behind the stage and tooted the whistle -- drawing waves and applause from the audience. Having the train running in the background of this event, which had Canadian Pacific Railway as its lead sponsor, was fitting. "Having the train going, the music playing and people relaxing in the park made for an incredible day," said Kamloops resident Anna Davis. She planned to listen to the evening performers from the safety and comfort of her nearby apartment balcony. But she came down during the day to see the show in person, to give a $10 donation and to be a part "this magical celebration." Sandy Mihalcheon broke his leg two months ago and found it difficult manoeuvring through Saturday's crowd on crutches. But there was little that would keep the Kamloops man and his wife Agnes away from the festivities. They too are country fans and saw Saturday's event as a way to help, while listening to "some awesome" entertainment. In addition to purchasing a fire relief T-shirt on the way in to the park, Mihalcheon also dropped $100 into the large donation bins that were set up at the gate. The concert was free and designed to lift people's spirits. But donations were collected at the gate, which aided the secondary purpose of the event -- to raise money for fire relief funds in the Kamloops, Kelowna and Kootenay areas. Organizers don't anticipate they'll have actual dollar figures available for almost a week but Darcie Park, manager of public affairs for CP Rail, said about $80,000 was collected at donation barrels at the concert's front gate. Producers still have to clean up and pay outstanding bills -- including any expenses for the artists -- before a true financial picture will be available. A few of the musicians, including Matthew Good, announced Saturday that they would waive their performing fees for the good of the fire victims. It's still not clear yet how the money will be divided up or distributed to the fire victims, but some of the proceeds are expected to go to the North Thompson Relief Fund. The RCMP were also happy with the way the concert played out. "People were in a great mood," said Cpl. Mike Stewart, media liaison officer for the Kamloops RCMP. "The concert was designed to lift people's spirits and it did just that. I even had fun and I had to work the whole time." Stewart said there were a half-dozen minor incidents but no real problems to speak of. "It was an excellent day," he said.

September 27, 2003

Local train buffs 'get steamed'

Stratford Beacon-Herald
PAUL CLUFF

It was a scene reminiscent of yesteryear when 'Ol Number 9 came rumbling into Stratford with a full complement of passengers. The days have long since passed when steam engines regularly powered their way across a country known for its railway heritage. Thanks to some dedicated locomotive lovers, fully restored Number 9 -- the last steam locomotive still working in Canada -- was able to transport passengers on a scenic 60-minute trip to Stratford. The tour is part of the Goderich Exeter Heritage Steam Tour, a project organized by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society. The journey began at the Via Rail station in St. Marys, where a few hundred fascinated people showed up to watch the jet-black front end of Number 9 come around the bend smothered in grey smoke. For those actually going on the trip, it was worth their while. "All aboard!" said the conductor and the train made its way over the Junction Bridge and Trout Creek, past farmers' fields and historic Junction Station, built way back in 1858. The northeast route continued along the former Thorndale Subdivision, now known as the Guelph Subdivision of the Goderich-Exeter Railway. There were no scowls on the faces of motorists waiting at crossings. Cameras were in abundance; everyone wanted a modern-day glimpse of what many have seen only in black and white movies and photographs. "It's living history," said Kirkton resident Bernie Benoit, who brought wife Pam and their kids Thomas, Lauren, Glenn and Michael. "My dad worked for CN, so it's a bit nostalgic for me." It seemed like passengers were on a cruise ship leaving port, because everyone stopped to wave. Factory workers on the outskirts of Stratford, nearing the end of their shifts, sat on picnic tables and waved at children. "It's very exciting for the kids," said Pam Zabel of St. Marys. "It's really sparked my interest. I would love to go to a museum and find out how steam engines operate." Diesel locomotive 1401 was hauling the passengers back to St. Marys. In addition to the two engines -- steam at the front for the St. Marys-Stratford run and diesel in back for the return trip -- were two gondolas of coal, a dining car, a geometry car (formerly used to measure the alignment of the track, now used for tour business), two passenger cars and, of course, the caboose. In 1963, when it was retired, Number 9 was the last steam locomotive still working in Canada. Built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1923 for the Essex Terminal Railway, it spent its entire life for the ETR at the Windsor station. Diesel locomotive 1401 was built at London GM in 1957 for the Canadian National for passenger service. It became a Via locomotive in 1984. It came to the Goderich Exeter Railway last March. The passenger cars are oldies too, the oldest built in 1920. The tour was the culmination of four years work for the Restoration Society. All the cars were restored at the St. Thomas Railway Museum. The crew aboard, most from St. Thomas, are in for the long haul -- 25 days of touring. "We'll cover 1,300 miles by the time we're done," said Roy Broadbear, conductor on the tour. "It was pretty ambitious for a small organization, but we've pulled it off." Event manager Deb Prothero hadn't slept the night before the tour got rolling. She was busy with last-minute details. "It took us three years just to get this track, we've built relationships with national railways ... so much work. There is a sense of relief for us now that the planning is done. To see the smiles on everyone's faces today makes all the hard work worth it." There was even talk about doing the whole thing again next year. "It would be great if we could do this every summer," said Joyce Robinson of Thorndale. Today there is an all day excursion from Stratford to Goderich and on Sunday two departures from Stratford to St. Marys.

Tickets for the weekend trips are available at the Stratford-Perth Museum.

Next Monday to Friday, Number 9 will be hauling yard trains on 40-minute rides from St. Marys to the outskirts of Stratford. Departures are 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. On Saturday, the train will leave Stratford at 9 a.m., heading for Kitchener and Guelph. The following week, tours will be offered in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph areas. Stratford Railway Heritage volunteers are presenting a show in the ground floor of the station which includes videos, railway artifacts, maps and pictures.

September 24, 2003

All aboard for steam nostalgia

London Free Press
Hank Daniszewski

Londoners will soon get a chance to ride an authentic piece of Canadian history rumbling into the city. A steam train meticulously restored by volunteers will stop at the city's Via Rail station at noon Friday to pick up passengers for an excursion to Stratford. Deb Prothero of St. Thomas Central Railway, which operates the train, says it's the first time the London station has seen an operating steam engine in about 40 years. "Our goal is to educate people about our railway heritage," she said yesterday. "We want to share the steam engine with as many people as possible." St. Thomas Central Railway is a tourist railway operated on a non-profit basis by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society. Restoration of the 1923 steam locomotive known as No. 9 was completed in 1997. Initially, the train only ran in the St. Thomas area, but this year trips between Goderich, Stratford and Waterloo are scheduled for the next few weeks. The train from London to Stratford will travel at a leisurely 24 to 40 kilometres an hour with a stop at St. Marys. The trip is one-way but passengers can arrange a return trip with Via Rail. The train's passenger cars include a 1923 CPR coach, a 1920 CNR diner and three passenger coaches from the '50s. The train will be self-sufficient with two gondola cars stuffed with coal to fuel the engine, a water tanker and a car to carry tools. Prothero said coal and water towers once used by steam engines are long gone.

IF YOU GO
What: London-Stratford steam train trip
When: Friday noon
Where: York Street Via Rail station
Ticket information: 631-0099 or at www.steam-train.org

September 23, 2003

Gathering locomotive steam: Double-header to highlight Railway Days on Saturday

Kamloops Daily News
Jason Hewlett

The Kamloops Heritage Railway Society is hoping a rare steam engine double-header will draw a large crowd for their fifth annual Railway Days on Saturday. The 2816 steam locomotive is being brought to town as part of Canadian Pacific Rail's Fire on the Mountain concert in Riverside Park. Plans are to hook it up to the KHRS's 2141 steam locomotive, with 2816 as the lead engine. The train will depart the station at 10:30 a.m. and take passengers on a run to the Canadian National Railway junction and back. "We call this a double-header. They're very rare," said Howard Grieve of the KHRS. "There will be rail fans from all over the Pacific Northwest here to see this, it's so rare." He said his society is grateful to CP Rail for allowing the rail event to take place. "We appreciate the help CP has given us," he said. "We'd been trying to get the 2816 down here for years. We're glad they are bringing it down here for the concert. It's a nice tie-in for Railway Days." Railway Days is a fundraising event for the KHRS and a showcase for the work the society is doing."It provides an opportunity for people to learn more about the history of the railway," said Grieve. "It's also a thank-you back to the city of Kamloops for its support." The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features displays by the Kamloops Model Railway Club, an opportunity to go inside the society's coaches and locomotives, a barbecue lunch put on by the Lion's club and four runs of the 2141 steam locomotive. "Each trip on the 2141 will include the Bill Miner Train Robbery Gang," he said. "Last year we didn't have them but rides on the train were free. We're keeping them this year and the guys have donated their time to do it. They're very dedicated to the society and their work." Train rides will cost $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and youths. Admission to Railway Days is free, but donations are welcome. Frank Remington of Seattle, a member of the Issaquah Historical Society and dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the telegraph, will attend, bringing with him a working telegraph. Last year the fundraiser brought in $3,000 for the society and Grieve said he hopes to match that again this year."It's been a tough year for the society. The fires, the smoke, the tourism downturn and the heat wave really hit us hard. When it all adds up, (passenger) attendance was down 45 per cent from last year." He hopes this year's Railway Days will be able to boost passenger attendance for the year. "By the end of Railway Days attendance should only be down by 20 per cent." Railway Days will be held in front of the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society building in Station Square. Grieve asked people to enter the square via Seventh Avenue to find parking for the event.

September 17, 2003

Steam railway back on track

Penticton Herald

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway will be back on track in Summerland Saturday. The train was pulled from service Aug. 22 due to the extreme fire hazard in the area. To help bring people back, the railway is offering a 25 per cent discount on adult fares, bringing the price of a ticket to $12 from $16. Each child under 12 accompanied by an adult will board free. The wine trains which run during the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival are also scheduled to run. The train will run Saturday, Sunday and Monday, leaving the station at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

For reservations or more information, call (250) 494-8424.

September 16, 2003

Rail tours roll into Rupert

Prince Rupert Daily News
Lynda Lafleur

Prince Rupert is poised to become the anchor on the west coast as an expanding sea to land destination point in British Columbia. Following an investment of seven years of studies and a test run, new rail connections in and out of Prince Rupert are ready to roll out in 2004. "It all came together, and allowed us to proceed with our plans to link rail and cruise passenger traffic," said Shaun Stevenson of the Port Authority. The Port Authority is currently reviewing presentations by Whistler Rail Tours and Rocky Mountain Rail Tours. A pilot project with Via Rail was undertaken five years ago to test the excursion opportunities available to ocean traveling passengers. "That was a tremendous success," said Stevenson. The Port Authority believes rail travel is going through a strong revival, as travelers are looking for the best options and experiences. "The expanded rail link is our strategic advantage here in Prince Rupert, and one that is unique in the province," said the Port's Don Krusel. Rocky Mountain Tours starts their Skeena excursions in May 2004. The company will provide a round trip along the Skeena River and back. Whistler Rail Tours is based in Vancouver and is presently working with Via Rail to reopen a rail service on the BC Rail line from Vancouver to Whistler. Under their plan, Via Rail will operate and maintain the service while Whistler Rail would provide the railcars. Whistler is also planning to expand their passenger service, using this partnership plan, to add a service north to Prince George. This will provide a link to the Via Rail Skeena line. BC Rail had tried to implement a circle type rail tour several years ago, but according to the Port Authority, it was flawed because the service did not provide passengers a complete circle tour. "The Rocky Mountaineer will tie in perfectly with the cruise traffic," said Stevenson. Tourism BC has already presented their future plans to the provincial government and they included Prince Rupert's cruise and rail opportunities. In their projections, Tourism BC indicated to Premier Gordon Campbell that the number of visitors to the province can be doubled. "Prince Rupert was in the top ten," said Krusel. The city's new cruise ship dock will be ready in 2004, and Rupert will benefit from 36 scheduled cruise ships.

September 12, 2003

White Pass sets ridership mark

As of Tuesday, the White Pass and Yukon Route railway had set a new annual ridership record by carrying 319,121 revenue passengers. That broke the old record of 318,993 established in 2001, the company said in a statement Wednesday.With the season’s last trains out of Skagway scheduled for Sept. 24, the railway is still expecting to add to that record by about another 20,000 passengers. This year, the railway has broken the previous daily ridership record, set in 2001, 14 times. It’s operating at capacity and has contracted for another eight passenger cars to meet the forecasted increased demand for the 2004 season. Company president Gary Danielson said the annual ridership record “is a great benchmark for us because it symbolizes team achievement on many dimensions. From our relationship with the customer, to operations, maintenance, safety and administration, we’ve managed to do more, and do it better, despite constraints. “And we’re having fun doing it.” The White Pass and Yukon Route was built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. It’s an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tri-White Corp. based in Toronto.

September 10, 2003

VIA Rail service to resume on Hudson Bay line between Pukatawagan and The Pas

WINNIPEG, VIA Rail Canada has received confirmation from Hudson Bay Railway officials that work to repair the damage caused by the track washout is proceeding as schedule and train operations should commence within the next day. VIA trains 290 and 291 travelling between Pukatawagan and The Pas (Manitoba) are expected to resume operating Thursday, September 11, 2003. Train 291 from The Pas to Pukatawagan is scheduled to depart at 11:15 on Thursday September 11, and train 290 will depart Pukatawagan for The Pas on
Friday, September 12, at 10:00. Minor delays are expected as a result of the speed restrictions in the area where work is being completed.
Anyone wishing further information may call 1-888-VIA-RAIL.

September 5, 2003

OKANAGAN MOUNTAIN FIRE THREATENS HISTORIC KETTLE VALLEY

KELOWNA, B.C.--Wildfires have forced more than 3,500 residents of Kelowna to leave their homes for the second time in less than two weeks. Two more evacuation alerts have also been issued for areas near the fire. The new alerts affect about 9,600 people in southeast Kelowna and brings the number on evacuation alert to more than 15,000. Hot, dry weather and winds are fanning new life into the Okanagan Mountain fire and firefighters are struggling to keep the flames from jumping firebreaks. Officials say only a heavy rain will allow them to put out the 21,000-hectare fire, but no rain is forecast until at least Sunday. B.C. has been suffering its worst forest fire season in decades, with more than 2,300 fires recorded since late spring.

View from South Kelowna
On Thursday, the fires claimed five historic railway trestle bridges near Kelowna, and the chances of saving the remaining 11 bridges are slim. Most of the trestle bridges are part of the Kettle Valley Railway trail. They are made of wood soaked in creosote and date back 100 years. The bridges were restored recently to become part of the Trans-Canada
Trail and are popular with hikers and cyclists from all over the world. "I'm very much afraid given the forecast today, and what's been happening, that likely most of the structures in Myra Canyon will be lost today," said fire commander Brian Kempf. The trestles were designated a national historic site in January and volunteers had painstakingly restored and repaired the wooden, creosote ties, turning the trestles into a lucrative tourist attraction. The terrain around the testles is rugged and steep, making both fighting the fires and the possible rebuilding of the testles difficult. It's estimated it could cost more than $30 million to rebuild the trestles.

The Okanagan Park fire continues to burn less than three kilometres from major subdivisions. Kelowna has already lost 250 homes to this fire and after a one-week lull, once again, the city is on high alert.

September 3, 2002

All aboard
Train comes into the station for railroad buffs looking to visit museum this weekend

By Karen Wade

ALL aboard, railroad buffs! The train is in the station and it's time for train enthusiasts -- young and old -- to visit the Winnipeg Railway Museum as they host their annual Railway Days Weekend. Located at the VIA Rail Station (Union Station) at 123 Main St., this free event showcasing Manitoba's rail heritage takes place this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. "It's a fun weekend where all the railway-related groups get together under one roof," says organizer Daryl Adair.Railway Days began in 1997 as a way to celebrate the downtown museum's fifth anniversary."The number of people we have come out for this event increases every year," says Adair. About 2,000 people turned out for the celebration last year, and the museum is hoping for as many as 3,000 visitors this time around.Ken Praymak, the museum public relations director, believes a lot of Manitobans still have a love of old trains and a great deal of nostalgia about riding the trains years back."For me personally, my dad worked for Canadian Pacific for 30 years, so I grew up knowing all about trains."Many different organizations will have displays at the event, including the Prairie Dog Central, Transcona Historical Museum, Operation Lifesaver, VIA Rail Canada, Renegades Model Railroad Club, as well as various hobby stores. The weekend will feature railway memorabilia, model railway displays, an Operation Lifesaver display to learn about railway safety, a C.N.R. Pensioners Railway Signals and Communications display, plus a gift shop featuring railway collectibles.The Winnipeg Railway Museum, located on tracks 1 and 2 of the VIA Rail Station, is a project of the Midwestern Rail Association, an organization committed to preserving the history and legacy of the railroads of the Prairie region.A perennial jewel of the museum is the Countess of Dufferin, the first steam locomotive to make it across the Canadian Prairies in the 1870s. The museum was opened in the Union Station at Broadway Avenue and Main Street in 1992.Admission is by donation, with all proceeds towards helping preserve the region's rich and diverse rail heritage.After the event, the museum will continue to be open to the public on weekends from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $2 per person (those 15 years and under are free if accompanied by an adult).

For more information, call the museum at 942-4632.

August 20, 2003

Award-winning Canadian Chef and new menu featured onboard Rocky Mountaineer Railtours
Rolling restaurant provides romantic setting, spectacular changing scenery and epicurean delights

VANCOUVER, CNW/ - A new menu featuring contemporary, Western Canadian cuisine has been created by award-winning Executive Chef Mark Jorundson for Rocky Mountaineer Railtours', North America's largest privately owned passenger rail operator, GoldLeaf Service. The innovative menu spotlights outstanding cuisine from two of Canada's most bountiful regions, British Columbia and Alberta, both visited during the two-day rail trip, and are served in all 11 of the 36-seat Goldleaf Service dining rooms onboard "The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World." As guests travel from the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia to the Canadian Rockies, Chef Jorundson provides guests with the opportunity to sample bi-regional delicacies prepared with the finest local ingredients. Complementing the culinary specialties of British Columbia and Alberta are award-winning wines from the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia's interior region. Raised in Canada and trained in classical European cooking techniques, both in Canada and London, England, Jorundson is one of Canada's most decorated chefs. He has received gold medal culinary competition awards from Canada, Scotland, Berlin and Luxembourg, was a support member of Culinary Team Canada in 1992, Canadian Apprentice of the Year in 1993, and a member of the Bocuse d'Or team in 1998. Reporting to Chef Jorundson are a team of trained sous chefs, each in charge of one of the 11 GoldLeaf Service dome coaches. Each of the custom-built glass dome coaches features a 36-seat private GoldLeaf dining room, equipped with its own galley where the food is prepared fresh daily. Guests descend from their assigned seat on the coach's upper level down a spiral staircase to the intimate dining room below, to be served both breakfast and lunch at elegant tables set with crisp white linens, fine china and glass stemware.Rocky Mountaineer's quintessential Western Canadian culinary experience begins at breakfast with Chef Jorundson's tempting new menu that includes: scrambled eggs wrapped in wild British Columbia smoked salmon, drizzled with dill crème fraiche and topped with caviar; eggs served with bison sausage and oven-roasted tomato, topped with mushrooms and served with a Canadian cheddar biscuit; and home-style harvest granola served with banana bread, fresh strawberries, and low-fat yogurt with a dusting of Nicola Valley bee pollen; Alberta-milled mixed grain banana pancakes served with home-style strawberry and rhubarb compote; and poached eggs nestled on lobster and fresh spinach atop a toasted English muffin, napped with citrus hollandaise. Bi-regional Canadian luncheon specialties include: Northern Alberta freshwater pickerel with red onion marmalade; hearts of romaine with peppered British Columbia goat cheese, drizzled with tangy rhubarb and red lentil vinaigrette; wild mushroom chowder made with Alberta prairie beans and truffled honey; baked wild British Columbia salmon glazed with maple and ginseng, served on cornmeal polenta; Fraser Valley chicken baked in pumpkin seed crust with pumpkin apple puree; and pan-seared British Columbia venison crusted with fireweed honey and wheat flakes. A selection of British Columbia wines from award-winning vintners include Gewurztraminer (Wild Goose Vineyards); Chardonnay/Limited Release (Quail's Gate Winery); Merlot/Mission Hill Reserve (Mission Hill Family Estate); and Cabernet Sauvignon (Burrowing Owl Winery) - all from the renowned Okanagan Valley -- and Sparkling Wine (Stellars Jay Brut) from Summerland. Supplementing the breakfast and luncheon dining room service, and served to guests while seated in their upper level dome coach seats is an array of Canadian cheese, passed hors d'oeuvres, local sweets (including freshly baked cookies), wines and cocktails. Chef Jorundson and Rocky Mountaineer Railtours have perfected the art and expertise of cooking fresh foods daily in efficient, self-contained galleys onboard each coach. In the course of a two-day, all-daylight rail journey, guests on the 11 dome cars will be served approximately 900 eggs, 200 bison sausages, 1,400 muffins and croissants, 400 portions of salmon, 300 chicken breasts, 55 pounds of baby carrots, and 40 pounds of patty pan squash. Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' acclaimed two-day, all-daylight rail journey travels between the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper or Banff and Calgary, Alberta. During its regular season schedule from mid-April to mid-October, there are more than 50 package tours ranging from two to 17 days. Additionally, in December there are four departures featuring winter rail vacations. Headquartered in Vancouver, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours is the largest private passenger rail company in
North America.

TEMPTING CULINARY TIDBITS FROM ROCKY MOUNTAINEER RAILTOURS

What quantities of food are necessary to feed guests in GoldLeaf Service onboard Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' 11 elegant dome rail cars? Under the direction of award-winning Executive Chef Mark Jorundson, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours serves 2,800 freshly cooked meals during the two-day, all-daylight journey through the spectacular regions of British Columbia and Alberta. Chef Jorundson's new and innovative, bi-regional Western Canadian menus require the following ingredients:

Breakfast Ingredients
---------------------
900 eggs
200 bison sausages
600 steaks
30 kg smoked salmon
1,400 muffins and croissants
60 liters hollandaise sauce
200 cantaloupes
1,400 slices fresh oranges
1,400 slices fresh grapefruit

Luncheon Ingredients
--------------------
25 pieces beef strip loin
400 portions salmon
300 chicken breasts
95 kg pork loins
55 kg assorted cheeses
15 pounds fresh spinach
55 pounds baby carrots
40 pounds patty pan squash
1,400 dinner rolls
175 pounds butter
160 liters whipped cream

For additional information or to book a Rocky Mountaineer tour, contact your preferred travel professional or call Rocky Mountaineer Railtours directly at (800) 665-7245, or visit the web site at www.rockymountaineer.com.

August 13, 2003

Fall Colours tour by train

By Bonnie Baltessen

Holidayer

It's quite possible that there is no more beautiful a place than Kenora in the summer, but Kenora in the fall can be even more spectacular. With the Lake of the Woods and all the rock of the shield serving as a base, the trees, some changing to yellow or red, and some not changing at all, provide a canvas that can take your breath away. For that reason, Rail Travel Tours owner operator, Daryl Adair has put together a package that will captivate rail lovers and nature lovers alike. The tour will begin in Winnipeg, at the Union Station and will include a tour of the Winnipeg Railway Museum. The ride on VIA rail will take passengers through some beautiful terrain full of the earthy and vibrant colours of the season, all the way to Sioux Lookout. In order to enjoy the colours even more, the group will head back east to Minaki to spend the day and night in the gorgeous old railway lodge. The tour will see a presentation by Kenora photographer,Tom Thomson. He will show some of the images from his latest project, a book capturing the essence of Lake of the Woods beauty. The following day, tour goers will be boarding a bus and heading to our great city where a tour of the Lake of the Woods Museum will be a highlight of the journey. Travellers new to the area will enjoy the tamaracks especially, the evergreens that aren't. The pallet of colours and the crisp autumn air are almost certainly therapeutic, even if it is unproven. The tour company is extremely proud of this trip and have spent a lot of time putting it together. Adair, a devout fan of both the railroad and northwestern Ontario is certain that his tour will make fans of everyone who signs up.

The tour is booking people already. You can call Rail Travel Tours at 204-897-9551 to register. Toll free. 1-866-704-3528.

August 11, 2003

Riding the Rails
Train travel is booming. These guides can get you on the right track.

By STACY FORSTER
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Hugo and Vivi Martens were tired of busy airports turning their vacations into more of a hassle than an escape. So, instead of starting a recent trip to their condominium in Colorado with a plane trip, the couple boarded an overnight train to Denver from their hometown of Chicago. On board, the Martens, a not-yet-retired 74-year-old printer and 73-year-old homemaker, enjoyed a few hot meals during the 16-hour trip instead of nibbling on a bag of peanuts. Rather than trying to catch some shut-eye while crammed into tiny seats, they stretched out on beds overnight. And they aren't likely to return to flying anytime soon, Mr. Martens says. "Taking the train is far more relaxing than flying," he says. Though the train trip was more expensive than it would have cost to fly coach, he says, it was about the same as if they had upgraded to first class. For the Martens, the most important factor was that they didn't have to sacrifice much time to make their trip more enjoyable. "When you figure in all the hassle at the airport, you don't lose much," Mr. Martens says. At a time when concerns about terrorism, as well as the vulnerabilities of the cash-strapped airline industry, have stripped air travel of any lingering vestige of romance, riding the rails is an increasingly attractive option for many vacationers. Older travelers, in particular, whose schedules often allow more time to get from point A to point B, often find that train travel adds an element of camaraderie to their journeys, says Sue Wilder, a travel-industry consultant based in Chicago."The opportunity to sit in a train car and chat, and then go to the dining car where you're seated with other people and have a conversation -- retirees really enjoy it," Ms. Wilder says. The Martens, for their part, are now train-travel pros: They've traversed Canada, rolled up the Mississippi River from New Orleans, and even traveled with their bridge club to London, Ontario, using specially made bridge tables built to fit in between the seats of the train car. The advantages, when compared with other methods of travel, are evident: leg room; hot meal service; and luggage at arm's length, rather than in an airplane's cargo compartment or overhead bin.Of course, rail travel isn't appropriate for every trip, Ms. Wilder notes. If you need to get somewhere fast, a train isn't the answer. And recent financial troubles and schedule reductions in some U.S. and Canadian rail service mean less availability for seats on many popular routes during the busy summer season. That's why travelers should book their train tickets first, and then arrange the rest of their vacation around the rail portion, says Joe Mann, president of N.E.W.S. Travel, a Chicago travel agency.

If you're thinking about taking a trip by rail for your next vacation, here are some of the best Web sites to get you started:

General Sites

VIA Rail
* www.viarail.com
* 888-842-7245 (888-VIA-RAIL)
The Canadian rails are favorites with many travelers, who enjoy the change in topography from the cities in the east through the Midwestern plains on into the Canadian Rockies. Fifty-six-year-old Sandy Walker, a nurse from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and her 61-year-old husband, Harvey, a hobby-product manufacturer, had eight days of what she calls "nonworry travel" on a journey to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, north of Vancouver."We've flown to British Columbia before, but you don't see any of the country," Ms. Walker says. Moreover, the VIA Rail guides on the train kept them entertained with stories and anecdotes about the small towns they passed.VIA Rail's Web site, like that of its U.S. counterpart Amtrak, allows users to purchase tickets directly on the Internet. The site also includes dozens of links to rail-travel packages offered by a handful of travel agencies that specialize in Canadian train trips, whether you want to ride from Toronto to Vancouver, or travel north from Winnipeg to look for polar bears on the Hudson Bay.A special section of the Web site is devoted to travel for older adults, with details about accommodations, services for those with special needs and meals for people with dietary restrictions. The reservation feature is easy to navigate and offers alternatives if a user's original choices aren't available. Make sure to book early; the trans-Canadian route is incredibly popular, and seats can be hard to come by.
DISCOUNTS: Passengers age 60 or over automatically receive a 10% discount, but special deals will often deliver bigger savings. Right now, the purchase of a ticket at the regular price earns passengers a free economy-class ticket for a traveling partner -- whether that's a spouse, friend or grandchild. With the purchase of a first-class ticket, travelers receive a discount of as much as 75% off a companion fare

Rail Travel Tours
* www.railtraveltours.com
* 866-704-3528
Taking much the same approach as Elderhostel, this Winnipeg-based travel agency uses the Canadian rail system to teach travelers about the country's history, culture and geography. These aren't run-of-the-mill tours: A guided trip through Manitoba in October takes travelers into the heart of polar-bear country, while a tour north from Winnipeg next February will involve cheering on the mushers in the World Championship Sled Dog Race.The Walkers have taken several Rail Travel Tours trips, reaching parts of Canada they hadn't ever thought of visiting. "On the train, you see the small towns and back places that you'd never get to," Ms. Walker says. (The agency will also book independent trips for people wishing to travel on their own.)
DISCOUNTS: For some packages, discounts for older adults may be available

-Back to top-

August 7, 2003

Push is on at Railway museum

Dean Bassett
Kimberley Daily Bulletin

CRANBROOK -- The push is on to complete the brick facade for the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel's new digs. "One of our current priorities is to complete the front brick so that the building facing our main highway doesn't continue to look half-finished for the next year," said Len Archibald, chair of the museum's building fund committee. "We need to have either donations or commitments by September so the brick contractor can order the appropriate amount of bric k and spend the time necessary to complete the labour intensive work." The concern is that winter will prevent work after September, which would delay the brick project until mid-2004. To date, the building facade brick program has been quite successful, although it's taking more time than first anticipated.The brick work has been divided into "panels", each available for a charitable donation. As of last Friday, there were only eight brick panels available for donations, which means 13 are completed or about two-thirds of the goal. All three brick panels on the front entrance have been donated, including the three tall decorative windows and door units. Two of the six street-side brick panels of the Royal Alexandra Hall have been sponsored, leaving four still available. All four window and door units on the southwest side (facing the trains) have been donated, but the four brick panels are still available. According to museum executive director Garry Anderson, each brick panel costs $7,000 -- this includes the steel support framework, window awning and upper projection for the future decorative cornice. "The window covers were installed when the shell for the Royal Alexandra Hall was built in 2000," Anderson said. Donations can be made lump sum, or pledged over two or more years to make the $7,000 more manageable (the Sunrise Rotary Club took this approach in giving $3,500 in two consecutive years). A single donor over five years works out to roughly $1,400 per year."A group of five downtown merchants recently donated the last of the two tall decorative windows on the main hall at a cost of $8,000," Archibald said. "Each paid $800 per year for two years -- something they considered very manageable."He added, "I am sure many others in our business community can do the same, and I challenge them to be creative." Each donation comes with a charitable, tax-deductible receipt, are noted on the permanent "Wall of Donors" in the main entrance hall. Donations are also marked with a bronze plaque attached to a window sill of the particular brick panel. "Wal-Mart has sponsored one of the brick panels on the Royal Alexandra Hall and we are intending to build that one this fall," Archibald said. "If others come forward with pledges, we can order the brick and do more before winter. However, we need to know of any commitments by this September."

For more information contact either Len Archibald at 489-5122 or Garry Anderson at 489-3918.

August 1, 2003

Tourist boom from dome car trains

Prince Rupert Daily News

Via Rail will boost its tourist itinerary into and out of Prince Rupert from next week, with an extra departure from Jasper on the scenic Skeena line, and the chance for more visitors to sample a 360 degree view from the newly introduced panorama dome cars. The new fourth weekly departure will be launched next Tuesday, August 5, with a celebration and tour of the train at Jasper's rail station and a smaller reception in Prince Rupert when the extra train gets here the following evening on its inaugural run. But there is even better news for north west tourism boosters, said Joe Volk, regional director for Via from his Vancouver office today -- the peak season for train travel is being dramatically stretched, so that visitors now want to make the trip right into mid-October."There has been a tourism market shift and the heaviest time now can be the Fall" Volk told The Daily News. "We've started calling it the super-peak season." He said tourists love the route which runs through the rockies, through dense forest and into the alpine around Smithers, then the lush Skeena River Valley. "It is very very popular. The U.K., American and German markets are our biggest. They call it magnificent untouched scenery. It got to the point where the tri-weekly runs were putting too much pressure on the system. We got a late start this year but from next year a fourth run -- each way -- will be part of our itinerary from mid-May." Volk calls it a "community-based train" with tour companies and visitors made welcome all along the route. There are usually two dome cars on the train, with 78 and 64 seats. Each fully-booked train brings about 250 new faces into Rupert. But Volk points to another growing trend: use of the route by locals, not just for sightseeing, but as a mode of transportation from one town to another.A cheap seat in what is called "comfort class" costs about $50 a day, says Via Rail. There are usually two dome cars available on the train, featuring a state-of-the-art glass panoramic skylight.Via Rail calls the scenery spectacular, and sells our city this way to potential customers: "The last stop on the Skeena's westward journey is the coastal city of Prince Rupert which boasts a number of interesting attractions."It mentions the Pacific Historic Fishing Village, Museum of Northern B.C., day-trips into the Khutzeymateen Valley for grizzly viewing and ferry connections to Vancouver Island and Alaska.The 725 mile trip from Jasper takes two days and is all done in daylight with an overnight stop in Prince George.From here, Volk says, most visitors continue on to Port Hardy and down to Victoria on the so-called triangle route. But many take Alaska ferries and others fly out. There will be a small celebration at the Crest Hotel when the inaugural run gets into town about 8.15pm on Wednesday night, said Via Rail. * In other rail news, the Liberals, who recently backed away from privatization of the Coquihalla Highway, are being reminded of additional public opposition to the sale or privatization of BC Rail. The Council of Trade Unions and the B.C. Federation of Labour commissioned a poll in Prince George which they say shows an overwhelming 83 per cent of residents think Premier Gordon Campbell and his government are breaking an election promise not to sell or privatize BC Rail. They said the poll of 400 people showed 70.3 are opposed entirely to allowing a private company to operate BC Rail. "Communities already hurt by government cut-backs and the softwood lumber dispute are looking at an even bleaker economic future" predicted Lance Yearley, vice-president of the Council.BC Rail Unions are scheduled to take a strike vote Thursday August 7, saying job action might represent the last chance to keep the company in public hands.

Monday, July 21, 2003

A passenger train that lets you travel back in time
Immerse yourself in history - or Churchill's bathtub

J. Kelly Nestruck
National Post

The Royal Canadian Pacific was made in the 1920s to transport VIPs.

What do Winston Churchill, Montel Williams and Polish Canadians have in common? They've all left their mark on the Mount Royal, one of seven cars that make up the Royal Canadian Pacific, a luxury vintage passenger train run by Canadian Pacific Railway."Step back into an era of transportation that doesn't exist any more," urges David Walker, the managing director of the Royal Canadian Pacific and its chief ambassador, as he climbed aboard last Friday during a brief stopover in Toronto.The cars were constructed in the 1920s to transport such VIPs as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (they crossed Canada in one of the cars during the 1939 Royal Visit).After CP stopped its passenger service in the '70s, many of these historic cars languished in sheds, falling into disrepair. Then, four years ago, the Mount Royal and her sister cars were resurrected and painstakingly restored, right down to the intricate inlays in the walnut-wood by Polish artisans. Now it's fit for a new generation of the rich and famous.Filmmakers George Lukas and Francis Ford Coppola have both chartered the cars for their families and friends, as has Microsoft's CEO Bill Gates. Talk-show host Montel Williams has booked the train twice.A Royal Canadian Pacific vacation is not for everyone, with a car costing about US$1,000 per person per day. Indeed, says Walker, a 20-day trans-Canada tour powered by a steam engine next May, at US$29,000 per person, will be the most expensive train trip ever, pricier even than the fabled Orient Express.The Mount Royal is usually the first car to be booked on any of the Royal Canadian Pacific's trips, because it shuttled Winston Churchill during the Quebec Conference during the Second World War. For those who would truly like to immerse themselves in history, the bathtub -- the very one Churchill would have soaked in after a hard day of military strategizing -- is still in place (though, because of modern-day regulations, smoking a cigar in the tub is not permitted and the tub's ashtray now functions as a soap dish).Walker is promoting travel on the RCP because travel on luxe trains, like all tourist ventures, has been hurt by SARS: 97% of the clients come from outside of Canada so this year an extra push is being made to persuade Canadians to book passage aboard the train: "Sometimes you miss out on what's in your own back yard," he said. "This is Canada's history right here."The Royal Canadian Pacific runs from May until October. For more information the train's tours and trips, visit www.cprtours.com or call 1-877-665-3044.; knestruck@nationalpost.com

July 16, 2003

Luxury train makes stop in Rupert

Prince Rupert Daily News
Lynda Lafleur

The sound of a train engine echoed through the streets of Prince Rupert Tuesday night. On board, 40 passengers were watching the harbour and returning from dinners in local restaurants. A chef and steward were preparing for a night's stay in Rupert. But this was no ordinary train -- it's a rolling museum. A Via engine had been hired to pull five vintage-quality rail cars. The cars, originating from Sacramento, Chicago, Spokane and Buffalo, were assembled in Shelby, Montana before heading up to Canada. "We just love coming up to Canada," said Keith Decker, a guest on this trip. He went on to say Canadians were very friendly, the scenery is fabulous and he feels Canadians and Americans have so much in common. David Hoffman is the proud owner of two cars, originally made by Union Pacific. They had their heyday from the 1950s till the 80s and Hoffman purchased them when they were "looking for a home." Hoffman, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the owner of a company called "Northern Sky -- America's Luxury Rail Experience." He told The Daily News there is no better way to holiday with good friends. Northern Sky rents the cars to guests on a weekly basis, and there are many cities from which to choose.The passengers on these cars are rail enthusiasts. If they don't own a car themselves, they rent them for family holidays.They attend conventions of the Association of American Railroads, and spoke of their 1996 trip to the Nelson, BC convention. "Without Via Rail's cooperation, these types of trips would not be possible," said Hoffman. They travel behind a regularly scheduled Via Rail service, hence their arrival in Prince Rupert.Their trip started in Chicago July 5 and will end on the 24th. They went to Calgary where they enjoyed several days at the stampede. They visited Jasper and Banff. They took a detour on the Rocky Mountaineer and visited Vancouver and Kamloops along the way. The group visited North Pacific Cannery, the museum and tasted local seafood at restaurants. Hoffman said they purchased quite a few items that were made in the area. Several passengers chartered float planes and boat charters to experience as much as possible during their stay. The five rail cars stayed overnight at the Via Rail station at Waterfront Park. They attracted many onlookers as the cars are so beautifully restored. A tour through the luxury cars showed everything a passenger can expect. The kitchen is staffed with a chef, the dining room -- and the wine list is stunning. The dome car provides passengers with a panoramic view of scenery as they travel through the country. Sleeping quarters are equal to those offered by the cruise ships."We offer similar quality as do the cruises," said Hoffman. The cost is roughly the same. He has travelled by his rail cars to Sidney, Nova Scotia on the east coast, "and now we've taken our cars to Canada's most western point accessible by rail," said Hoffman. He pointed out that Canada is a favoured rail destination for American travelers. There was one bad note to their stop in Prince Rupert, but it was not shared with all 40 passengers. A rail employee berated them about the Americans' policy on softwood and the recent banning of Canadian beef. While Hoffman understands these opinions were not shared by every Canadian, he was concerned that American visitors would be treated in such a manner. With that experience in mind, Hoffman was asked if he would return to Prince Rupert, or encourage others to travel to the northwest. "Definitely yes," he said. "One person isn't going to spoil years of enjoyment, but it should not happen."

July 15, 2003

Royal Bank donates $10,000 to Railway Museum

Cranbrook Daily Townsman
Gerry Warner

CRANBROOK -- The capital fund-raising drive for the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel has received another major donation.This time it was the Cranbrook branch of the Royal Bank of Canada, which stepped forward with a donation of $10,000. The bank's donation brings the total donated so far to $110,000, just over half of the $200,000 target of the campaign. Maureen Foxworthy, manager of personal financial services at the Cranbrook branch of the Royal, said the bank regards expansion of the railway museum an important benefit to the community. "We are very pleased to offer this type of assistance to the museum. It is an integral part of the community and brings increased tourism to our city. We view this as a long-term investment in the people of Cranbrook and the region and we challenge other financial institutions to donate to this worthy community project," she said. The $90,000 that has yet to be raised will determine when the museum's new facilities will be ready to open to the public, said Len Archibald, chairman of the museum's capital fund-raising committee. Donations like the Royal's really help to put the fundraising target within reach, he said. "We are very pleased with this substantial community donation. We urge others to follow the lead of our donors and make a contribution to the project," he said. But all the donations don't have to be big, he said. "Many people giving a little can do a lot." Museum Executive Director Garry Anderson said the current fundraising drive is doing well, but more money is needed if the Royal Alexandra Hall is going to open to the public soon . "This is the local component of the project and it's the first time in 27 years that we've gone to the community for capital funds," Anderson said. The $200,000 capital goal represents about four per cent of the funds needed to complete the project, he said. Most of the $500,000 balance has already been raised from outside sources, but these sources are limited and it's essential for the $200,000 to be raised locally so that the museum can access another $175,000 in matching federal funds. "This will determine in large part the opening of the rest of the facility," Anderson said. Local residents wanting to donate can make their donations through the East Kootenay Credit Unit or by contacting Archibald, who is chairman of the Capital Fundraising Committee. The museum is now in the process of moving its operations to the south end of the museum development property and last September moved 14 vintage display cars to the site. Edition: Final Story Type: News Note: Chris Marchand photo / Left to right: Merv Anderson, with the Royal Bank; Len Archibald, chairman of the Capital Fundraising committee; Maureen Foxworthy, manager of personal financial services at the Royal Bank.

July 13, 2003

Sentimental journey
Climb aboard the Rocky Mountaineer for history, scenery, pampering

TORONTO SUN
ROBIN ROBINSON

People come from all over the world to take the scenic rail journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. They come for many reasons: A chance to view the magnificent Rockies closeup, an opportunity to see wildlife from the safety of a train or to indulge an interest in railroad history. A trip aboard the Rocky Mountaineer will satisfy all these desires. But for this Canadian, a recent journey from Vancouver to Banff had a deeper meaning. It not only brought history to life, but also gave me an understanding of the spirit and passion that turned the building of a railway to link our land from east to west into our country's national dream.It was, of course, the dream of our first Prime Minister -- John A. Macdonald -- who believed a transcontinental railway would give our young country a sense of nationhood.Beginning in 1880, one of the greatest engineering challenges of its time began. Today, flags from every province fly at Craigellachie, B.C., where a plaque reads: "Here was driven the last spike completing Canadian Pacific Railway from ocean to ocean Nov. 7, 1885." And where else but in Canada, would a rock from each province and territory be placed in a cairn to mark a historic site?

GRAND RAILWAY HOTELS

Today, the story of the railway has been well documented, including in song by Gordon Lightfoot (Canadian Railroad Trilogy) and in literature by Pierre Berton (The National Dream and The Last Spike). And despite regional bickering and separatist movements, Canada endures. So does Canadian Pacific. The rail line brought people and goods west. Cities and grand railway hotels sprang up along the route. The modern CPR, a multinational corporation, is now mainly a freight railway -- long since abandoning most of its passenger routes -- and owner of the luxury Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. The demand for leisure rail travel along historic routes remains and is filled in part by Rocky Mountaineer Railtours, a Vancouver-based company that operates its trains over CPR and CN Rail tracks. Forty different tours -- from two days to 17 days -- combine scenic daylight rail trips with stays in Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Banff, Jasper and Calgary. Frequent departures from mid-April to mid-October include fall colour tours. In December, there are holiday excursions. There are two levels of service -- Gold Leaf and Red Leaf. Gold Leaf is the gold standard -- dome car seating, restaurant-style meals in the dining car and serious pampering. Red Leaf provides traditional seating and meals at your seat. Both provide entertaining commentary about the geography, history and wildlife of the area. Passengers can go to vestibules between cars to enjoy the view and take photographs. My journey began in Vancouver, where I spent two nights at the Fairmont Waterfront. The hotel faces Burrard Inlet, and is everything you'd expect of a luxury hotel -- with a few West Coast twists. These include bicycles for sightseeing and the presence of Morgan, the hotel's "K-9 ambassador."Chef and author Stephen Wong took me and my travelling companions on a tour of Granville Island's unique shops and historic market. Granville Market is a bit like St. Lawrence Market -- but with fewer grocery stalls and more irresistible eateries! That afternoon we drove out to Horseshoe Bay for a "sea safari" at Sewell's Marina. Under the watchful eye of sales and marketing manager Paul Yates, our group donned survival suits before zooming around the bay in a rigid hull inflatable. Despite my bearing a distinct resemblance to the Michelin man, it was great fun. Between salt spray and wave running we got closeup views of harbour seals, sea lions, cormorants and other sea birds. Next day, it was "all aboard" for our rail adventure. We pulled out of Central Pacific Station at 7 a.m., made a Champagne toast, then headed to the dining car for breakfast -- freshly baked pastries, eggs, pancakes, smoked salmon and steaming mugs of coffee or tea. An exhausting morning of relaxing in our dome car worked up an appetite. So we headed once again to the dining car for lunch. As we rolled east, we passed a kaleidoscope of changing landscapes -- fertile fields of the Fraser Valley, towering Coastal Mountains, Hell's Gate, the mighty Thompson River, Avalanche Alley, hoodoos and ponderosa pines.

PHOTO-OPS
Our attendants, Claude and Randy, kept us well supplied with both snacks and facts -- wildlife sightings, local history, railway lore and good photo opportunities. Before we pulled into Kamloops, we received keys for our rooms at the Comfort Inn, where our luggage was waiting. That night we ventured out to Two River Junction for a home-style buffet dinner and the high-energy musical Tales From The Rails. Early the next morning, it was full diesel ahead to Banff. Again, spectacular vistas unfolded around us -- Shuswap Lake, Craigellachie, the Continental Divide, the Columbia and Kicking Horse Rivers, Rogers Pass, Yoho National Park, the Spriral Tunnels through Mt. Ogden and Cathedral Mountain -- as we journeyed through the Rockies and into Banff. I've never had the urge to see the Rockies. As a "water person" -- a lover of shorelines and beaches -- I've never been drawn to mountains. After visiting Banff National Park, I now know why millions of people make the trek. They are awe inspiring. Words like wild and majestic may describe their beauty, but only face-to-face can you feel their power. To add to the fairy-tale quality of the trip, our lodging for the next two nights was the Fairmont Banff Springs. A grand railway hotel in the truest sense, the castle-like resort offers mountain views from its luxurious rooms.

WORTH THE SPLURGE
The Banff Springs is not what you would call a budget resort. But it's worth splurging on at least one night at the iconic property -- at least treat yourself to a meal or a drink at one of their restaurants or lounges. On our second day in Banff, we drove to Jasper National Park for a glacier tour. The Athabasca Glacier is part of the Columbia Icefield, which is so huge it can be seen from space. SnoCoaches take visitors onto the ice, where you can get out and walk around. Even if you go in summer, bring a jacket. It's like stepping out of July and into January. Then a gentle hike and dinner at another grand railway hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise -- the hike courtesy of the hotel's Mountain Heritage program.Naturalist Bruce Bembridge briefed us on mountaineering history and explained why the lake is such an alluring shade of milky turquoise. (Silt from nearby glaciers runs off and is suspended below the surface of the water.)Over drinks in the lobby bar, communications director Anne White told us the hotel draws many celebrity guests. As if on cue, Ted Danson strolled by. That and the sighting of two black bears on the road between Banff and Jasper made the day truly memorable.All too soon it was time to head to Calgary to stay at another elegant railway hotel (the Fairmont Palliser), before my flight back to Toronto. En route to the airport, the cabbie and I chatted about our country's woes. We concluded that Canada would survive another 137 years if only our politicians would practise common sense.I also made a vow to do this trip again with my husband, George, who is a retired locomotive engineer and major train buff. I know he'd enjoy the ride into railway history.

Note to readers and political leaders: This trip would do wonders to foster a true sense of national unity.

BOTTOM LINE
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER RAILTOURS: Contact 1-800-665-7245 or www.rockymountaineer.com. Ask about their fall colour specials.
FAIRMONT HOTELS: Contact 1-877-441-1414 or www.fairmont.com.
VANCOUVER TOURISM: Contact 604-682-2222 or www.tourismvan couver.com.
SEWELL'S SEA SAFARI: Contact 604-921-3474 or www.sewellsmarina.com.
BANFF-LAKE LOUISE TOURISM: Contact 403-762-0270 or www.BanffLake Louise.com.
COLUMBIA ICEFIELD: Glacier tours run from mid-April to mid-October. Contact 1-877-423-7433.
DINING OUT: There are many bright lights on the Western Canadian dining scene. These include:
- Vancouver -- The elegantly laidback 900 West at Fairmont Vancouver; Sand Bar (great seafood and heated patio) on Granville Island; and Lumiere, where the illuminated bar and fine dining are almost performance art.
- Banff -- Try breakfast or brunch at Bow River Grill and dinner at Castello's Ristorante in the Banff Springs.
- Chateau Lake Louise -- The Wallis Stube fondue restaurant is great fun for a group.
- Calgary -- Murrietta's Westcoast Grill for yummy casual meals.

July 12, 2003

The ultimate getaway
Right in your own back yard

Windsor Star
Laura Robin For CanWest News Service

We're being encouraged to stay in Canada this year, as a sort of patriotic duty in troubled times for tourism. But a Canadian holiday should never be thought of as second-best. People around the world consider Canada a premier destination. They pay big money to hike in the mountains, go whale watching or soak in secret hot springs -- all with great food and a luxurious bed to return to at night. From West Coast to East, here are five ultimate Canadian vacations:

West Coast wonders
The cool West Coast is hot. King Pacific Lodge, a floating wilderness lodge off the coast of BC, was recently named one of the Top 10 beach hotels in Canada and the United States. The Wickaninnish Inn, at Tofino on Vancouver Island, was named the No. 1 hotel in North America by Travel+Leisure magazine. The New York Times and travel magazines have recently been raving about the cuisine in cosmopolitan Vancouver. So Entree Canada, a company set up to market Canada to movie stars, wisely features lots of West-Coast secrets. Most of this tour company's itineraries are tailor-made for its well-heeled clients, celebrities who want their privacy protected, but here's a sample. Called Adventures for the Gourmet, an eight-night journey starts with lunch on a yacht off Vancouver and dinner at the chef's table at Lumiere, Vancouver's hottest restaurant. Next, a private helicopter whisks you up to Whistler, where you go on a bear-watching expedition, plus try out a zip-line -- zipping from tree to tree on a series of cables. A seaplane next takes you to Saltspring Island, to meet artists and go for a gulf-islands sail, before snorkelling with the salmon at Campbell River. Finally, you end up at the most elegant Outpost Camp, at Clayoquot Sound, where you sleep in a tent that comes with hardwood floors, antiques and deep down duvets. Total price: $38,000 per person. See www.entreecanada.com or call 1-888-999-6556.

Rockies by rail
Butterfield & Robinson is known the world over as the company that pioneered the concept of hiking and biking between luxury hotels. What few realize is that the company is Canadian. More than 90 per cent of Butterfield & Robinson clients are American and typical tours are biking through Burgundy or sojourns in Provence. But there's increasing interest in Canada, says Cari Gray, a spokesman for the 37-year-old Toronto company. "Canada as a destination has really evolved over the last few years as a high-end product." Take B&R's take on the world-famous Rockies. You travel by vintage, restored CPR train, the same one used by Queen Elizabeth and Sir Winston Churchill and your cabin is larger than those on the Orient Express. But you don't just gawk at the snowcapped mountains and alpine meadows. Every day, the train stops so you can cycle on a custom-made bicycle, with a van nearby to take you back to the train if you get too tired. Special hikes, white-water rafting, gourmet meals, Okanagan wines and a soak in a secret hot springs are also part of the package.Price: about $7,600 per person, based on double occupancy. See www.butterfield.com or call 1-800-678-1147.

Churchill (really!)
To most Canadian ears, Churchill, Man., does not, perhaps, sound like an exotic destination. But Churchill has recently been named one of the Top 10 wildlife-viewing destinations in the world. Where else can you see polar bears up close in winter, beluga whales in summer? Many Americans and Europeans consider a trip to Churchill, where five eco-systems converge, a trip of a lifetime. The Baltimore Zoo is even recreating Churchill in a new polar bear exhibit to open in October, complete with Churchill street signs and real-time videos of what's happening on the tundra. Probably the ultimate way to see polar bears up close is on a trip put on by International Wildlife Adventures, a company based in Winnipeg that owns the trademarked Tundra Buggy from which you can safely get almost nose to nose with the bears. More than 90 per cent of Wildlife Adventures' customers are American and the next biggest group includes people from Britain and Germany. For about $2,500 per person, you can take a summer tour called Belugas, Birds and Blooms, where, from a Zodiac, you'll see as many as 4,000 belugas as they gather in the Churchill River estuary, all kinds of rare birds and flowers and maybe, if you're lucky, a polar bear. The company's premier trips, though, go in November, to the ultimate destination for seeing polar bears as they congregate at Cape Churchill. With a maximum of 10 people per buggy, these trips include photo opportunities from viewing platforms, accommodations in mobile units right on the cape, evening presentations in a lounge and lots of looks at breathtaking northern lights. These 11- or 12-day trips are about $6,500 per person. See www.wildlifeadventures.com or call 1-800-663-9832.

Montreal magnifique
Americans are flocking to Montreal to sample its fine cuisine, boutique hotels and French charm -- and such a relief to not actually have to go to France. Montreal is where Americans are fulfilling European travel fantasies at Canadian prices, says PureCanada, a new Canadian travel magazine. In a speech to travel writers and travel companies in New York City recently, Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, said she couldn't believe the transformation of Montreal over the past decade, from a sad city that was shutting down to one that's cosmopolitan, vibrant, awake later than New York, full of great food and where men look at women in a frankly appreciative, European way. Gourmet will be going back. Old Montreal is all new, with at least a half-dozen haute hotels opening in the past year. The most exclusive of these is Hotel Le St. James, targeted at film stars and where rates go as high as $2,000 a night for a suite with space enough for your staff to prepare your private meal. Another new one, Hotel Gault, made the glossy American Conde Nast Traveler's recent list of hot new properties. It has loft-style rooms, Montreal-made designer furniture and marble tubs for two. Rates from $349 to $749.Savannah, recently opened on Saint Laurent Boulevard in the trendy le Plateau area of Montreal, is collecting kudos for its fusion-southern-soul cuisine: it was one of only two Canadian restaurants to make Conde Nast Traveler's "hot tables of 2003" list. Other trendy tables include Pied de Cochon on Duluth and Lemeac, Anise and La Chronique, all on Laurier Avenue West. Looking for a fresh way to see Montreal? Rent a bike or inline skates in the Old Port, near the IMAX theatre (www.veloaventure.com). Then travel west along the recently re-opened Lachine Canal: 14 km to the end, or four km to the Atwater Market, where you can pick up a picnic of fresh bread and local cheeses. Heading back east, go to Parc Jean-Drapeau (www.parcjeandrapeau.com), site of Expo 67, for a swim, cycling, a fireworks festival or a free pedal around the Formula 1 racetrack.

The Rock
Way out in the Atlantic, craggy and inhospitable, nowhere is quite like Newfoundland. Tourists are visiting from around the world to see North America's largest concentration of humpback whales, massive icebergs, communities where the world's oldest English dialects have been preserved and fiords and rocky coasts offering what some say is the best sea kayaking on the planet. With Butterfield & Robinson, you do it all. You start with a sail from St. John's up the coast to the historic fishing village of Trinity, where you stay at the nearby Fisher's Loft. Shown right, the charming inn was home to Kevin Spacey and Judi Dench while they were filming The Shipping News. After days spent hiking along the coast and a sunset cruise to see whales, you fly to the other side of the island, to spectacular Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. There, you stay at the elegant Strawberry Hill Resort, spending your days kayaking, hiking and sightseeing and with an optional outing to fish for monster salmon. This five-night trip costs $3,800 per person. See www.butterfield.com or call 1-800-678-1147.

Thursday, July 10, 2003

Trains tooted as Banff option
Study will consider rail's return

Cathy Ellis
For the Calgary Herald

A new study is looking at the return of Via service to Banff. The return of passenger train service from Calgary to Banff National Park, after an absence of more than a decade, is being investigated as part of a $135,000 study to deal with the Bow Valley's pressing transportation problems. Railway service for the public is also being billed as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Banff, where visitor transportation accounts for about 63 per cent of energy consumption. Municipal environmental services director Steven Gasser said railway passenger service would be considered as part of a regional transportation study. "To get a daily-service train, like in the 1970s, is one of my personal visions, but it's a very difficult one because of the expense," said Gasser. "It will need partnerships, government and private, to get there because CP will not do it. This will be dealt with the railway industry over the next year or so." Canadian Pacific Railway spokeswoman Darcie Park said the company has not been formally approached on the issue. "We will wait and see how things develop with the study and see what their intentions are," she said. Daily passenger train service between Banff and Calgary, part of the historic transcontinental route through the southern Rockies operated by Via Rail, came to an end after federal government funding was eliminated in 1990. Since then, privately owned Rocky Mountaineer Railtours has operated train tours between Calgary and Vancouver, via Banff and Jasper, every summer. The new regional transportation study, paid for by Banff, Parks Canada and the Alberta government, to be completed by May, will look at the possibility of a centralized visitor transportation system in Banff. The number of vehicles on the Trans-Canada Highway is increasing by two to three per cent every year, a trend that is expected to continue with expansion of Calgary and Canmore. Concerns have been raised about the impact of this traffic on Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise, such as parking pressures, greenhouse gas emissions and overcrowding. It is estimated more than 80 per cent of visitors to Banff arrive in private vehicles, with predictions the number of day visitors will continue to climb in the coming decades. The total energy consumption in Banff in 2000 was estimated to have been 5.2 million gigajoules at an estimated cost of $62.4 million.Visitor transportation in Banff is estimated to account for 63 per cent of energy consumption. In Whistler, B.C., it is estimated to account for 54 per cent. Banff is also investigating levels of cancer-causing benzene detected in the town's air, believed to be coming from the huge volume of vehicles and buses. The latest tests suggest the levels are not as high as first thought, but the municipality is doing more monitoring for the toxic chemical this summer, when traffic is at its heaviest. Innes Hood, a Vancouver-based consultant for the Town of Banff, said the municipality must address its transportation problems for environmental and economic reasons. "You may have a benzene issue, you have parking congestion and traffic congestion. You have a transportation issue and it needs to be addressed," he said. "There's a huge emissions impact associated from this piece of the pie, but you also have $62 million leaving your community," said Hood, of the Sheltair Group. Banff's community-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction target is to be six per cent less than 1990 levels within the next 10 years. "If you can get people on their bikes, into buses and trains, you will have a substantial impact in achieving your target," said Hood.

Cathy Ellis is a reporter for the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

July 2, 2003

Ribbon cut for railroad museum

Miner and News Staff
By Bonnie Baltessen

Kenora proved to be every bit the railroad town that it claims to be as about 70 people showed up for Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony for opening the Lake of the Woods Railroad Museum. It was the culmination of tireless work by the retired railroaders who couldn't have been more proud of their efforts.Master of ceremonies Ron Baker, a retired railroader and one of the main forces behind the 12-year evolution of the museum, introduced many people who had come to pay homage to their railroad roots. Howard Hampton spoke to the crowd and told the railroaders, "Great job. Well done."The special guest was Tom Hickey, who married Leslie Ann Heenan, granddaughter of Peter Heenan. He gave a brief history of the late Peter Heenan's influence on the community and the railroad. He was in attendance to help unveil the plaque that will be on display at the Lake of the Woods Museum site to honour Heenan. Heenan had been an engineer for the railroad, but his love for the area directed him into the path of politics while he lobbied for things he believed in to enhance Canada, and his area. He was Minister of Labour in the federal cabinet and Minister of Lands and Forests for the Ontario government. He brought Old Age Pensions into being and took a lot of seniors out of poverty because of it. Proud of the Heenan legacy, Hickey had brought with him an entourage that included 13 members of the Heenan family. He expressed a deep appreciation and satisfaction that the Heenan plaque would be located at the Lake of the Woods Railroad Museum. Hickey also presented the retired railroaders with a substantial contribution toward the murals that will begin to be painted on July 4. He appealed to other railroad families to dig deep and donate as well. Hickey then called Heenan's namesake, his grandson Peter, to actually unveil the plaque. Heenan is a retired Air Canada pilot.The event had surprises too. Al Bittle, from the Canadian Pacific Railway police service, donated a plaque to the retired railroaders to honour all of their hard work and devotion. Other speakers, Jim Parsons, Terry White, Pat Brett and Pippi Johnson, spoke enthusiastically about the work that has been done. Looking around the crowd, you could see some people dabbing at their eyes as the emotion of the event swept them away. The ribbon was cut by Coun. Ron Lunny, on behalf of the city. Baker was clearly thrilled by the turnout and support for the museum. He says that there is still work left to do, including the placement of the many plaques that were presented to the museum throughout the ceremony. "Lot's of things still have to come in," says Baker. While he felt a sense of relief, he knew there was still a lot to be done. Peter Malashewski, a railway worker, whose wife was also a railway worker, said that the opening was "beyond expectations." He recalls feeling "proud as punch" when the caboose became phase one of the museum saga.Bob Tait, who's father was a conductor, remembers going with his father to the caboose. "When I was a child, I was taken to the conductor's place. I looked forward to it." He goes on to cite the railway influence in his family. "My uncles, my dad, everyone - they provided a lot of jobs," he says of the CPR. The event was enhanced with refreshments and doughnuts served while people waited to see the wonderful model railroad. Congratulatory floral arrangements were sent by Page Florists and the Lake of the Woods Museum. There was also willing entertainment provided by Kenora's own Other Mothers' Sons, The Foreman Four and Backporch.

June 27, 2003

Okanagan Wine train cancelled this summer

Kelowna Daily Courier

It's the end of line for the Okanagan Valley Wine Train. The Kelowna-to-Vernon train will not operate this summer, but its owners hope to get back on track next year. A failed attempt to secure a partnership with local investors and rising insurance premiums are blamed for the train's cancellation. The tourist train, which runs between Kelowna and Vernon, started operation in 1999."We had been working with a group of Okanagan investors, but unfortunately their financing has not come through, and the partnership did not fall into place in time for the upcoming season," owner Bob Nagel said Thursday. "We firmly believe it's a viable and exciting tourism product, and we stress this is only a suspension of operations," said Nagel's wife Patricia, the train's manager. "We're determined to get back on track in the Okanagan next season," she said.The Nagels, owners of Edmonton-based Nagel Tours, bought more than two dozen old Supercontinental train cars in the late 1990s from Via Rail. Their original intention was to run a tourist train between Edmonton and Camrose, Alta, but switched their plans to the Okanagan."I've been in the tour business for 25 years and I'm a firm believer that the Okanagan is one of the best tourist destinations in Canada," Nagel said in June 2001. "Riding the train is the greatest way to see what the valley's all about."The train originally ran five days a week, but the frequency was later scaled back as ridership was below expectations, with about 15,000 passengers a year.Nagel has acknowledged he lost a considerable amount of money on the train, but he recouped some of the losses by selling off several of the rail cars. People who've made reservations for this year have had their money refunded.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

June 24, 2003

ALBERTA RAILWAY MUSEUM ACQUIRES CN CLASSIC CAB LOCOMOTIVES

Railpace Magazine

The Alberta Railway Museum will receive ex CN GMD FP9 6514 (AC1753) and ex CN GMD FP9B 6614 (AC1762) in the next few days. CN has generously donated them to the museum in recognition of Edmonton's Centennial in 2004. The museum is very grateful to CN for this significant donation of what is believed to be the last matched numbered pair of FP9s from CN's Super Continental era. They are to be painted back to the original colors. CN will provide the painting diagrams to obtain the correct original paint job. (Alberta Railway Museum via Bryce Lee)

June 23, 2003

VIA Rail Canada's Trains: The Ideal Way to Travel From One Summer Festival to Another!

MONTREAL, In stark contrast to the serene, austere beauty of its winters, the summer brings astonishing vitality and new life to Canada. It's no wonder that from Ontario to the Maritimes, an endless festival
of fun, entertainment, culture and cuisine is to be enjoyed! VIA Rail Canada is providing the travelling public with a fabulous way to festival-hop in comfort and convenience during the summer vacations. Street performers in Halifax and Toronto, Atlantic seafood in Moncton, jazz in Montreal, the Festival d'été in Quebec City... The most convenient, comfortable and sensible way to do it all is by train, a truly exceptional means of travel between Canada's most exciting destinations.

Windsor-Quebec City Corridor Services
VIA Rail's Windsor-Quebec City Corridor services provide quick and affordable transportation to special events in many cities. Most of VIA Rail's Corridor trains offer VIA 1 Class, a premium service that includes advance seat selection and preboarding privileges, complimentary bar and meal services, electrical outlets at each seat, and use of relaxing Panorama Lounges in London, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Dorval, Montreal, and Quebec
City.

Economy Class offers comfortable reclining seating and large picture windows to take in the magnificent scenery. Between Toronto and Montreal, VIA's overnight Enterprise service connects Canada's two largest cities with a late-evening departure and early-morning arrival, leaving passengers refreshed to start a new day in a new city. Passengers in the train's premier Constellation Class enjoy rooms with comfortable down duvet bedding, private washrooms and broad picture windows, as well as access to the Constellation Class Lounge with newspapers, magazines, and complimentary continental breakfast in the morning. Travellers planning extended stays in Ontario and Quebec can also take
advantage of the savings offered by VIA Rail's CorridorPass, which offers 10 days of travel between Quebec City and Windsor, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls, in Economy or VIA 1 Class. VIA also has such special promotional fares as "Kids Travel Free" and "Seniors' Companion Fare" designed to further stretch your travel dollar.

Eastern Canada Service
The Ocean, VIA Rail's service between Montreal and Halifax, is the ideal way to take in the summer festivals of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
The Ocean offers two classes of service. Passengers in Easterly Class, the train's premier service, enjoy cozy sleeping compartments with picture windows, comfortable bedding with down duvets, and private washroom, as well as use of the Easterly Class Lounge with newspapers and magazines, where complimentary continental breakfast is served. The dining car offers an elegant ambiance and regional cuisine, such as seafood chowder and poached Atlantic salmon. Room service is also available upon request.
In Economy Class, passengers can stretch out in comfortable reclining seats and take in the splendor of Canada's landscape through huge picture windows. Snacks and drinks are available from convenient trolleys, and blankets and pillows are provided on request. The following are some of the major summer festivals and special events
along the Corridor and Ocean routes:

- From August 7-17, Halifax will revive its annual Buskers Festival. A smash hit with locals and visitors alike, this free festival features hundreds of jugglers, mimes, magicians, dancers and more. Spontaneous, quirky and fun, the festival promises to once again turn the streets of this beautiful Atlantic port city into one great big stage.

- Moncton's annual Atlantic Seafood Festival is the way this small city celebrates cuisine in a big way. Scheduled this year from August 20-24, the week-long festival features everything seafood - from chef preparation displays, to oyster shucks, to good old-fashioned feasts. Music and other forms of free entertainment are also part of the
atmosphere.

- Returning to Montreal this summer from June 26 - July 6 is the city's trademark Montreal International Jazz Festival. Featuring daring, varied programming performed by musicians of incomparable talent, the 11-day marathon of jazz music continues to be the best of its kind. Celebrating its 24th year, the Jazz Festival promises to attract tens
of thousands of visitors to hear some of the finest musicians in the world. Admission to the site of the festival is free.

- From July 10-20, Montreal will play host to the Just for Laughs Festival. Some 2,000 comedians and stage performers will once again entertain locals and tourists alike at venues across the city.

- From July 3-13, Quebec City will once again become a major showcase for up-and-coming musicians, performance artists and fashions during the annual Quebec City Summer Festival. For more than 35 years, North America's oldest French city has held this celebration as a forum for self expression above and beyond the mainstream. Held on streets and at venues all over town, this colourful cultural event draws thousands of visitors each year.

- Each July, the longest street in the world - Toronto's Yonge Street - comes alive with one of the greatest festivals on the continent. Scheduled for July 4-6 this year, the Toronto Street Festival will feature five different sites with over half a million square feet of space reserved for the very best in free entertainment. With over 1200 performers set to show their stuff throughout the entire weekend, the event promises to be one of the hottest gatherings of the summer.

For further information on VIA Rail's 2003 products, services and fares, visit VIA on the Internet at www.viarail.ca or call 1-888-VIA-RAIL.

June 22, 2003

Railroaders to unveil new museum

The Enterprise
By Shirley Sandrel

The railroad physically connected Canada as a nation more than 100 years ago, but it also continues to provide another type of connection, one less tangible but just as strong, among the people of this country today.
In Kenora, it seems everyone has a railway ‘tie’. Professional people worked summers on the line to put themselves through school. Career railroaders spent their entire working life with the company. Second generation railroaders are common. All of these ties are bound up in the romance and adventure symbolized by the trains and are a source of pride.
On June 30, Kenora’s 90-member CP Rail Retirees Club will celebrate that pride with the official opening of the Lake of the Woods Railroaders Museum.
More than five years in the making, the museum occupies the rear of the site of the Club’s outdoor display on Lakeview Drive which features a diesel locomotive and caboose.
Inside the museum are artifacts and a scale model of the rail system between Vancouver and Thunder Bay built by Terry White with background painting by Norm Fanthorpe.
The exterior of the museum building will feature two new murals. Starting July 4, B.C. artist Don Makala will begin work on the outside walls. The Retirees Club has already raised $2,000 toward the $10,000 cost of the murals and is currently accepting donations to raise the rest.
The official opening of the museum coincides with the return of the CPR’s Empress steam train. The train is scheduled to arrive in Kenora June 29 – a stop lobbied for by the CP Rail Retirees Club – and entertainers riding on the train will perform. The train is expected to remain overnight and a second show is planned June 30.
Over at the Railroaders Museum, the ribbon will be cut at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served followed by an an hour of homegrown musical entertainment. The public is encouraged to attend.

June 21, 2003

Tourism train proponents say more funding is needed

By Carl Clutchey
The Chronicle-Journal

A future tourist train running between Thunder Bay and Nipigon will remain just a dream until the group spearheading the project can get enough funding to launch a proper study. Yesterday’s announcement of $52,500 from the provincial government was a start, organizers say, but would not pay to have a qualified consultant fully explore the concept. “It’s nowhere what we need,” said Thunder Bay’s Jerry Baker, chairman of the Superior Adventure Train committee. Baker said the committee needs closer to $100,000 for a proper study, and is hoping the federal government will also fund what is a proven tourism concept in many parts of North America.“There are hundreds of these kinds of trains out there,” he said.Though details have yet to be worked out, Baker envisions a six-car passenger train, complete with dining and lounge facilities, to be pulled by two engines.The seasonal train would likely run on the scenic CN Rail line between Thunder Bay and Nipigon, stopping along the way to allow tourists to visit prominent Northwestern Ontario sightseeing spots such as Ouimet Canyon.Whether the project would be run by a private company experienced in such ventures, or a non-profit corporation, has yet to be decided.Baker, a veteran CN conductor who has been promoting the project for four years, said he’s frustrated by how long it’s taken for funders to come on board.The federal government has yet to provide any support for the study, and Baker said he hopes Thunder Bay’s two government MPs — veteran Liberals Stan Dromisky and Joe Comuzzi — will use whatever influence they have to change that.Municipalities like Red Rock and Nipigon have shown an interest in the project, Baker said.If the tourist train is successful, it could also be used for special excursions, as well as provide a regular transportation service into Thunder Bay, Baker added.How much it would cost to purchase some used engines and passenger cars hasn’t been determined.Critics have said there’s too much freight traffic along both the CN and CPR routes to allow for any passenger service.But Baker said a precedent has already been set because the American Orient Express luxury train already comes through Thunder Bay on the CN line.And last year, Hollywood movie producer Steven Spielberg chartered a train that went from Toronto to Vancouver, including the CPR route that drinks in the view along Lake Superior’s rugged north shore.

June 21, 2003

Rail trip to the skies

Paul Pihichyn
Winnipeg Free Press

ABOARD THE SKEENA -- For something completely different, consider that "other" train that makes its way over the Rockies and travels across British Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. Not as famous -- or as crowded -- as its world-renowned big brother, the Canadian, Via Rail's Skeena offers a rail experience not to be missed by any passenger train enthusiast. The Skeena follows a 1,160-kilometre route from Jasper to Prince Rupert on the north Pacific coast. It's a two-day trip, but unlike the Canadian, the Skeena runs only during daylight hours, stopping for the night en route at Prince George. The splendour and majesty of some of best mountain scenery in B.C. is not lost in the darkness, as it is on much of the Canadian's route to and from Vancouver. With three classes of service -- Economy, Totem and Totem Deluxe -- the Skeena is both a vital public transportation link through remote northern B.C. and a popular tourist excursion for those who just like riding the rails. It's noon on a Sunday in mid-May and we are standing on the platform of the Via Rail station in Jasper. The last vestiges of winter are still in the air -- it is bright, but nippy; there had been a few snowflakes earlier in the morning. Our travelling group of nine left Winnipeg on Friday afternoon on the Canadian heading west across the Prairies on an excursion called Spring on the Skeena, arranged by Winnipeg-based train tour specialist Daryl Adair and his company, Rail Travel Tours. As night falls, we pass through Portage la Prairie and Rivers, Melville, Saskatoon and Biggar, arriving in Edmonton as dawn breaks: Then begins the long, slow climb into the mountains before reaching Jasper mid-afternoon Saturday. After an overnight hotel stay in Jasper and an early morning ride to top of Whistlers Mountain on the Jasper Tramway, we are waiting for the Skeena to begins the journey west. Just as it does every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, the Skeena pulls out of Jasper at 12:45 p.m. and heads for the Yellowhead Pass, the highest point of the trip to Prince Rupert. Alberta meets British Columbia at the crest of the pass, at an elevation of 1,131 metres. What will be the mighty Fraser River, little more than a trickling stream at this point, flows beside the track as the Skeena rolls along. Soon Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 metres, looms ahead as we sit in the domed Park Car. It is a clear afternoon and the mountain is "out" as they say, not shrouded in the cover of cloud that often hides its peak from view. Down in the glass-enclosed Panorama car -- a new addition this season to the Skeena -- Totem Deluxe class passengers are served lunch, airplane style, in their comfortable seats. The crisp, fresh salad, generously laced with shrimp or chicken, is a better treat than one can expect on any airline in the skies today. As passengers slurp down a chilled B.C. chardonnay, the Skeena passes Tete Jaune Cache, a railway construction town that marks the start of the Rocky Mountain Trench, the dividing line between the Rockies and the Cariboo mountain range. It is here that the Fraser actually becomes a navigable river and where sternwheelers once carried passengers and freight nearly 100 years ago before the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway built this line. Dunster is just a whistle stop on the line now, but as the tiny community flashes by, passengers spot the original train station, built in 1913, still standing; beside it, an old general store and post office of the same vintage continue to operate. Just west of McBride, about halfway between Jasper and Prince George, the Skeena slows almost to a stop. A silence descends on the passengers and crew. Beside the track, a work crew has just finished a "shoefly" -- railway parlance for an emergency rerouting of the line -- around a deep ravine. In the gorge below, the wreckage of two CN diesels engine lies in a crumpled heap like some mortally wounded behemoth. Three days earlier, the trestle over the ravine collapsed just as a CN freight began to cross. Two engineers died in the fiery wreck. Ours is the first passenger train to pass the deadly site. Across the aisle, an elderly gentleman enjoys a brandy and ginger ale. He's on his way to Prince Rupert to visit his children and grandchildren. It's a trip he has taken several times. He used to be able to take the Cariboo Explorer from Vancouver to Prince George and then transfer to the Skeena to reach Prince Rupert. But, like so many of the passenger trains of Western Canada, the Cariboo Explorer is no more. Last year, the Liberal government of Premier Gordon Campbell pulled the plug on the money-losing B.C. Rail passenger service: The train made its final run last October. So now, the gentleman across the aisle has taken the Canadian from Vancouver to Jasper and is now riding the Skeena all the way. "It's a long journey but I have a lot of time," he says as he sips his brandy. As the afternoon wears on, and dinner is served -- a choice of tender steak or fresh salmon -- the mountains give way to a rolling countryside looking more like Saskatchewan than B.C. Sawmills and lumberyards line the tracks through towns like Loos, Dome Creek and Penny. The line crosses the Fraser at Hansard Bridge on a span it shares with road traffic.Only a crumbling concrete foundation marks what was once the largest sawmill north of Vancouver, at Giscome. The Skeena pulls into the station at Prince George right on schedule at 7 p.m. and passengers disembark to waiting taxis and shuttle vans heading for area hotels for the night. Monday morning they will be back on the Skeena as it continues its journey west. There are still another 750 kilometres of rail ahead, another 12 hours, before it will pull into Prince Rupert. Before the day is over, the Skeena will pass through Fort Fraser, a fur-trading post built by explorer Simon Fraser in 1809; straddle and cross the Skeena River that gave the trains its name; pass Smithers and Terrace and the giant aluminum smelter at Kitimat; traverse Kitselas Canyon and its four great tunnels; stop at the North Pacific Cannery Village Museum, site of the oldest salmon cannery on the B.C. coast; and skirt Ridley Island, where ocean freighters load cargoes of Canadian grain and coal. The sun is starting to set as the Skeena pulls into Prince Rupert, the end of the line and the beginning of other adventures. Some will trace the same route back, stopping again in Prince George and two nights in Jasper, waiting to catch up with the next Canadian heading east toward Winnipeg. Other will fly to Vancouver and get back to Winnipeg in a day. From Prince Rupert, one can catch the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry to Ketchikan or a B.C. Ferries ship to Skidegate in the Queen Charlotte Islands or Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. On Vancouver Island, Via operates another train from Courtenay to Victoria. Get off at Nanaimo and it's a short ferry crossing to Horseshoe Bay. You can take the Canadian home from Vancouver, or link up with the Amtrak system and ride the rails into the United States.

But that is another story...

paul.pihichyn@freepress.mb.ca

Jun. 21, 2003

Railway capital of Canada

MITCHELL SMYTH
THE TORONTO STAR

ST. THOMAS, Ont. — The first iron horse came to St. Thomas in 1856, with the opening of the London and Port Stanley Railway. Since then, no fewer than 26 railroads have passed through this southern Ontario town. That's why it calls itself "the railway capital of Canada." That part of its history is recalled at the Elgin County Railway Museum, housed in the former Michigan Central Railroad repair shop, which dates back to 1913. With such a history, it's maybe appropriate that St. Thomas' other big claim to fame also involves the railway. That's the story of Jumbo, the giant circus elephant, who was killed in 1885 when he was struck by a Grand Trunk locomotive on the town's north side. "The railways' heyday was the 1930s, when five major railroads — three U.S. and two Canadian — were running through town," says Charlie Sterne, media promoter for the museum. "In all, 26 railways have been here. In the 1940s, the railways employed more than 1,000 workers here, servicing and operating a fleet of locomotives and equipment.'' Those halcyon days are long gone. There's still freight service in and through St. Thomas but no passenger trains. And the once-bustling Michigan Central shop, which closed in the 1950s, is a cavernous home for the ghosts of the past. But such interesting ghosts! There is, for instance, the 1939 Pullman first-class sleeper car, which gives visitors a taste of what it was like crossing the continent in the days before jet travel. The "roomette" appears to have nothing but a bed, but then you find that a toilet and sink can appear out of nowhere.

There are locomotives (steam, diesel and electric), cabooses, passenger cars, baggage cars and other equipment, reflecting railway history from 1891 (the oldest piece) to the 1950s, about the time diesel was supplanting steam (though, as volunteers insist, nothing will ever match the romance of steam). Baggage car No. 7074, of 1953 vintage, is a museum within a museum with artefacts that include pictures, uniforms, a caboose stove, tools, telegraph equipment, lamps, a locomotive bell and a brass chamber pot from a sleeper car with an engraved warning not to empty the contents out the window!

A few blocks north of the museum, three tracks of a railway cross Woodworth Ave. A plaque there records that at this crossing on Sept. 15, 1885, "one of the most beloved animals met an untimely death when he was struck by a railway locomotive." The animal, of course, was Jumbo, the 6,000-kilo elephant who, in the succeeding years, gave his name to everything from an airliner to a hot dog to a cigar. On Talbot Hill, in the west end of town, there's a life-size statue of Jumbo, standing a full 3.35 metres tall. It was unveiled in 1985, the 100th anniversary of the accident. Ironically, it was trucked from New Brunswick, where it was sculpted; obviously Jumbo, even in a plaster incarnation, wanted nothing more to do with railways.

The Elgin County Railway Museum is at 225 Wellington St. Admission is by donation.

For further information: http://www.ecrm5700.org; e-mail thedispatcher@ecrm5700.org. The Jumbo plaque is on Woodworth Ave., north of Redan St.; the statue is on Talbot Hill, beside a visitor information booth. General information on St. Thomas: 1-877-463-5446 (toll free); http://www.elgintourist.com; friends@elgintourist.com.

June 2003

CANADA…now’s the time!

It’s the rail journey of a lifetime that’s more affordable than ever, and now is the time to get on board!
John Steel Rail Tours and VIA Rail have partnered to offer incentive to travellers to enjoy a trip on the legendary trains of Canada and to travel agents to book John Steel tours with an increased agents’commission! This special offer applies to three of John Steel’s fully independent tours, Eastern Canada Explorer, Heart of Canada Circle and Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle only until July 31, 2003.
Travellers enjoy a special discounted Companion Fare, which is available for travel partners (of any age) accompanying a senior (age 60+) on one of our featured tours booked and travelled before July 31, 2003. (Some restrictions apply.) US clients booking the Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle Tour will receive a complimentary upgrade on board VIA Rail’s Skeena to Totem Deluxe class, which features seating in one of the newly acquired Panorama dome cars!
For Canadian and US travel agents, John Steel Rail Tours is offering an override commission of 12% for bookings to travel on the featured tours before July 31, 2003. A special incentive for US travel agents is an opportunity to enjoy John Steel Rail Tours’ Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle tour for two. For each booking made for travel on a featured tour within the three-month campaign, the agent’s name will be entered into a draw, which will be made on July 15th, 2003. The trip includes airfare to Vancouver, BC and return from the nearest Air Canada gateway.
Connections to the tour departure cities of Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON are conveniently made aboard Amtrak at border points or by international and national air carrier. John Steel Rail Tours can be contacted at 1-800-988-5778, info@johnsteel.com. Visit www.johnsteel.com for complete itineraries of our featured tours.

About Our Company: Located near Vancouver, BC, John Steel Rail Tours is in its thirteenth year of creating unique Canadian rail journeys for groups and individuals. We are dedicated rail travel experts who want to share our beautiful country and our many years (and miles) of experience with you. We specialize in Canada and take extra care to provide our guests with rail travel expertise and personalized service second to none. John Steel Rail Tours is registered by the Government of British Columbia, Canada. BC Reg. #2042-5

June 2, 2003

Steam engine rekindles many memories

By Peter James
Miner and News Staff

Mark Scott made his first-ever trip to Kenora this weekend. The Chicago businessman didn't come to visit any one of the many tourist lodges in the area, nor did he want to take a trip on the MS Kenora.Instead he came to Kenora to see the Empress, a completely restored steam engine built in 1930, which rode into the city Friday evening. The event was part of a publicity campaign by Canadian Pacific Railway. The train is travelling across the country, and back this summer from Medicine Hat to Windsor on a tour for Breakfast for Learning. This was not the first time Scott has seen this particular steam engine in action. When he was 15 years old in 1960, Scott begged his parents to drive from Chicago to Montreal so he could see one of the last remaining Canadian Pacific Railway steam engines. "I've always loved trains," he said. "I wanted to go to one of the places steam engines were still running and Canada was one of those places." What Scott saw in May 1960 was the last ever run of the Empress. It, along with the Canadian Pacific Railroads steam engine fleet, was retired.The Empress didn't take to the rails again until 2001, when the railway completed a restoration of the massive engine and began to tour it across the country. Scott said he heard about the train when it was first restored and had originally planned to meet up with it May 24 in Medicine Hat. However, when travel plans forced him to change from flying to driving he decided to come to Northwestern Ontario. "I decided to meet it in Thunder Bay," he said."But when I looked at the map I realized I could intercept it in Kenora."Scott said he will now continue following the engine as it moves through Northwestern Ontario over the course of the week. Scott is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to steam engines and railway history. He said both Canadian Pacific and Canadian National are two of the best run railways in the world, at least when it comes to making money. "Railways are the only profitable mode of transportation these days," Scott said with a hint of pride. He pointed to the the recent bankruptcies of a number of North American airlines, and the slim profit margin for trucking as examples. Scott and other railway enthusiasts had to wait a while, as The Empress arrived in Kenora about an hour and half behind schedule Friday. Many of the people who came were former engineers and conductors on Canadian Pacific. For Kenora resident Jack Robinson, seeing the train pull in brought back a lot of memories. "There will never be another machine that will work with the same precision as the steam engine," he said. Robinson worked for 22 years with Canadian Pacific, including 15 years as a conductor on passenger trains. When the passenger car pulled by, Robinson took a deep breath as he recalled the memories he had over his career. "I started riding steam engines in 1945," he said. "I was born and bred on the railroad."Robinson's father and brother were both conductors with Canadian Pacific as well. The Empress carried about 80 passengers Friday, bound for a weekend at Minaki Lodge, reuniting the former Canadian National hotel with its railroad roots. "The highlight was the conversation with the people," said Winnipegger Mitchell Omichinski. "They were all train enthusiasts." Omichinski used the opportunity to celebrate his 24th wedding anniversary with his wife Linda and her parents Catherine and Steve Thoman. Thoman was a former Canadian Pacific employee. The tourists travelled back to Winnipeg Sunday on Via Rail. For those who missed the Empress when it came Friday, it will be back for a longer visit June 29, including a concert headlined by Randell Prescott, Tracey Brown and Amanda Stott.

May 29, 2003

Railway tour fueling past memories

By Miner and News Staff

Time travel is being made possible this weekend in Kenora thanks to a refurbished steam engine. And no, it is not a scene out of Back to the Future III with Michael J. Fox. The Canadian Pacific Railway resurrected the Empress 2816 locomotive in 2001 and has used it since as a roving ambassador for the railway. Last Saturday, it began a cross-country Breakfast for Learning tour from Medicine Hat, Alberta bound for Windsor, Ontario. It has been 45 years since a steam engine pulled a passenger train along the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline from Winnipeg to Kenora, but the sight is returning this week. The Empress, built in 1930 and retired in 1960, will be pulling into the local CPR station at about 5 p.m. Friday. Eighty people are making the trip through time as part of a secondary tour arranged by Rail Travel Tours. Passage has been booked aboard the Empress when it pulls out of the Via Rail station in Winnipeg. After arrival in Kenora, the tour group will take a bus transfer to Minaki Lodge - a renown CNR resort in its day which was reopened earlier this month under new ownership. "The old railway lodge is a definite draw too," said Daryl Adair, owner-operator of Rail Travel Tours. The tour was quick to come together and Adair is thrilled with the response, much of which he said was generated by a mention in the May 17 Compass column in the Winnipeg Free Press.The weekend excursion includes a special welcome at the lodge Friday night, a one-hour pontoon boat tour of the Winnipeg River on Saturday and enjoying the amenities of the lodge, said Adair. The cost for the weekend excursion is $345 per person, double occupancy, including the two nights at Minaki. Proceeds will be split between the CPR's Breakfast for Learning fund and the Winnipeg Railway Museum.Adair will use the lodge's theatre to present a travelog of passenger rail services coast-to-coast in Canada Saturday night. He spent the summer of 2000 travelling "all the railways in Canada to detail a book" to be released this year.Passengers will return to Winnipeg Sunday aboard Via Rail's Canadian from the Minaki station at 12:37 p.m. following Sunday brunch - which opened to great reviews Mother's Day. On the trip home, the group will be able to enjoy the view of the Canadian Shield from this train's famous dome cars. After arrival in Winnipeg, the tour concludes with a visit to the Winnipeg Railway Museum.J. Thomas, guest services manager at Minaki, noted the association with the train is already becoming a popular attraction for Minaki on its reopening. He said callers' interest, particularly in the older demographic, is piqued when they they are told they can get to the lodge by regular Via Rail.He's also pleased Rail Travel Tours has almost been lobbying Via Rail on the lodge's behalf."We're super excited to have Rail Travel Tours involved with us," said Thomas, noting Sunday's departure will be the first the lodge has been involved with since reopening, but hopefully not the last.The Empress will make a return journey through Kenora on Sunday, June 29, about 5 p.m. Rail Travel Tours has plans for another tour package including Minaki and Kenora this fall.Adair said the tour will leave Winnipeg Sept. 25 for Savant Lake and returns to Minaki on Friday, Sept. 26. There will be a transfer to Kenora to see the Lake of the Woods Museum and other sights. For more information on Rail Travel Tours call 1-204-897-9551.

May 25, 2003

Canada's luxury train

BYLINE:BY BRENDA WARNER ROTZOLL STAFF REPORTER

Got a week and a few thousand dollars to spare? You, too, can travel in Orient Express-style luxury through the Canadian Rockies in elegant old railcars literally fit for a queen. Queen Elizabeth when she still was a princess; her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; the duke of Edinburgh and Prime Minister Winston Churchill all traveled in some of the very cars that, meticulously restored, now are used for Royal Canadian Pacific tours run by the Canadian Pacific Railway.Eleven cars built in the early 1900s for railroad executives to travel in on business are paneled with Circassian mahogany. Hardware is original, as are glass shades on light fixtures. Huge brass fans near the ceiling still stir the air, although these days modern air-conditioning equipment has been fitted into the soffits that in the 1920s held huge blocks of ice.Full-size single and double beds, all at lower level, are in 10-foot-square rooms with private bathrooms. Views in the Canadian Rockies are spectacular and so is the food on these trains. When some of the cars were in Chicago recently chef Denis Sirois served a light three-course lunch--dinners are the more luxurious five courses--featuring cream of asparagus soup; lemon-pepper linguini with a creamed tomato sauce that included chorizo sausage, corn-fed chicken, roasted bell peppers and melted goat cheese, and pecan praline creme brulee garnished with a caramel spring of spun sugar. Chef Denis' true passion is desserts. What's your pleasure? There are basic but beautiful sight-seeing trips, with hiking if you feel like it; golf tours; fishing tours; a special culinary, wine and music trip. Or you can ante up some pals and some bucks and Canadian Pacific will take you anywhere its rails and those of cooperating railroads go. Six-day tours through some of the world's most spectacular mountain scenery start and end in Calgary, Alberta. They range, in U.S. dollars, from $3,750 to $5,450 per person double occupancy or $4,100 to $5,850 single occupancy.For people really pressed for time there's a two-day, two-night Mount Fairview expedition for $2,275 double occupancy or $2,400 single occupancy.

For details, visit www.cprtours.com or call (877) 665-3044.

VIA Rail Canada's updated Skeena service gives passengers more choices to view breathtaking western Canada

VIA Rail Canada's Skeena service just moved a notch up the totem pole. From mid-May through mid-October, the most stunning time to travel through this region, passengers can choose from one of three classes of service, including the brand new Totem Deluxe Class. An upgrade from the current premier Totem Class, the new service allows passengers to reserve a seat in one of the newly acquired Panorama Dome Cars for the duration of their trip, at a cost of $50. per day. Totem Deluxe Class passengers will also enjoy other Totem Class amenities including regional cuisine served directly at your seat, exclusive access to the Park Car and their 360-degree scenic domes on the upper deck, and use of the Mural and Bullet Lounges. Beginning in late summer, Skeena passengers can also look forward to an additional departure in each direction. Effective August 5, 2003 a fourth departure will be added to the Skeena's current tri-weekly, year-round service. The scenery from aboard VIA Rail Canada's Skeena service between Jasper, Alberta to Prince George and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, is so spectacular that passengers can't miss it regardless of where they are seated. A two-day daylight journey through Canada's Pacific Northwest and fjord country, the Skeena offers views of such spectacular sites as Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, the giant cedars and hemlocks that line the western slope of the mountain range, and British Columbia's lush Skeena River Valley to Prince Rupert on the Pacific coast. And since the train covers the entirety of its 1160-kilometre journey during daylight hours - it stops in Prince George overnight -- passengers won't miss a single glimpse. Prince George, where the Skeena stops overnight, has a wide range of hotels from which to choose. Passengers must secure their own overnight accommodations in Prince George.

Some of the locales and events along the Skeena's route include:

Jasper, Alberta attracts visitors from around the globe and is one of Canada's most picturesque places. This year-round resort town offers a variety of activities from hiking and mountain biking in the summer to top-notch skiing and outdoor snow sports in the winter.

With awe-inspiring natural wonders like Maligne Canyon, Sunwapta Falls, Mount Edith Cavell and Miette Hot Springs, Jasper National Park contains some of the most remarkable landscapes in the world. The largest park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Jasper National is also a wildlife sanctuary perfect for viewing all kinds of animals in their natural habitats.

A drive south on the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic routes will take you to two other spectacular national parks - Banff National Park and Yoho National Park - and into the village of Lake Louise. A resort featuring hiking, camping and mountain biking in the summer, as well as tremendous skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.

Prince George, where the Skeena stops overnight enroute between Jasper and Prince Rupert, is a beautiful city located in some of Canada's densest forests. In addition to the over 100 parks that can be found within city limits, Prince George boasts of several fascinating museums, such as the Fraser Fort George Regional Museum, a hands-on natural history and science center featuring adventure theater, an in-depth history of the region's human culture, and various other activities.

The last stop on the Skeena's westward journey is the coastal city of Prince Rupert. Built in 1889, the Pacific Historic Fishing Village features tours and live performances that provide an entertaining look at life in a cannery village. The Museum of Northern BC houses artifacts from the region's fur-trading history and exhibits the ancient and modern human histories of the region, including a detailed look at Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. Visitors to Prince Rupert also have the option of taking a day trip to the Khutzeymateen Valley, a wildlife refuge ideal for viewing grizzly bears and other spectacular animals.

Ferry service connections from Prince Rupert are also available south to Vancouver Island with BC Ferries and north to Alaska with the Alaska Marine Highway.

VIA Rail is currently offering several seat sales to set your vacation plans in motion. For more information on "Hot Summer Deals", "Kids Travel Free" and "Seniors, Bring a Friend for Free" fares, please visit the page www.viarail.ca/planner/en_plan_truc_offr.html.VIA Rail Canada is the national passenger rail service, connecting some 450 communities from coast to coast. Demand for VIA's services has grown dramatically in recent years, as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe, comfortable, reliable and cost-efficient alternative to congested roads and airports.

Summer 2003 Brings Service Upgrades and Additional Departures to Passengers looking to Explore the Great Pacific Northwest in Comfort and Convenience

VANCOUVER - VIA Rail Canada's Skeena service just moved a notch up the totem pole. From mid-May through mid-October, the most stunning time to travel through this region, passengers can choose from one of three classes of service, including the brand new Totem Deluxe Class. An upgrade from the current premier Totem Class, the new service allows passengers to reserve a seat in one of the newly acquired Panorama Dome Cars for the duration of their trip, at a cost of $50. per day. Totem Deluxe Class passengers will also enjoy other Totem Class amenities including regional cuisine served directly at your seat, exclusive access to the Park Car and their 360-degree scenic domes on the upper deck, and use of the Mural and Bullet Lounges.

Beginning in late summer, Skeena passengers can also look forward to an additional departure in each direction. Effective August 5, 2003 a fourth departure will be added, for the summer months, to the Skeena's current tri-weekly, year-round service.The scenery from aboard VIA Rail Canada's Skeena service between Jasper, Alberta to Prince George and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, is so spectacular that passengers can't miss it regardless of where they are seated. A two-day daylight journey through Canada's Pacific Northwest and fjord country, the Skeena offers views of such spectacular sites as Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, the giant cedars and hemlocks that line the western slope of the mountain range, and British Columbia's lush Skeena River Valley to Prince Rupert on the Pacific coast. And since the train covers the entirety of its 1160-kilometre journey during daylight hours - it stops in Prince George overnight -- passengers won't miss a single glimpse. Prince George, where the Skeena stops overnight, has a wide range of hotels from which to choose. Passengers must secure their own overnight accommodations in Prince George.

Some of the locales and events along the Skeena's route include:

Jasper, Alberta attracts visitors from around the globe and is one of Canada's most picturesque places. This year-round resort town offers a variety of activities from hiking and mountain biking in the summer to top-notch skiing and outdoor snow sports in the winter.

With awe-inspiring natural wonders like Maligne Canyon, Sunwapta Falls, Mount Edith Cavell and Miette Hot Springs, Jasper National Park contains some of the most remarkable landscapes in the world. The largest park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Jasper National is also a wildlife sanctuary perfect for viewing all kinds of animals in their natural habitats.

A drive south on the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic routes will take you to two other spectacular national parks - Banff National Park and Yoho National Park - and into the village of Lake Louise. A resort featuring hiking, camping and mountain biking in the summer, as well as tremendous skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.

Prince George, where the Skeena stops overnight enroute between Jasper and Prince Rupert, is a beautiful city located in some of Canada's densest forests. In addition to the over 100 parks that can be found within city limits, Prince George boasts of several fascinating museums, such as the Fraser Fort George Regional Museum, a hands-on natural history and science center featuring adventure theater, an in-depth history of the region's human culture, and various other activities.

The last stop on the Skeena's westward journey is the coastal city of Prince Rupert. Built in 1889, the Pacific Historic Fishing Village features tours and live performances that provide an entertaining look at life in a cannery village. The Museum of Northern BC houses artifacts from the region's fur-trading history and exhibits the ancient and modern human histories of the region, including a detailed look at Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. Visitors to Prince Rupert also have the option of taking a day trip to the Khutzeymateen Valley, a wildlife refuge ideal for viewing grizzly bears and other spectacular animals.

Ferry service connections from Prince Rupert are also available south to Vancouver Island with BC Ferries and north to Alaska with the Alaska Marine Highway.

VIA Rail is currently offering several seat sales to set your vacation plans in motion. For more information on "Hot Summer Deals", "Kids Travel Free" and "Seniors, Bring a Friend for Free" fares, please visit the page www.viarail.ca/planner/en_plan_truc_offr.html.

VIA Rail Canada is the national passenger rail service, connecting some 450 communities from coast to coast. Demand for VIA's services has grown dramatically in recent years, as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe, comfortable, reliable and cost-efficient alternative to congested roads and airports.

May 15, 2003

2003 CPR Empress Breakfast For Learning Tour

Vintage Steam Train Gives Voice To Child Nutrition

Canadian Pacific Railway's CPR Empress, along with BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING, to tour central Canada to raise awareness about child nutrition

In a joint partnership between Canadian Pacific Railway and BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING, the CPR Empress, a fully-restored vintage steam locomotive, will be visiting communities along CPR's main line to draw attention to the connection between nutrition and a child's ability to learn. The CPR Empress BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING Tour includes community and family events, informational forums and employee recognition programs. The intent is to raise awareness of an issue that affects every community in Canada - child nutrition. CPR Empress begins its journey in Medicine Hat, Alberta, on May 24, 2003. The scheduled tour heads east through Saskatchewan, Manitoba and into Ontario, making frequent stops in communities along the way. "Through our partnership with BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING, we enable communities to come together for a common social cause," says Paul Clark, CPR's Vice-President of Communications and Public Affairs. "Every year, thousands of children begin their school day without a nutritious breakfast. This impairs their ability to learn. Our mission is to ensure that every child is given the nutritional requirements needed to begin their day properly." BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING partnered with CPR for the first time last year. The partnership featured numerous community visits, increasing expectations for 2003. This year's focus will be in central Canada - traveling to approximately 27 communities. "CPR is delighted to join forces with BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING once again. Our message is important, and we want communities to come together and help us build a strong, healthy nation through our children," Clark said. BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING was created in 1992 to address the needs of hungry children across Canada. It is the only national, non-profit organization dedicated solely to supporting child nutrition programs across the country.
Since 1992, BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING has served over 140 million meals to almost 675,000 children and funds 1,850 programs located in every province and
territory in Canada. All programs are owned and operated at the community level by a network of 30,000 volunteers. The CPR Empress steam locomotive is a driving force behind Community Connect, CPR's charitable donations program. It is a roving ambassador for the railway and its community partners. For CPR employees, stakeholders and
customers, the train is a potent symbol of the past and a reminder of the role Canadian Pacific Railway continues to play in the national and local economies
and of its contribution to communities. Canadian Pacific Railway is a transcontinental carrier operating in Canada and the U.S. Its 14,000-mile rail network serves the principal centers of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest regions. CPR feeds directly into America's heartland from the East and West
coasts. Alliances with other carriers extend its market reach throughout the U.S. and into Mexico. For more information, visit CPR's website at www.cpr.ca.

May 15, 2003

Pierre Berton Inducted Into Canadian Railway Hall of Fame

Canadian author Pierre Berton was inducted into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame for popularizing the construction and history of Canada's first transcontinental railway today during ceremonies at the Toronto Railway Club. Mr. Berton works in all branches of communication, but his books on building the Canadian Pacific -- The National Dream (1970) and The Last Spike (1972) -- were later adapted as a television series. The Last Spike earned him a third Governor-General's Award in 1972. Mr. Berton is also a Companion of
the Order of Canada, a member of the Canadian News Hall of Fame, and has written 48 books. Bill Rowat, President and CEO of the 60-member Railway Association of
Canada, presented the special plaque to Mr. Berton on behalf of the Railway Hall of Fame.

He described the awards as an excellent opportunity to inform Canadians, particularly young Canadians, what the freight and passenger railways have done, and are capable of doing to reduce congestion and pollution. "The railways move six million carloads and containers of freight, and 60 million people, every year in Canada. That will grow because society wants and needs sustainable transportation," said Mr. Rowat. Deadline for this year's entries to the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame is June 1. Nominations can be made for Leaders, Heroes, Communities and Technologies. Further details are available at www.railcan.ca.

-Back to top-

May 14, 2003

Rail trip offers a variety of programs

Edmonton Journal
Rita Feutl

STETTLER - As the steam engine shudders to a stop, passengers can see a dust cloud gathering where the sky meets the flat, Central Alberta prairie. The cloud grows larger, and from it a band of five riders on horseback gallop toward the train, pistols in hand, dusters flapping and shouts of "Hand over your money!" filling the air. The Bolton Gang is at it again, pulling off another railroad robbery on the old CN line between Stettler and Big Valley.They climb aboard and shake down passengers for loose change. A female bandit loudly announces she's looking for a husband, and eyes the prospects on board hungrily.Back at railroad headquarters in Stettler, an hour east of Red Deer, Bob Willis sighs. "That train seems to be the one the train robbers seem to hit," says the general manager of Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions. "I think the police have even stopped trying to catch them."That's not necessarily a bad thing, because the money the robbers collect goes to Calgary and Edmonton children's hospital foundations, and local Metis hero Gabriel Dumont scares off the bandits before anything like a shotgun wedding takes place. But be warned -- if you buy a ticket for an old-fashioned Stettler steam train expedition, anything can happen.The Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion was created in late 1989 when a few vintage steam engines and passenger cars came on the market. Don Gillespie, who owned Stettler's G & H Foods at the time, realized that this could be an opportunity to bring tourism dollars to the area."He put together a group of shareholders, including himself, who were prepared to buy those existing assets and were prepared to stay in for the long haul and take those tremendous losses at the beginning," says Willis. Communities along the railway bought the right-of-way and rail line between Stettler and Big Valley.And that's why steam-belching iron horses chug regularly past farms and wheat fields in the area.But an excursion is about more than vintage train mechanics. "We recognized early on that this is much more than a train ride," says Willis. "It's entertainment; it's an event."To that end, the trips marry a bit of history (Dumont's role springs from the large Metis settlements in the area) with a lot of theatre and fun. Some trips are interactive murder mysteries and others include dinner theatre, while some are designed specifically for families.During the five-hour excursion, passengers can roam the train, listening to music or watching the performers in the Lone Star Saloon car.Each trip features a stop in the village of Big Valley, complete with an Alberta roast beef dinner at the local community hall. Area businesses were quick to see the advantages of having a trainload of tourists stop by. In 1992 they built a U-shaped boardwalk named after early restaurateur Jimmy Jock, complete with false-fronted buildings that house two art galleries, a tea room, barber shop, fudge factory and saloon.At the end of Main Street, passengers can visit the restored 1912 CNR station, now a museum complete with wooden caboose.Then on to the ruins of the old village roundhouse, a reminder of the days when Big Valley was a thriving railway terminal with stockyards, water tower and coal dock.While most of Alberta Prairie Railway's business is from May to October, the company also runs frequently sold-out fine-dining excursions during the winter months, featuring an on-board five-course meal and entertainment for $90 a person.The business is on the right track, with up to 24,000 visitors a year, and between 45 to 50 caterers, saloon singers and train robbers on its pay roll.

Tuesday, May 14, 2003

CANADA …now’s the time!
Spectacular landscapes and affordable luxury await you.

Take the journey of a lifetime aboard the legendary trains of Canada! John Steel Rail Tours and VIA Rail are pleased to offer three fully Independent itineraries that are now more affordable than ever; Eastern Canada Explorer, Heart of Canada Circle and Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle.
A special discounted Companion Fare is available for travel partners (of any age) accompanying a senior (age 60+) on one of our featured tours booked and travelled between May 1 and July 31, 2003. (Some restrictions apply.) US visitors booking the Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle tour will receive a complimentary upgrade to Totem Deluxe class, featuring confirmed seating in a Panorama dome car, on board VIA Rail’s Skeena.

Discover the heritage and urban styles of central Canada’s cities on our Eastern Canada Explorer. The seven-day journey begins in Toronto, Ontario with a visit to Niagara Falls, then heads east to Québec and the fascinating French-Canadian cities of Montréal and Québec City. Travel into the hospitable and historic Maritimes on board VIA Rail’s Ocean to the picturesque port city of Halifax.
The Heart of Canada Circle tour departs Toronto, tours to magnificent Niagara Falls, one of the great natural wonders in the world and then heads east aboard VIA Rail’s intercity train, the Corridor, to explore cosmopolitan Montréal and visit historic Québec City. The return trip travels to Montréal and on to Ottawa, Ontario to discover the heritage and pageantry of Canada’s capital city.
See the best of western Canada’s glorious scenery aboard VIA Rail's Canadian and Skeena traversing British Columbia, from the striking west coast to the fabulous Rocky Mountains. During the eight-day tour, visit picturesque Jasper, Alberta, the interior city of Prince George, BC and Prince Rupert, the city of rainbows on the west coast. The Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle tour also includes an ocean cruise along the Inside Passage and a driving tour through Vancouver Island to Victoria, BC’s charming capital city.

Connections to the tour departure cities of Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON are conveniently made aboard Amtrak at border points or by international and national air carrier. Ask the Tour Coordinators at John Steel Rail Tours for the details. Contact us at 1-800-988-5778, info@johnsteel.com and visit www.johnsteel.com. Travel agents should contact the office for special campaign incentives!

Saturday, April 05, 2003

Train enthusiasts will enjoy package offered by Oak Bay Beach Hotel

CanWest News Service


Victoria's Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Marine Resort is offering train enthusiasts a spring/summer getaway package. The hotel is offering a three-night package with a day trip on the historic E&N Railway, combining train travel, fine cuisine and cozy waterfront accommodations. The train journey starts by boarding the E&N Train and, with the sound of the whistle, guests will wind their way through canyons and over trestles, viewing the magnificent coastline of Vancouver Island. Indeed, Vancouver Island possesses one of the finest old-fashioned railways in the country, boasting unparalleled mountain and ocean views. Supplied with a picnic lunch, guests are free to explore Chemainus and can even take in an afternoon of theatre. The package includes three nights in the Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Marine Resort. Perched on the edge of a marine ecological reserve and only minutes from downtown Victoria, the resort is Vancouver Island's only all-inclusive adventure destination resort. The package includes three nights deluxe accommodation, three full breakfasts, one dinner for two in Bentley's Seaside Grill, return train transportation to Chemainus, transportation from hotel to station, an afternoon exploring Chemainus, picnic lunch for the train trip.

Prices until June 15 are: $539/single, $339/double and $285/triple.

For complete details of the Great Train Getaway visit: http://www.oakbaybeachhotel.com/chemainus_murals_by_train.html

To book this package: e-mail info@oakbaybeachhotel.com or call 1-800-668-7758

Friday, March 28, 2003

Ride the Rocky Mountaineer to a wildwest rodeo with the special "Calgary Stampede Package"
Ride the rails, in style, to the Calgary Stampede through western Canada's rugged landscape

Canada Newswire

Dust off your boots, grab your cowboy hat, and rustle onto the Rocky Mountaineer for a spectacular train journey to the Calgary Stampede with Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' special "Calgary Stampede Package." The world famous Calgary Stampede is a perfect addition to a trip onboard the acclaimed two-day, all-daylight rail journey through Canada's West and the Canadian Rockies. From July 3 until July 11, 2003, Calgary, Alberta will host "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth"(R) with over 500 rodeo contestants and 1.1 million guests. Many of these guests will be travelling between the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Calgary in comfort and luxury onboard the Rocky Mountaineer before or after kicking up their heels at the Stampede.

"A trip on the Rocky Mountaineer is a great way to relax and be pampered before or after experiencing the excitement of the Calgary Stampede," says James Terry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "The awe-inspiring scenery as seen from onboard the Rocky Mountaineer combined with the world-class rodeo is the quintessential western Canadian experience and has
proven to be very popular in recent years." This special Calgary Stampede package can be added on to any tour offered by Rocky Mountaineer Railtours that ends or begins in Calgary. The "Calgary Stampede Package" includes three nights' accommodation in Calgary during the Stampede dates, an afternoon tour of Calgary, rodeo show and grandstand show at the Calgary Stampede, a skyride across Stampede Park, admission to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and a Calgary Stampede souvenir. Prices for the package begin at CDN $599 per person based on double occupancy. Guests are advised to book the popular Calgary Stampede tour as soon as possible to confirm availability. The closing date is May 31, 2003.

Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' acclaimed two-day, all-daylight rail journey travels between the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper or Banff and Calgary, Alberta. During its regular season schedule from mid-April to mid-October, there are more than 50 package tours ranging from two to 17 days. Additionally, during the holiday season, there are six departures featuring winter rail vacations. Headquartered in Vancouver, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours is the largest private passenger rail company in North America.

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Railway Hall of Fame Seeking Nominees

Canada NewsWire

The Canadian Railway Hall of Fame is giving Canadians a chance to honour the railroaders, their machines and their communities that make freight and passenger railways a vibrant part of the Canadian economy. Nominations can be made for Leaders, Heroes, Communities and Technologies. Deadline for entries is June 1. Hall of Fame chairman Les Kozma said: "Leaders are those who had or have a significant influence in the construction, development, or promotion of the Canadian railway industry. Heroes include explorers, pathfinders, and individuals who have made a significant or special contribution to the industry while being involved in the maintenance and operation of Canadian railways."

"Technology features significant equipment and structures that played a role in the development of the industry in Canada. Finally, all communities across Canada deemed to have historical significance to the railway system could qualify," he said. Bill Rowat, president and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada, said that, last year, the Railway Hall of Fame recognized such key figures in the industry as veteran locomotive engineer Harry R.J. Home of Jasper, well known for his efforts in preserving ex-CNR "Mountain-type" steam locomotive 6060; Roger Cyr and Ben Lévesque, the founders of the public safety program Operation Lifesaver; the City of Banff that started as a modest railway station stop and became an international tourist attraction, and the Automatic Air Brake technology - a safe train braking concept invented more than 100 years ago.

To submit a name for consideration, just use the form available on the Railway Hall of Fame web site http://railfame.ca and give the reasons why you believe this person, invention or community deserves recognition, said Mr. Rowat. The deadline for nominations is June 1, 2003. Those selected will be announced in September. The inductions are part of a series of events and activities this fall to showcase the role that freight and passenger rail played, and still plays, in Canada's economy, said Mr. Rowat.

The work of the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame is facilitated by the RAC, which represents 57 railways, virtually all the freight and passenger operations in Canada today. Additional information is available on the RAC's website at www.railcan.ca.

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Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Promotional push on for the Northlander

Timmins Daily Press
By Joyce Hunter

Ontario Northland staff who live in Cochrane have reason to feel more secure as the company has begun a push to promote passenger rail service. And the ONTC is putting its money where its mouth is, by hiring a marketing specialist.Ontario Northland announced Monday the appointment of a new marketing director.After having spent 22 years as a specialist in the tourism and marketing sectors, Guy Lamarche already has big plans for Ontario Northland only a few days after being hired."I see this as an opportunity to wake up a sleeping giant," said Lamarche. "My intentions are to bring the Northlander back into everyday consciousness through a large billboard campaign."From what I can see this is a case of out-of-sight, out-of-mind and that needs to be reversed."Officials with the Cochrane Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) see Lamarche's hiring as a huge bonus."Many of the train's staff are housed here and we think all the experience, combined with the cluster packages that Lamarche will bring to the table, will be great for our local economy," Sherry Ellerton, administrative assistant with the CEDC said. "We are looking forward to what Lamarche has to offer in the coming months."Lamarche's extensive tourism background, including over 20 years of heading up the James Bay Frontier Travel Association, will be used for the development of a brand identity and marketing plan for all of Ontario Northland's divisions."This area is a niche I already know and understand having worked for the James Bay Frontier Travel Association, which covers an area spanning from Peawanuck in the north to New Liskeard in the South," Lamarche said. "Because travelling by train is an affordable alternative to car and air travel, we will network with other established tourism organizations along Ontario Northland's route and promote all inclusive cluster packages in both the Northern and southern Ontario stops to regenerate interest in train usage as a mode of transportation."In his new role as director of marketing, Lamarche will focus primarily on improving the public's overall perceptions of quality and image attributed to Ontario Northland."I believe that ONTC has too many Web sites. By linking them into a strong user-friendly, unified site we will acquire more clientele because they won't be discouraged when researching travel arrangements," he said. "We've launched northlander.ca, and it will do just that." Beginning with 2003, a strong tourism focus will include partnerships with tourism organizations, attractions, and hospitality service providers. Customer service will be a key driver in the development of package promotion concepts and new product offerings. "We've just launched the Northlander 50 per cent off seat sale to any destination between Cochrane and Toronto, whether it is going north or south between March 17 and April 16," Lamarche said. "Our intent with this campaign is to create awareness in customers by providing them with food for thought about all the fabulous services we have to offer while they travel with us." Lamarche said there will also be an extensive promotional campaign featuring billboards, radio and print media, encouraging people to travel on the Northlander train. In the months ahead, Lamarche said he will be working hard to generate interest in Ontario Northland's other divisions including the Polar Bear Express and the Little Bear Express. "I've just met with Cottage Life and other high profile publications in the south. One of the things they don't seem to know about is our exclusive canoe car service in our Little Bear run where canoeists can travel by rail without worrying about damage to their canoes," he said. "There are some very mighty rivers which filters into the James Bay which are ideal for avid canoeists, but moving their canoes can sometimes be a problem. Not so with us." Lamarche said the canoe issue was only one example of areas which can be marketed in a package through Ontario Northland.

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Train scenes a Hollywood staple

Alberni Valley Times
Barry Miller

Trains have been a staple prop in films ever since 1903 when Hollywood produced its first blockbuster The Great Train Robbery. Several months ago a movie company was inquiring about having the Alberni Pacific No. 7 steam locomotive transferred to Squamish for the filming of some railway scenes for a Hollywood flick. Unfortunately our local steamer didn't make the cut and the movie folks chose instead to hire the Kettle Valley Steam Railway's Mayo Lumber Shay No. 3 from Summerland. Trucked down from the Okanagan aboard a highway low-bed, the locomotive was unloaded in North Vancouver and proceeded under its own power on BC Rail trackage up to Cheakamus Canyon near Whistler where the film shoot took place. Some readers may remember the 3-D films presented in theatres during the 1950s. I recall the Capital Theatre on Argyle Street presenting one called The House of Wax. Movie goers had to wear wacky looking cellophane glasses framed in cardboard to view the film which gave it the illusion of depth. However the most revolutionary film process introduced in the 1950s was something called Cinerama. The closest theatre to BC where one could view a Cinerama film was south of the border in Seattle Washington. As a youngster I recall a family shopping trip to the Puget Sound metropolis (the Canadian dollar was worth 20 cents more than a US buck in those days) and viewing the first such film made entitled This is Cinerama. I believe there were only five or six Cinerama movies ever made.

Television was just beginning to challenge the movies as entertainment and Hollywood was desperate for gimmicks. The Cinerama process photographed scenes with three cameras mounted together as a single unit and used a single shutter to record a wide-angle view roughly equivalent to human sight. Viewed on a huge curved theatre screen, Cinerama movies were meant to make audiences feel as if they were immersed in the action they were seeing. I recall the film starting off with a roller-coaster scene which made me feel as if I was actually zooming through the ride. The only other film I remember seeing in that medium was something called Cinerama Holiday. Being a train fan I remember it because of an entire sequence featuring the San Francisco-Chicago California Zepher, one of the most luxurious passenger trains of its day. Scenes were shot with the monstrous three lense camera mounted directly on the front of the train's streamline diesel locomotive as well as inside the train's dome car. The 1950s was a time in which passenger carrying railroads were making their last stand against the airlines and the convenience of the private automobile. Since they couldn't sell speed on long distant hauls they concentrated on selling elegance, good food and magnificent scenery. In my youth I can remember countless filmed Westerns centered on the building of the railroads and its promise of prosperity. Later came movies like Around the World in 80 Days, Dr. Zhivago, Von Ryan's Express and Emperor of the North -- all featuring great train scenes. One of my favorite films starring a train was called Silver Streak, a 20th Century Fox release in1976. It was a hilarious Gene Wilder flick filmed aboard a consist of CPR passenger cars and shot on location in the Crows Nest Pass of Southern Alberta. To make American audiences comfortable with the plot line the train company was referred to as Amroad. Apparently the US national rail carrier Amtrack wanted nothing to do with the film, thus the subtle name change. Trains and movies continue to go hand in hand because movies depend on action, the stock in trade of any operating railroad. Here in British Columbia we have a number of operating steam locomotives. We also have a vast vista of magnificent scenery inundated with ribbons of steel rails. Perhaps Hollywood will come calling again when they need a steam locomotive. Port Alberni's No. 7 is waiting and willing to play a starring role.

As a film technology Cinerama has pretty well disappeared. The expense of modifying theatres in the 1950s and 60s with the giant curved screens, multiple-speaker systems and special projection equipment limited the number of places in which Cinerama movies could be shown. There was also one big flaw -- when projected, the lines of the three separate camera images were clearly visible. Today there are only a few theatres worldwide screening the historic films. One in Bradford England installed in the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television still screens the old prints as does the aforementioned Cinerama Theatre in Seattle. However the big movie screen experience that lets one feel like you're really there has survived through a new technology known as IMAX. Most large cities now have such theatres. The closest to us are at Canada Place in Vancouver and the Provincial Museum in Victoria. As the technology of the steam train hangs on today as a heritage tourist attraction, so does the wonder of big screen cinematography introduced in the 1950s by Cinerama.

It's a crying shame with all the great movies currently showing elsewhere we folks here on the edge of the rain forest get to view stinkers like Old School currently playing at the Paramount. In my book this film may very well be one of the worst movies of the year and it's only March. In short Old School is about three, 30-something-year-old guys who form a fraternity on a university campus to try and reclaim their beer drinking adolescent glory days. The dean is someone the three main characters scorned in their youth. The dean of course tries to sabotage their attempt to form the fraternity by closing down the fraternity house. That's about it. A note to Hollywood. Why not turn your movie budgets over to high school media students? I guarantee our local kids at ADSS could produce a far better movie on a camcorder than the Hollywood crew did. On the MillerMeter I give Old School the hole in the doughnut. Showtimes painfully roll at 7 p.m. and 9 pm.

Monday, March 17, 2003

Discover Canada’s cultural and natural diversity by rail!
Spring and summer travel with John Steel Rail Tours.

No matter what your passion — nature, culture, adventure or simply great scenery — John Steel Rail Tours offers exciting rail journeys for everyone! This spring and summer join us for a guided group tour or travel on a fully independent tour aboard Canada’s fabulous trains.
Journey to our Atlantic provinces and encounter down east hospitality and stories of maritime heritage on the Nova Scotia Treasures tour. Learn about life on the high seas and take a voyage on VIA Rail’s Bras d’Or through this country’s famous coal-mining region to beautiful Cape Breton. On Canada’s opposite coast, the Rocky Mountain Coastal Circle tour offers an ocean cruise along British Columbia’s Inside Passage where marine wildlife abounds. Explore the natural beauty of Vancouver Island and board VIA Rail’s Skeena and Canadian to discover BC’s varied and striking landscapes and the majestic Rocky Mountains, all of which sustain a great variety of Canadian wildlife. Experience every scenic mile from coast to coast aboard VIA’s trains on the Maple Leaf Magic tour. This journey has it all — the big city culture of Canada’s largest centres and all the sights of the picturesque towns and villages and ever-changing countryside in between.
An adventure awaits the traveller in Manitoba’s north. Tundra Meadows and Churchill Explorer, a guided group tour (August 2003) presents a unique opportunity for observing Canada’s sub arctic flora and fauna and features a journey aboard VIA Rail’s Hudson Bay. Sightings of caribou, pods of beluga whales, a myriad of bird species and perhaps polar bears are common in these Tundra meadows and will be seen from a helicopter, a boat and a Tundra Buggy! Learn about the Eskimo culture and hear the story of the Hudson’s Bay Company, which facilitated the development of Canada through its fur trade.

The full selection of excursions available from John Steel Rail Tours can be found at www.johnsteel.com or contact the office at 1-800-988-5778 or info@johnsteel.com to receive the 2003 Tour Planner kit.

Friday, March 7, 2003

Steam engine to run again

Vancouver Province

VICTORIA -- A vintage steam locomotive will soon be back in service, taking tourists on a scenic train ride through part of the Okanagan Valley. The Kettle Valley Steam Railway will lease the locomotive City of Port Coquitlam from the province to operate in the Summerland area, the Ministry of Transportation said yesterday. The locomotive was built in 1912 and used throughout BC until 2001, when it was withdrawn because it needed many repairs. The province has owned it since 1973 and used it as a backup for the Royal Hudson on its run from North Vancouver to Squamish. Kettle Valley will restore the engine and put it into service on the only preserved section of the original Kettle Valley Railway line.

Friday, March 7, 2003

Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' new 2003 tours showcase Canada's magnificent Rocky Mountains: Travellers who book a 2003 scenic train tour package by March 31, 2003, can also take advantage of Rocky Mountaineer's amazingly low airfare offer

VANCOUVER, /CNW/ - Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' new 2003 brochure features several new tours which offer the quintessential Canadian experience and the freedom to explore the Canadian Rockies. The Lodges of the Canadian Rockies, the latest addition to the Canadian Gold Series, and the Canadian Rockies Getaway complement Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' extensive range of package tours which now also includes winter rail vacations. This year, the brochure also features far more flexibility with additional add-on options and various itinerary selections within one package giving travellers the freedom to customize their vacation.

Rocky Mountaineer Railtours offers two-day, all daylight rail journeys between the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper or Banff and Calgary, Alberta. Travellers can elect to take their trip in an eastbound or westbound direction. Built around the two- day spectacular train trip are more than 50 different vacation packages ranging from four to 17 days.

In conjunction with the start of the new 2003 season, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours is also offering special roundtrip airfare for departures between 28 Canadian cities and Vancouver or Calgary when purchased in conjunction with one of the rail company's independent package tours. This great airfare deal means Canadian residents can enjoy incredible value when travelling within their own country. Packages must be purchased by March 31, 2003 for travel between April and October 2003. The special airfare offer applies to a vacation package selection with a minimum value of CDN $1,899 per person, based on double occupancy. Round trip airfare ranges from CDN $98 to CDN $778 depending on the departure city.

"We offer such a variety of tours that there truly is something for everyone. You can choose a package that offers complete pampering, soft adventure or the quintessential Canadian experience in summer or winter," says James Terry, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. "There's also never been a better time to travel in Canada so taking advantage of this promotion provides tremendous value and opportunity for Canadians. For anyone who has imagined a vacation exploring Canada's West and the Canadian Rockies now is the time to book a trip onboard 'The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World'."

New 2003 tours:

Lodges of the Canadian Rockies

This seven-night/eight day tour is ideal for those looking for freedom and the quintessential Canadian experience. The tour begins in the coastal city of Vancouver, followed by two days onboard the train in the GoldLeaf Service dome coaches. Upon arrival in the Rocky Mountain resort town of Banff, Alberta, guests spend one night at The Fairmont Banff Springs before picking up their choice of premium rental vehicle and driving to Emerald Lake Lodge, Cathedral Mountain Lodge or Moraine Lake Lodge for their rustic luxury escape. Travellers can choose from a four-night stay at one lodge or two nights each in two lodges. The tour concludes with the return of the rental vehicle in Calgary, Alberta. Prices start from CDN $3,379.

Canadian Rockies Getaway

This eight-night/nine-day package tour has been revised for 2003 giving guests the freedom to choose from eight different itinerary options. The tour begins in Vancouver and then journeys eastward onboard the Rocky Mountaineer for two days en route to Jasper, Alberta. From here, guests choose from various itineraries, including a motorcoach tour of the spectacular Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Banff, Alberta, and a SnoCoach ride on the Columbia Icefield. The route selected will determine whether the guest stays at Lake Louise, or spends more time in Jasper or Banff. Since this is a circle tour that offers the advantage of ending the vacation where it began, guests will board the train once more for two days to returning to Vancouver. Prices start from CDN $2,149.

Under Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' special airfare offer tours and airfares are based on availability and include air taxes and surcharges. Some restrictions may apply and GST and locally paid airport charges are not included. This offer applies to new bookings only.

For additional information or to book a Rocky Mountaineer tour, contact your preferred travel professional or call Rocky Mountaineer Railtours directly at (800) 665-7245 or visit the web site at www.rockymountaineer.com.

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Thursday, March 6, 2003

Historic locomotive leased to Kettle Valley Railway

VICTORIA - The Kettle Valley Steam Railway will lease the City of Port Coquitlam steam locomotive from the province to operate in the Summerland area. The lease was announced today by Transportation Minister Judith Reid, Management Services Minister Sandy Santori, Okanagan-Westside MLA Rick Thorpe and Debbie Kinvig, general manager of the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. The locomotive was built in 1912 and used through much of British Columbia until 2001, when it was removed from service because it required extensive repairs and no longer met operating standards. The province acquired it in 1973, included it in a Royal B.C. Museum train and used it as B.C. Rail's back-up when the Royal Hudson was in operation. "The steam locomotive has an historic place in British Columbia's railway history," said Reid. "The Kettle Valley Steam Railway is an ideal partner to showcase the City of Port Coquitlam because it recognizes the importance of the steam locomotive in the province's heritage." Kettle Valley will repair and restore the locomotive and put it into active service as a tourists' and historical education train on the only preserved section of the original Kettle Valley Railway line, situated in the Summerland area. The government recently issued a request for proposals for the locomotive and Kettle Valley's proposal was selected. "This agreement will allow the repair of this antique locomotive to continue," said Santori. "It's an innovative way to refurbish, maintain and showcase the locomotive.""The signing of the lease is wonderful news for Summerland and the south Okanagan because it will be another attraction for our growing tourism industry," said Thorpe. "We are thrilled to be able to provide a home for the locomotive in Summerland and offer people a chance to see part of the province's railway heritage," said Kinvig. The steam locomotive will be leased to Kettle Valley for 15 years, with three subsequent options to renew the lease for five-year periods. The locomotive is currently stored in the B.C. Rail yard in North Vancouver and will be moved to Summerland. (BC government)

Monday, March 3 ,2003

Roots on the Rail' tour coming up

CFPR-FM
Daybreak

Host - James Evans: Canada's rails will be rocking when a musical train ride crosses the country over the next few weeks. The first ever 'Roots on the Rail' tour features on-board performances by some of Canada's biggest folk acts, and when the train the rolls out of Toronto en route for Vancouver, at least one northerner will be hitching a ride. Gary Holmes is an engineer with Via Rail and the tour's production manager, and he joins me now in our Prince George studio. Good morning, Gary.
Gary Holmes, VIA Rail Engineer & Production Manager For VIA Rail's 'Roots On The Rails': Morning, James.
Evans: Where did the idea for the 'Roots on the Rails' tour come from?
Holmes: The instigator of the trip was a fella named Charlie Hunter. He is the one-time manager of Fred Eaglesmith, and he kinda sent out a feeler to all the Fredheads out there, that anybody - to see what kind of interest there would be in this cross-Canada train trip. And very positive feedback came back, and we went from there.
Evans: And Fredheads, of course - that's the name for fans of Fred Eaglesmith, no stranger to CBC Radio. I assume he will be on the train.
Holmes: Fred? Yeah, he'll be there - the main act for the trip, for sure.
Evans: And who else will be coming along?
Holmes: We have Bobby Lot, Caroline Martz, the Derangers out of Winnipeg, an old folk act, Canadian icon Ian Tamblin, Bobby Lot, Serena Ryder, Washboard Hank.
Evans: So really a who's who of folk in Canada.
Holmes: It's a pretty good solid line-up, for sure.
Evans: Now when I think of a concert, of course, I think either outside, like the Winnipeg Folk Festival, or in a concert hall in a venue. How is it different performing a concert and listening to a concert on a train?
Holmes: Well, we are gonna find that out, I guess.
Evans: (Laughs).
Holmes: First time out of the chute, so - we had some experience - well, personally I was involved with the CBC - a Rupert Rocket Special. So I am kinda going with some of that, and hopefully it is going to work for us. This has all been arranged through e-mail and over the phone, so it remains to be seen what it is going to be like. But hopefully it is going to be a good time.
Evans: What kind of logistical challenges are there in getting a concert going in a railcar?
Holmes: Well, the actual physical size is, I think, going to be the biggest part. I mean we got 50 paid guests plus performers we have got to squeeze into the one end of the dining car, which is about the biggest space we could get.
Evans: How did you get involved in the project?
Holmes: I just seen it - Charlie had put that feeler out as I said earlier, and I just e-mailed him back, and said who I was, and that I would help him out in any way possible. And I was thinking that maybe, you know, that later on in March I could get time off in March; I mean I could go. So I e-mailed him back and asked him what he would want from me. You know, I told him that I had a rail pass and that I could cover my transportation. And so I asked him what he would want over and above that, for me to come along. And then he - so about the next day I get this invite to come on board as one of the organizers, so I jumped on.
Evans: So you work full time for Via Rail, and then in your off time you end up riding a train from Toronto to Vancouver.
Holmes: Yeah, it's a bit of a busman's holiday, I guess, for sure. But the music part of it - I am a real big music fan, so that is going to be the real big highlight for me.
Evans:Folks music, to be specific.
Holmes: Yeah. Yeah.
Evans: So what are the future plans? I know we were just talking a few days, when we set up this interview, that there may be more of these events on the way.
Holmes: Yeah, right now it looks very good that next year we will be doing the sequel - second time you know, I guess. And we are looking at coming up and doing the Rupert Rocket, or the Via Skeena train. That's one of our ideas.
Evans: And they did something like that as few years back, as you mentioned. How many years ago was that?
Holmes: Oh, I think it was three or four.
Evans: You were involved in that project.
Holmes: Oh, I was just engine crew, so I wasn't really a technical person on that one.
Evans: Finally, we said - I said we'd let you give a shameless plug for an upcoming concert in Prince George that you are involved with, so go ahead.
Holmes: Actually, end of June I am bringing Fred Eaglesmith, actually, on a tour of the North here - he plays in Dawson Creek, Prince George, Smithers, and Rupert. So if you are a Fred Eaglesmith fan, mark that on your calendar, and we hope to see you out.
Evans: When do you head out to Toronto for the train ride?
Holmes: We are out of Toronto next - a week tomorrow, so I will be into Toronto for the Sunday.
Evans: How are you feeling?
Holmers: Well, it is coming down to the crunch, so hopefully it is going to pay out for us.
Evans: Well, Gary, thanks very much for coming in this morning. I appreciate it.
Holmes: Well, thank you, James.
Evans: I think a lot of people fantasize about big, long train trips and the romance of the rails. Now you get to do it and get paid for it, and enjoy music - pretty good deal.
Holmes: Yes, it should be good.
Evans: Bye-bye.
Holmes: Thanks.
Evans: Gary Holmes is an engineer with Via Rail, and is about to take part in the 'Roots on the Rails' cross-country train trip, and Gary was good enough to come down to our Prince George studio this morning.
Mary Jean Cormier, Co-Host: Sounds like a lot of fun. I know I saw Fred Eaglesmith when I was in Windsor, James. And his concerts are a good, good time - a lot of fun.

Saturday, March 1, 2003

On the fast track to success

KEVIN MCGRAN
The Toronto Star

VIA Rail turns 25 this spring, but the date of its birth- April 1, 1978 - is not nearly as significant as the date of its near-death: Jan. 15, 1990.
On that day, the Canadian- the historic transcontinental passenger train on the southern Prairie CP Rail line- began its last trip westward, the victim of massive government cutbacks. Brian Mulroney's Conservatives had begun slashing VIA's subsidy from a high of $640 million down to $350 million. Almost half of VIA's 38 routes vanished.

Some said Ottawa was rejecting the dream of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, who wanted a ribbon of steel to unite the country. John Turner, the leader of the opposition Liberals at the time of the VIA Rail cuts, called them "the last spike into our national railroad."But VIA turned out to be the little train that could. The transcontinental service didn't really die. It was cut back to three days a week and chugged along the CN Rail line. And with the shot in the arm it received this week from federal Transport Minister David Collenette, VIA is making it up that hill.Collenette's announcement of new legislation for VIA Rail is significant because it will give the crown corporation more autonomy over its own affairs."It's very important that VIA Rail get legislation, the VIA Rail Act," says David Jeanes, president of the mass-transit lobby group Transport 2000."The fact that it's had to operate without one since 1977 has really put it at a disadvantage compared to other crown corporations."Every part of VIA's business plan, its decisions on what levels of service to offer, has been scrutinized by the Treasury Board, and very often innovations that VIA wanted to introduce have been either delayed or denied."A few years ago, Jeanes says, VIA tried to speed up service between Montreal and Toronto by introducing a four-hour, express train."Treasury delayed the introduction of service through both the Thanksgiving weekend and the Christmas holiday period solely to have a look at the VIA business plan and see whether they believed it," Jeanes says."What it meant was, VIA, which had already made the investment in equipment and in track improvements, lost the advantage of introducing that service in time to get the Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas holiday traffic."

There are other examples of red tape derailing, or delaying, plans. Jeanes says VIA would like to add more trains between Montreal and Toronto and Toronto and Ottawa, and start a service between Calgary and Vancouver."Every time it wants to do that, it has to provide a business plan for Treasury Board up to a year in advance," says Jeanes. "You cannot run a business on that basis."VIA officials are careful not to criticize their bosses in government. They didn't "remember" the incidents Jeanes spoke of, but said most problems VIA faces introducing new services are technical in nature."Let's say we're looking for a new departure time out of Union Station," says Christena Keon Sirsly, VIA's chief strategy officer."It's a very busy station and we end up having to ask GO (Transit) to move their service if we want a specific slot."It's nice to say we got approval for adding service to the corridor, but the reality is there aren't that many slots, so we have to check around and see what kind of compromises we can make."Once Ottawa passes the VIA Rail Act, VIA's mandate as Canada's passenger rail service will be enshrined in law, a legitimacy some say was lacking when it was formed.

In 1978, intercity passenger rail looked dead in its tracks. CP Rail and Canadian National abandoned passenger rail when VIA was created, opting for the more lucrative freight business. Competition came from other forms of transportation: Cars offered convenience for short inter-city trips, airplanes offered speed. Trains, it was thought, couldn't compete."The challenge was momentous," Jean Pelletier, chairman of VIA's board, said in a recent speech. "VIA had inherited management practices, labour agreements and cost structures that favoured the operations of freight rather than passenger services."Furthermore, the new crown corporation remained heavily reliant upon the freight railways for operating crews, maintenance staff, station facilities and tracks."Not to mention an aging fleet.The burden on the taxpayer was huge, with subsidies topping out in 1988 at $641 million, about $100 per passenger.The Tories slashed and cut. By 1990, the subsidy was down to $350 million on its way to $170 million, where it remains today. But now, Pelletier said in his speech, VIA offers "better quality service with less than half of the operating funding received in 1990."

Operating expenses are down by $80 million with revenues up by more than $100 million to $253.8 million in 2001. VIA recovers 61.5 per cent of its costs from fares, compared with 28.9 per cent in 1990.VIA officials now dub the 1990 subsidy slash a "rebirth."The officials don't like to compare ridership statistics with those from the '70s and 1980s. "It's apples and oranges," said one. Instead, they measure themselves to the lean, mean 1990s."They've done extremely well in keeping their costs down and operating a pretty viable service and also getting some substantial speed-ups," says Transport 2000's Jeanes.A $402 million capital costs injection from the federal government two years ago helped VIA upgrade stations, tracks, locomotives and passenger cars.In the short term, there are more upgrades coming. Union Station is undergoing renovations that include elevators, escalators and carousel delivery of baggage. VIA acquired more trains, raising the likelihood of more frequent trips, especially between Montreal and Toronto, Keon Sirsly says.

But the challenges the railway faces are many. It needs:

To restore service lost through the 1990s, especially in the Maritimes and the southern Prairies.

Direct links with airports.

To be faster, and on time.

The last challenge might be its biggest.

Lindsay Rodger travels from Toronto to Ottawa on VIA six or seven times a year to visit family and to lobby the government on behalf of the World Wildlife Fund. The train, she says, is economical and environmentally friendly, but, too often, late."I don't get there on time every trip," Rodger says. "I appreciate sometimes things happen in life that it can't get there on time. In a perfect world, I would love it to be on time every trip."VIA owns very little of its own tracks, using, for the most part, CN Rail tracks. That means playing second fiddle to freight trains that can be more than 1 1/2 kilometres long.Get behind one of those en route to Montreal and the commuter can add a half-hour or so to the trip. No matter how civilized or relaxed train travel might be, no one likes to be late."Even though it is a double track or triple track line, the (freight) trains are so long that sometimes you can't overtake them before you meet a train coming in the opposite direction," Jeanes says. "It can be quite complicated. VIA has some problems there."Building its own tracks is too expensive. In the mid-'90s, when Ontario, Quebec and Ottawa floated the idea of launching the kind of high-speed trains prevalent in Europe, the project's estimated cost exceeded $10 billion. The electric-powered locomotives would have required completely new tracks.Times and technology have changed, though the need, or dream, for high-speed rail- a reality in the rest of the industrial world- remains."The sums are smaller this time," Jeanes says. "We're talking about $3 billion over a fair number of years, rather than $10 billion before you'd have anything to show for it. We're fortunate we've got some things going right now that back in the 1990s we didn't have."Some tracks would have to be upgraded or replaced, to take advantage of the speed- about 220 km/h- but it could be done incrementally to keep costs down, starting with, for example, the Toronto-Montreal or Toronto-Ottawa lines."If we go ahead with it and start planning now and get to work on it in the next few months, I would say in the next five or six years you could certainly have most of the work done," Collenette says.

You start by laying down some new track, installing new signals and straightening out some curves, he says. That would shave 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there, off a trip."The ideal thing is, you do it in stages," Collenette says. "This is not something where you have to close down the line. It's incremental. The efficiencies become incremental."With interest peaking in this high-speed rail possibility- one that would reduce reliance on airplanes and trips by car to the airport- train manufacturer Bombardier Inc. is testing its JetTrain locomotive on the Montreal-Ottawa line.The locomotive is also said to be coming to Toronto for a public showing at Union Station, although a date hasn't been announced.Jeanes and other mass-transit enthusiasts are only dreaming if they think high-speed rail is a possibility without Ottawa getting on board. VIA can't raise $3 billion on its own for a high-speed system.Collenette, a railway buff, can be cagey when talking about VIA's future. Although he's optimistic, he's also noncommittal."Now, we're looking at the next leap, which is how we make trains faster in the Windsor-Quebec city corridor," he says."This is, basically, going to have to be funded with a combination of public sector direct financing or, perhaps, borrowing. That hasn't been worked out."

Saturday, March 1 2003

Making tracks
Rail travel promoter opens door to North

By Bill Redekop

JOE BRYSKA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Riding the rails on the Hudson Bay Line. Tour operators have blinders on when they see Churchill in the North and that's it, says rail fanatic Daryl Adair.

ON THE HUDSON BAY LINE - Maggie's husband died last year, she said as the scenery stroked by her rail car window. So she sold off all the cattle from their ranch in New South Wales, Australia, and followed her wanderlust to see the world. In Canada, she purchased a Via Rail pass and found herself here, on the Hudson Bay Line to The Pas, she said as darkness fell and yard lights shone in the distance.That's train travel. It's like a Eugene O'Neil play where the set shrinks with each act to focus attention on the characters' lives. Random conversations are struck, lives are revealed, confessions made.And you watch the fenceposts go by, and the mile markers, and the bushes and trees.... Daryl Adair, who operates Rail Travel Tours, hopes to revive the mystery and allure of train travel. Adair, 31, is a rail fanatic. He got the bug from watching trains go by on the CPR main line at a family cottage in Lac Lu, near Minaki. In 1997-98, he travelled halfway round the world by train: from Winnipeg to Toronto, then around Europe, including Stockholm and Paris, then to Moscow, then to Bejing on the Trans-Siberian Line, and finally Hong Kong. Adair is banking that he's not the only one with a yen for train travel. "I started the business last fall when I had a Grey Cup train to Edmonton, like the Grey Cup Specials they had in the 1950s and '60s. It went over very well," he said.He also ran a train special through southern Ontario called Superior Colours, a scenic tour of the fall colours along Lake Superior.Adair's latest venture is rail travel into Manitoba's north on the Hudson Bay Line. He hopes to bridge north and south. Adair hosted a trip to The Pas for the 56th Trappers' Festival, Feb. 13-17. He is also running a rail travel tour to Churchill in July to see the Beluga Whales, as well as other northern communities. "Tour operators have blinders on where they see Churchill in the North, and that's it. I see more, so much more," said Adair. "Here's this wonderful festival in the centre of Manitoba, The Pas Trappers' Festival, where people come all the way from the Northwest Territories to see, and people in the south go, 'What's the big deal?'" he said frustrated. "The festival is the history of the fur trade coming alive. And then there's the famous northern hospitality."

The Hudson Bay Line starts in Winnipeg and bends northwest from Portage la Prairie up to Dauphin. Then it's west through Roblin and into Saskatchewan, then north through memorable Saskatchewan town names like Mikado, Amsterdam, Tall Pines and Hudson Bay, and back into Manitoba to The Pas. The line continues to Churchill.I travelled in a sleeper, a comfortable cubicle full of stainless steel drawers and cabinets, and powder blue walls. There is an adjoining bathroom, and a three-panel mirror to see yourself in triptych. There's a reading lamp over the bed, and a fan mounted on the wall, and three attendant buttons. The sleepers were originally built in the 1950s, and refurbished in the early 1990s. Travellers can have trouble sleeping the first night, mainly because you're too excited. As the steel wheels push and pull against the steel rails, your thoughts venture to outside your window. You can lie on your elbow in the dark in your berth and just watch the world go by. Even at night, you can see a surprising amount outside. We left Thursday evening and arrived at about 9 a.m. Friday morning in The Pas. A pine coffin was being loaded onto a freight car as we got off. "Someone's last trip," an onlooker remarked. The Trappers' Festival is not fully appreciated, said Adair. What separates it from some other winter festivals is its authenticity. "People come off the trap line for the competition, and then go right back out to the trap line after the festival's over," said Adair. The men are not so much from a time when men were men, but from a time when men were bears. These guys are tough. While watching the contestants carry 500 pounds of flour on their backs is amazing, it's just as amazing to watch them make a fire, as if down to their last match, and boil some tea; or watching them immaculately filet a fish with frozen fingers and frosty breath. The King and Queen Trapper contests extend over two days. There are 21 events for the men. Adair's enthusiasm for the festival is infectious. He strides around town with the biggest fur hat of all. It's more the size of the box the hat came in, and is reddish like a peach flambé.

Our tour followed the dog races by bus, with an experienced musher providing the play-by-play. Then there's the museum. Most travellers would expect to see a typical pioneer museum, with a little timber kitchen table and log sidings and kerosene lamps and snowshoes hanging from a nail. But the Sam Waller Museum is much different. It should be named the Sam Waller's Northern Museum of Weird Stuff. It's not just the mounted two-headed calf, born near The Pas, or the albino Canada Goose. It's not even the collection of Mexican jumping beans, or the Mexican fleas dressed up in wedding gowns and tuxedos (you can see their little hairy feet poking out the sleeves). What takes the cake, and it isn't always on display, is the stuffed head of Tobey, the lead musher dog of Emile St. Goddard. Goddard won the Trappers' Festival dog sled races five straight years in the late 1920s, a feat only matched this year by Kevin Cook. Then some cad put an end to his winning streak by poisoning his beloved Tobey. So Goddard, in honour of his memory, had him stuffed. We were allowed to go into storage to view the head. Waller collected everything. So besides the usual pioneer and trapper memorabilia, there are collections of stuffed parakeets, stuffed native song birds, Ukrainian eggs, pipes, belt buckles, barbed wire, African butterflies, much of it hidden in wedge drawers, and much, much more. The museum is in the old 1917 courthouse and still has the women's jail cells in the basement for viewing. Whoever said people are nicer farther north, got it right. Longtime trapper Walter Koshel drove me out of town to his home just to show me a stuffed wolverine and a 17,000-year-old buffalo skull, and other discoveries from his trapping career. One gets the impression Koshel would do the same for any tourist if it meant them going home with a favourable impression of The Pas. And town Mayor Gary Hopper scrounged up tickets so everyone on tour could see the Opaskwayak Cree Nation Blizzard hockey team win its 28th or 29th consecutive game; people seem to have lost count. The Blizzard are in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Their home games are an experience with their raucus fans, who are constantly blowing air horns and banging on side boards. At one game, American travel writers Yvette Cardozo and Bill Hirsch were welcomed over the public address system, and a referee stopped play to hand them two souvenir pucks.

Blizzard tickets could be part of a future rail package, if there's interest, said Adair. Meanwhile, Maggie, who is a pensioner and wears a wide-brimmed Australian outback hat that holds back her long greying hair, went all the way to Churchill. We met up with her again on the way back. She loves the north, even though she's from balmy Australia. (Her ranch is on higher elevation and gets frost, she said.) She also loves Winnipeg. She stayed at the Ivy House Hostel while in our city. Maggie was wearing a T-shirt that said The Ulysees Club, and underneath that was the motto: "Grow Old Disgracefully." It's for motorcycle riders over 50 years of age, she explained. Maggie is clearly a woman who does what she wants, not like Daisy Goodwill Flett in Carol Shields' novel The Stone Diaries who does what's expected of her. Maggie planned to travel by rail all the way to the West Coast, then down through the United States, and be in South America by late summer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trappers Train
(3 days and 4 nights)

When: Thursday, Feb. 12/2004 to Monday, Feb. 16
Cost: From $1,095 (Cdn) or $745 US, per person for double compartment.
How far: 930 miles
What: Travel the Hudson Bay Line to The Pas Trappers' Festival. King and Queen Trapper competitions. Dog sled races. The Sam Waller Museum. The Annual Mushers' Banquet. Aseneskak Casino.

The Northern Manitoba Explorer
(9 days and 8 nights)

When: Sunday July 13, 2003 to Monday July 21, 2003.
Cost: Per person on double occupancy: $1,745 CDN.
How far: 1,784 miles
What: Travel the Hudson Bay Line to Churchill to see the Beluga Whales. Later stops in Gillam to see Kettle Dam, and Thompson, Lynn Lake, and The Pas.
Who: Rail Travel Tours 1-204-897-9551; Toll free: 1-866-704-3528; Web: railtraveltours.com

Thursday, February 27, 2003

Train study a go

Laura Copeland
Peterborough Examiner

A campaign to determine potential riders for a Via Rail link to Toronto will begin within a month, said Susan Cudahy, CEO of the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation."We're looking for validation statements for ridership that we'll be submitting to show that there's a dedicated need locally for people who will utilize the service," explained Cudahy. "What we need to prove is how many potential people will use this service - to show a valid business plan."The GPAEDC already has a number of confirmed potential riders, Cudahy said. But the campaign will likely include a media blitz to try and find more users.In addition to the possible arrival of Via service, there is also a push for a GO Transit link to the area."We're really going to work on it to try and get GO Transit to Peterborough," MPP Gary Stewart said. "If we are to enhance the community we need another form of transportation."Stewart said a Toronto GO link would likely begin with a bus to determine ridership demands."That will give a clear direction to bringing GO Train service to the community," he said.Cudahy said she would definitely like to see a bus link to the lakeshore GO Train. But she cautioned buses are dependent on weather and traffic."As a form of dependable employment transportation it's not viewed as highly secure as high-speed rail," she said. "What I would like to see is an integrated (provincial-federal) agreement to come together to fund rail."MPP Gary Stewart said he is open to the idea."It doesn't matter to me what it is," he said. "The bottom line is, we need a good transportation system."Transportation Minister David Collenette released a major federal transportation plan on Tuesday. One of the areas highlighted in the plan is passenger rail.The report states legislation would be passed to ensure the survival of Via Rail. As well, the report outlines plans for a high-speed train along the Windsor, Toronto, Montreal corridor within the next 10 years.How this will affect Peterborough has yet to be determined. MP Peter Adams said yesterday he will make a point of speaking with Collenette about the Via link."There's a piece of this national strategy which is going to strengthen Via and make it more viable," Adams said.

Thursday, February 27, 2003

Full steam ahead for tour trains

The Sault's top tourist attraction is back on track after the post-Sept. 11 slowdown

Linda Richardson
The Sault Star

Sault Ste. Marie's top tourist attraction is back on track as it rolls into another year with growing numbers of visitors climbing aboard the Algoma Central Railway's tour trains.The popular wilderness excursions to the Canadian wilderness have rebounded from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.Now, it's full steam ahead for a good year in 2003, with only the possible outbreak of war with Iraq casting a shadow over the tourist season."All indicators are good,'' says Michael Morrow, the ACR's manager of passenger marketing."War in the middle east will put a damper on things as people will stay close to home.''Morrow says the ACR always had the potential to rebound from the terrorist attacks because it a "rubber-tire destination'' with most tourists travelling here by vehicle or tour bus.The ease of crossing the border at the twin Saults, compared to other locations, is another plus that he hopes will continue this year.As well, he says "the U.S. economy seems to be picking up '' -- another positive sign.Last year, the wilderness tour train excursion transported 72,217 passengers to Agawa Canyon, 138 kilometres north of the Sault.This was an increase of 1,689 riders from 2001."We managed to recover from the impact of Sept. 11,'' says Morrow, who noted lingering apprehension from the attacks and the slow U.S. economy last year still had an effect on numbers.Ridership in 2001 dipped 16 per cent, a substantial drop that resulted from the airborne assaults on New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.A major portion of the tour train's ridership stems from the fall colour runs, which traditionally peak during the last two weeks of September and first week of October.The number of people who climbed aboard the trains to view the brightly-hued, scenic vista jumped 19 per cent in October 2002 from the same month the previous year.In addition to Sept. 11, ACR faced mechanical problems with some equipment, but the railway's parent company Canadian National Railway Company has "put a lot of resources'' into the operation."2002 was an excellent operating season,'' says Morrow.The snow train, which has been operating since Dec. 28, is experiencing improved numbers.Two dome cars, which are back in commission after being refurbished in 2002, are a popular attraction with the winter visitors.The dome cars -- Algoma Country and Spirit of Superior -- with a total seating capacity for 80 people, each offer seating for 20 in the upper levels and 20 in the lower levels.A higher-cost reserve seating, the premium dome cars are limited to those 14 years of age and older."They have a high demand,'' says Morrow, adding "we had a lot of requests for them last year (when they weren't operating)''The Internet is now playing a key role in marketing the excursions, with the number of people buying tickets on-line and visitors to the ACR web site growing substantially.In 2002, a total of 1,436 bookings for 4,540 seats were on-line compared to 818 for 2,141 seats the previous year.During 2001, the first year the web site was operating, 70,000 visits were recorded. The number nearly tripled to 198,000 last year.The Canada Store, a joint public-private venture in Mackinaw City, , established to lure American tourists north across the international border, has been a boon to the ACR."They had a great year for visitors and we had a great year for bookings,'' says Morrow.A total of 438 people booked tickets from the store, located in the Michigan city at the southern terminus of the Mackinac Bridge, last year. This jumped from 255 in 2001.

Web site: www.agawacanyontourtrain.com

Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Travel seminar explores touring Canada by rail

By Liz Katynski

DARYL Adair loves travelling by train, and now he's inviting others to join him in exploring Canada by rail.
Adair invites everyone to attend his free Canada By Rail seminar on Feb. 23 at the Travel Manitoba Explore Centre at The Forks. Advance registration is required and additional seminars will be added, on demand.

The St. James resident and owner of Rail Travel Tours, the company he launched last year, is Winnipeg's only railway tour operator. He's also the author of The Guide to Canada's Railway Heritage Museums, Excursions and Attractions, a book published in the spring of 2001 by North Kildonan Publications, the publisher of other train-related publications.

The seminar will include information on his rail travel tour packages, new and classic railway hotels and accommodations, Canadian Railway Museums, rail travel tips, and more. He will also share a selection of slides taken on his railway adventures. Adair spent two months travelling on most of Canada's railway routes to research his book.

"I have always loved trains," says Adair. "I have had the good fortune to travel all over the country by rail, to learn about the attractions and where to stay. I want to share that with others. We don't just sell a seat, we give people an experience."

Adair says Rail Travel Tours' first tour, offered last year, was a success. He led a group of 40 people out of Toronto to experience the beauty of the fall colours of northern Ontario. His second tour took an enthusiastic group by train to the Grey Cup in Edmonton last fall. "If you haven't travelled by train, you don't know what's out there," says Adair. "With all the uncertainties in the world, many people are choosing to travel in Canada. They are just beginning to realize how much is in our own backyards."

Adair and/or his colleague Ken Praymak lead all tours.

This year, Rail Travel Tours will offer trips to the Trapper's Festival in The Pas, from Winnipeg to Prince Rupert, B.C., and from Winnipeg to Jasper, Alb. There will also be a Northern Manitoba Explorer nine-day trip in July. This one goes to Churchill to see the Beluga whales, and includes dinner at the infamous Gypsy's restaurant and a tour of the area. A northwestern Ontario Fall Colours Tour will again be offered in late September, taking travellers for an extended weekend to the new and improved Minaki Lodge.

"We are not on the train the whole time," says Adair. "We stop and take time to explore, to scratch the surface of an area before getting back on the train. We want to share our enthusiasm and have fun."

To register for the seminar, call Rail Travel Tours at 897-9551, send an e-mail to railtraveltours@mts.net, or visit their web-site at www.railtraveltours.com.

January-February 2003

TRAIN TOURS SURE TO IGNITE PASSIONS
Memorable vistas are just the beginning to a luxury rail tour on board the Royal Canadian Pacific.

BY JILL & JASON MONTGOMERY
DreamScapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine

In a world where superstores, colossus movie theatres and mega-cruise ships are the norm, five unique rail tours offered by Royal Canadian Pacific shine like beacons. And, since the maximum capacity on any rail tour is only 32 passengers, the atmosphere on board is guaranteed to be intimate and friendly and the service absolutely first-class. As she escorts us to our stateroom, the attendant briefs us on the vintage rail cars built in the early 1900s. Everywhere we look, rich wood interiors with inlay and beautifully upholstered chairs and loveseats hearken back to the elegance of a bygone era. Generous windows unveil breathtaking views. While the Golden Crowsnest Tour has long been recognized as the luxurious way to see the Canadian West, the company also offers other special-interest rail excursions. Four of the tours begin with a chauffer-driven transfer from the Calgary International Airport to the landmark Fairmont Palliser where guests check into a "Fairmont Gold" room. That evening, following a private reception, they are wined and dined in the Rimrock Dining Room, before bedding down for a good night’s rest.

A fly-fishing adventure
This 650-mile adventure through the Canadian Rocky Mountains and Prairies leads to some of North America’s best fly-fishing rivers. Over the next four days, a fishing guide takes guests to the banks of the Lower Bow River, home of huge brown and rainbow trout; to a variety of rivers in the Crowsnest area where wild rainbow, cutthroat and bull trout thrive; for a leisurely day floating on the Elk River; and to the Gap for an afternoon of fishing on the Upper Bow River. In between, guests sit down to extravagant meals served in their familiar rolling "fishing lodge" as it winds its way through spectacular Rocky Mountain settings. If fishing is your game, this luxury fly-fishing adventure through the Canadian Rockies and Foothills departs July 13 and 19, and is priced at $7,100 per person based on double occupancy; $7,550 for single occupancy.

A royal clubhouse golf excursion
In search of the definitive golf getaway? Then, the six-day Royal Clubhouse Golf Excursion, August 24-29, is for you. Probably the ultimate golf trip, this 650-mile tour links some of the most picturesque and challenging courses Canada has to offer. The first day features the Stanley Thompson designed, world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs Course. The next golf destination is the Greywolf Golf Course, designed by Doug Carrick and recognized as the "Best New Canadian Golf Course" in 1999. Another is the St. Eugene Mission Golf Resort, a championship link-style course designed by Les Furber. Your final round is played at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort, an oasis of green between the rugged canyon cliffs along the Old Man River. The cost is $5,475 per person based on double occupancy; $5,925 for singles.

A Mount Fairview expedition
This guided adventure takes you back in time to the golden age of exploration and off the beaten path to Mount Fairview where you relive the experiences of early adventurers. The journey continues through the Spiral Tunnels, along the Kicking Horse River to Golden and Field, BC. Another day finds you on a hiking adventure around Emerald Lake after which there’s plenty of time to share your expedition stories with fellow adventurers as the luxury train chugs back to Calgary. The Mount Fairview Expedition, September 15-18, promises to exhilarate outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike for $3,400 per person based on double occupancy; $3,600 for singles.

A culinary, wine and music experience
If being serenaded by classical musicians as you dine on gourmet meals served with award-winning wines is more your style, a five-day Royal Culinary, Wine and Music Experience, October 31-November 5, is the way to go. These five days of luxury rail travel are sure to delight all the senses. As the train winds its way through the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the untouched wilderness of Yoho National Park into the Okanagan Wine Region, guests are treated to a wine and food extravaganza prepared by culinary teams. In between fabulous breakfasts, sumptuous lunches and gala dinners, motor coach trips to the world-famous Mission Hill Winery, cooking demonstrations, and exhilarating performances by classical musicians fill your days and evenings. The cost for this moveable feast is $5,995 per person based on double occupancy; $6,450 for singles.

A royal derby
For this 770-mile tour from Minneapolis to Louisville, we head south to Minneapolis/St. Paul where guests check into the four star, four-diamond St. Paul Hotel for an evening of fine dining and relaxation. The following morning, guests board the Royal Canadian Pacific for its journey along the Mississippi River as it heads south towards
Chicago. The train interchanges with CSXT at Chicago and continues through the countryside of Indiana to Louisville, Kentucky where guests attend the 129th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Following a day of world-class thoroughbred horse racing viewed from their covered box seat, passengers return for a special dinner on board. The next day features a private tour of Ashford Stud Farm, where former derby winners such as Susaichi Pegasus and Thunder Gulch are at stud, and a visit to Darby Dan Farm, where several well-known former champions and derby winners are laid to rest, before the return journey to Chicago and St. Paul. To mingle with the horsey set on the Royal Derby Train tour, April 30- May 6, it’ll cost $7,650 per person based on double occupancy; $8,150 for singles.

January 13, 2003

Rail Travel Tours original Spring on the Skeena tour experience available to the public

Winnipeg, Manitoba January 12, 2003: An original Canadian rail tour Spring on the Skeena is in reach of the travelers wanting to shake the winter blues. This roundtrip guided tour, in May 2003, begins in the prairie city of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada and travels through the Canadian Rockies and British Columbia's Coastal mountains to the City of Prince Rupert and the Pacific Ocean. Not offered anywhere else this tour includes world class attractions in Winnipeg, MB, Jasper, AB, Prince George, BC and Prince Rupert B.C, classic railroad hotels and other approved accommodations, as well as two award winning rail passenger services VIA Rail Canada's premiere transcontinental the Canadian and all-daylight, northern British Columbia train The Skeena and the upscale Totem Class. Booking deadline for this tour is March, 15 2003.

Ali Macaraeg, Manager of VIA Rail Canada's Market Development West describes the route of VIA Rail Canada's Skeena as "Canada's best kept scenic secret enjoyed by locals, and visitors from Europe, United States and other parts of the world."

After meeting fellow travelers, enjoying some great food and a thorough visit to the attractions of the City of Winnipeg, MB the tour travels on VIA Rail's Canadian to Jasper, AB to overnight at a Jasper Hotel in this town located in the Canadian National Park by the same name. Then the group will travel on VIA Rail's Skeena in Totem Class, featuring fantastic service, great meals and outstanding views of the wildlife and incredible scenery from the dome car including the Canadian Rockies, the Coastal Mountains and Skeena River during this two day, all-daylight journey. Then arrive at the North Pacific Cannery, on the South side of the Skeena River to enjoy the history, hospitality and charm of the Waterfront Inn and this historic site before exploring the community of Prince Rupert, BC and the opportunity to go Whale watching. We then return to VIA's Skeena and return to Jasper National Park to explore this park from the bottom and Maligne Canyon, to the top and the Jasper Tramway to the summit of Whistler's Mountain before returning to Winnipeg on VIA's Canadian and a fitting tour farewell event.

Rail Travel Tours, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada uses the services of Canada's rail passenger providers, choice accommodations and attractions to create unique and original tours. For more details on this tour, or a 2003 destination brochure contact Rail Travel Tours at 1-866-704-3528, fill out the form at www.railtraveltours.com or e-mail railtraveltours@mts.net.

Winter 2003

On Track for Winter

Go. Canadian Travel Magazine

Soaring mountains softened by a mantle of snow. Hills and pastures turned pearly white as far as the eye can see. Waterfalls frozen into glittering sculptures. Ride the rails at this time of year, and you'll roll through a steady stream of magnificent winter scenery.

See the dramatic Gaspé Peninsula on a trip aboard VIA Rail's Chaleur, connecting the town of Gaspé with Montréal by way of the Baie des Chaleurs, the Matapédia valley and small villages along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Then travel in comfort between Montréal and Toronto, downtown to downtown, on a route where the railway is gradually adding new Renaissance rail cars, offering ultra?modern coaches with such amenities as lounge areas. From Toronto, how about a visit to Niagara Falls??by rail? All you have to do is hop aboard the train to New York City and hop off at the Niagara Falls stop. Marvel at the falls in winter, and then grab the train back to Toronto in the late afternoon. Toronto, of course, is also the departure point for one of the railway's proudest services/ the Canadian. Encompassing the picturesque lakelands of northern Ontario, the western plains and the splendid Rockies, this

is one of the world's great train trips. The complete journey takes three days, but you may want to spend a while in some of the stops along the way, like Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper or Kamloops. If you still haven't had enough of the mountains in winter, consider a fabulous two?day journey aboard the Skeena between Jasper, in the heart of the Rockies, and Prince Rupert on the Pacific coast. Or if you're going all the way to Vancouver Island, take in some of its most beautiful scenery by traveling aboard the Malahat between Victoria and Courtenay, a route that provides endless
vistas of the island's coastline (1 ?888?842? 7245 or www.viarail.ca). No time for an overnight journey? No problem. Enjoy a breathtaking trip out of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on the Agawa Canyon Snow Train. Available until March 8, this daylong expedition is aboard refurbished 1950s vintage coaches, complete with onboard narration and endless views of enchanting wilderness scenery (Algoma Central Railway, 1?800?242?9287 or wwwagawacanyontourtrain.com). Alternatively, hop onto an old?fashioned steam train for a five?hour adventure in the heart of central Alberta. Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions offers winter outings that include the roundtrip train ride out of Stettler plus a five?course meal and lots of rollicking entertainment (4031742?2811 or wwwabstearntrain.com).

Friday, January 10, 2003

Town sets out to make steam engine dreams reality

Moose Jaw Times-Herald

A community of 300 people located on the edge of Saskatchewan's badlands plans to run a $1-million plus steam engine tourist excursion train within a few years. The town, 120 kilometres east of Assiniboia, has already turned down an offer of a diesel locomotive and cars from the 1950s owned by former Moose Jaw resident Bob Nagel. "We looked at the Okanagon Wine train last year but it wasn't what we wanted. We want steam," said Mayor Wayne Myren of Ogema. Nagel did open Myren's eyes to the potential when they made a scouting trip on the 117-kilometre Red Coat Trail Short Line Railway from Assiniboia west. The rail line, owned by the Ogema-based short line, passes through salt flats, bird sanctuaries, around canyons, through badlands and over vintage wooded trestles. He compared the potential to a vintage passenger railway at Stettler, AB that books 25,000 passengers from tour buses before the summer season starts. The passenger train is the third phase of an Ogema project to tell the story of the railway influence on Prairie settlement. The Deep Country Pioneer Museum at Ogema has already relocated a vintage railway station like the one that once sat on Main Street, with plans to make it a centre of the story.

Wednesday, January 8, 2003

VIA's Snow Train on track to Jasper

Toronto Sun

Via Rail calls it the Snow Train to Jasper -- an adventure that brings travellers to the Alberta town for winter activities ranging from sleigh riding and snow shoeing to skiing.Via is pairing with tour companies to offer a variety of packages. Brewster Tours has an eight-day program that starts with Via Rail service from Vancouver and includes a motorcoach tour along the scenic Icefields Parkway, an overnight in Lake Louise and two nights in Banff. Cartan Tours offers a seven-day package that starts with an overnight stay at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, followed by the rail journey to Jasper and visits to Lake Louise and Banff. And John Steel Rail Tours offers an eight-day package that starts at Union Station.

For details including prices, go to www.snowtraintojasper.com.

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January 2003

A RIDE ON VIA’S RENAISSANCE- EQUIPED “ENTERPRISE”

By Daryl Adair
Branchline, Canada’s Rail News Magazine

In the summer of 2000, while in Southern Ontario on business, I had the good fortune to ride VIA Rail Canada’s Enterprise - the overnight service between Toronto and Montreal. This was the same year that the service returned after being discontinued over 10 years before. Two years later, I found myself again in the corridor, on business, and riding the same train with two differences; I was traveling from Montreal to Toronto; and the train was made up of the new Renaissance equipment.

The day of departure, early in the morning, I checked my bag with the station staff in Montreal’s busy Central Station. Once this was done I was off to meet with the VIA Rail Product Manager for the Quebec-Windsor Corridor, Bernard Aubin, at VIA headquarters. Mr. Aubin told me about the overwhelmingly positive response that they had received when the equipment was shown during the stops that the CBC Anniversary train had made in the corridor. The public, who took the opportunity to see the equipment, were impressed with the high seats in the coaches (these are for better viewing out off the windows), and the overall appearance and comfort the train had to offer. He also told me, with a smile, that “It was a very smooth ride-with a wide bed, and even smoother ride than on the Canadian” High praise indeed but, being a westerner, I will be the judge of that I thought. I thanked him for his time and I was on my way to my next appointment.

With my business day done I found myself at Central Station around 10:00 p.m. and checked into the VIA 1 Lounge. Here a VIA employee told me that the service Manager would be along shortly to welcome us and take our tickets. I used this time productively to use one of the calling card phones, in the lounge, to touch base with a friend back home to catch up on the news in Winnipeg. Once done, the Service Manager was busy at the lounge’s departure desk and I went over and offered my ticket. He introduced himself as Brian Anderson, welcomed me aboard, and informed me which car I was on and where my room was located. He also told me that I was free to enjoy the amenities of the lounge or that I could board at any time. I thanked him and quickly headed into the large hall of Central Station to find my departure gate and headed down to track level.

I met the sleeping car attendant on the platform, who looked at my ticket and showed me the way to my room. I went down a typically narrow European railway car corridor, all the while being filmed by a TV crew who were doing a story on the trip for Quebec’s TVA. I opened the door to my room, and awaiting me inside was my bag that I left earlier in the day on my prepared bed. The attendant did a brief overview of the light switches and heating controls, pointed out the facilities, the closet space and explained how to use my coffee-maker. Once things inside the room were explained he reminded me that my door had a key and gave a quick overview how to use it. Basically, the key, is a piece of flat rectangular plastic with the room number on one-side and punch holes on the other. When you leave your room you remove it from the door and take it with you and plug it into the door slot when you return so you can open the door. With the door key figured out, and my bags behind a locked door, it was time to go exploring.

I walked outside the train along the platform and passed a polite VIA attendant who was assisting travellers with their oversized bags into the luggage area of the service car. Walking further along the coaches I found VIA F40 6425 at the front end, looking slightly out of place with its colour scheme, but ready to do the job. The TVA crew was also here filming the locomotive so I headed back towards the coaches.

The first coach, 7203, was traveling dead but the lights on the second coach, 7213, were bright and inviting. Still an hour away from departure, the passenger count inside the coach was well under half full and another attendant was showing economy class passengers the amenities of the car and going over safety precautions. I wandered the length of the car and was impressed by the design of the service car as I got closer. One of the take out counters faced the coach from the kitchen and with the glass doors separating the cars, the kitchen attendant can clearly see down the aisle of the coaches. Once in service car 7304, I passed by the kitchen, which opens up into a lounge and found a small party already in progress, not to mention the TVA crew interviewing passengers.

I also enjoyed the atmosphere for a short while and there were complimentary chips and peanuts to go around for the passenger’s enjoyment. I gave the time for my wake up call to the attendant in the kitchen before returning to the sleeper cars. I explored the sleeping cars 7511, 7507 and 7505 only to find no activity and returned to my room in the 7507. After opening my room, with the key, I organized myself for the following day, and realized it was 23:30 and we were moving only when I saw the stairs, up to the station, passing by. Once outside the station, I could also tell we were moving by the sound of the metal hose, from the shower, bouncing off of the fiberglass bathroom/shower wall. I quickly remedied this by taking the shower wand and lying it on the floor. Before we reached Dorval I was underneath the cozy blankets and duvet that were on the bed and raised my eylids to see the passing Dorval station before falling fast asleep.

During the night I did awake momentarily realizing (I think) that we had been stopped for quite some time. I surmised we were at Queens siding, outside Kingston, where the train sits for a few hours, as the Montreal-Toronto journey really is a four-hour trip. I awoke later to find there was a glimmer of daylight and moments later, my internal clock was early as a knock at the door came for my 7 a.m. wake up call. I figured out the shower controls-turn the dial towards red and it is hot; turn it to the blue and it turns cold, and got ready for the day. After dressing I located the mini galley at the end of my car and found a tray with my continental breakfast. I took the tray to the service car and opened it up to reveal a croissant, mini-bagel, yogurt, juice, some cheese and an almond raisin bar. As I enjoyed my breakfast I noticed that the morning’s paper was available to travellers, and when I asked the crew they told me they are put on at the early morning stop in Kingston. I finished my breakfast, and, as we were swiftly moving through the Toronto suburbs, I hurried back to my room. I introduced myself to VIA Public Relations Officer Benoit Simoneau, who was accompanying the TVA crew and no sooner did we start talking, our train pulled into Toronto’s Union Station train shed signaling the end of a fine trip.

The Renaissance equipment has a special place for me, although I will probably never see it travel through my hometown of Winnipeg. I still feel as I was the person who named it! Shortly after travelling on the Enterprise in 2000, and finished with Business in Montreal, I traveled to Ottawa. It was by circumstance that Mr. Rod Morison, then President of VIA Rail Canada, was on the same train and I had the opportunity to talk with him. I spoke passionately about traveling by train in Canada and the rebirth of rail travel in Canada and said to him I felt that there was a “real renaissance regarding traveling by train in Canada”. When I said that he took out his daytimer and wrote down and underlined “Renaissance”.

Shortly after, VIA made the decision to purchase the Nightstar equipment from Europe and today VIA public relations will tell you the decision to name it the Renaissance Fleet was a long and carefully researched conclusion when they decided on the name. I have to believe them but it still makes me wonder. What I don’t have to wonder about, after experiencing the new renaissance equipment, is that there is a renewal of rail passenger travel in Canada and it has begun.

For more information on how you can make this journey or experience guided Canadian rail tours contact Rail Travel Tours at 1-866-704-3528 or visit their website at www.railtraveltours.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Santa takes train into city
Maple Ridge News

St. Nick was among the passengers on West Coast Express Saturday, when it rolled into town.

Seven years ago, West Coast Express has developed a Santa train that runs back and forth from Mission to Vancouver twice in December. Why do they call it the Santa train? Well the appearance of the white-bearded old gentleman might have something to do with the name. But the other reason is that passengers are given an opportunity to be Santa’s helpers.
Anyone bringing a new, unwrapped toy rides the train free. And the toys collected at the three local stations are then given to the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society. The first run was last Saturday, and 183 toys and $271 was collected for the local organization that provides toys and Christmas meals for financially struggling families in this community.

The next festive excursion (the last of this holiday season) runs Saturday, Dec. 14 beginning in Mission at 10 a.m. and leaving Vancouver at 5 p.m. Due to the popularity, organizers encourage passengers to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Supporters of railway explore their options

Alberni Valley Times

A means of transport of the past may become a means of transport for the future if a group of Vancouver Island municipalities, regional districts and First Nations has its way. Representatives from the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, City of Port Alberni and local First Nations are scheduled to meet with Tanner Elton of the Vancouver Island Rail Development Initiative today in a closed-door meeting. The groups are just a sampling of those governing bodies who have joined with VIRDI to have railway service return to Vancouver Island. Mayor Ken McRae said the meeting is being held to gauge the possibilities of re-establishing rail service on the island. Elton has been in several meetings with other municipal and First Nation governments and RailAmerica and CPR to discuss re-opening the lines on Vancouver Island. Several governing bodies have joined together in an attempt to purchase all CPR property on the island, and VIRDI is also working to establish lease agreements with RailAmerica for the use of freight and passenger services. Private investors have also been involved with VIRDI to help rail service redevelopment gather steam.

While deals are close with CPR and RailAmerica on Vancouver Island's north-south line, there's still work to be done to establish a deal on the Parksville-Port Alberni line. That line would include the line that runs from Port Alberni to McLean Mill National Historic Site, for which the city only had a one-year lease agreement for use. "We've more or less reached an agreement on the north-south line with CP and RailAmerica," Elton said. "What we haven't got is an agreement on the Alberni lines." Elton said that RailAmerica won't likely be willing to sell the lines because they would have to sell them at a considerable loss. Instead, he said, VIRDI is attempting to negotiate use agreements that bring the infrastructure under municipal control.

Friday, December 6, 2003

The Canadian Tourism Commission and the Railway Association of Canada are pleased to announce the launch of www.canadabyrail.ca.

Canada by Rail launched its one-stop resource to promote all rail-related tourist venues across Canada. Jointly funded by the Canadian Tourism Commission and the Railway Association of Canada (RAC), this initiative brings together for the first time railway tours, historic societies and sites with rail-related restaurants, excursions, and museums, etc. to promote rail tourism both domestically and internationally.

To date, this resource offers information and links, by province and interest to 90 museums, 31 rail excursions, 11 historical societies, nine other (B & B, restaurants, hotels), and 14 RAC members offering tourist services.

All responses have been extremely positive calling the initiative "an excellent way to promote rail and we wish to be part of it."

The next tranche of partnering will be with tour agents. Items being considered for next year include further research and initiatives, a semi-annual newsletter, hosting a regional meeting for members, and attending a national product club meeting.

December 2002 Canada By Rail made a presentation to over 100 tour and tourist representatives at the annual CTC Product Club Conference, as well as participate actively in exploring marketing possibilities for the future.

As the Manager of Canada by Rail says: "We have been thrilled with the response. Canada has so many varied and interesting rail-related tourist venues to bring to the attention of travellers, both within Canada and those travelling to Canada from other countries. The current resurgence of rail across the nation highlights this safe and environmentally friendly method of travelling and rail's importance to the history, economy, and fiber of the Canadian experience. We invite you all to join us in this exploration and to see Canada by Rail!"

Author: Peg Herbert margareth@railcan.ca