November 3, 2005

KVR chugging a little harder

Penticton Herald

Summerland's Kettle Valley Steam Railway has just ended its best season ever. Some 22,735 riders climbed aboard the historic railway cars during the 2005 season, says gm Debbie Kinvig. The railway still has two Christmas train rides to run in December to cap off the season. "This will be the third year we've had Christmas trains," said Kinvig. "We have Santa and Mrs. Claus on board, games and goodies for the kids as well as live musical entertainment and historical commentary by the conductor." They will run on Dec. 18 and 19 at 1:30 p.m. The cost is $17 for adults, $16 for seniors and $11 for children aged three to 12.

November 1, 2005

The snow train to Jasper: VIA Rail Canada's signature winter vacation Packages are as Exhilarating as the Rocky Mountain Air

VANCOUVER - Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow... and hop aboard the Snow Train to Jasper, VIA Rail's wintertime version of its flagship Canadian service. Winding through the breathtaking Canadian Rocky Mountains, this classically romantic, once-in-a-lifetime rail journey delivers passengers to Jasper, Alberta, and its welcoming, luxurious resorts. A supreme winter-weather setting, Jasper offers countless outdoor activities and, once inside, impeccable Rocky Mountain hospitality. In all, a vacation including VIA's Snow Train to Jasper provides enough vistas to give even the most amateur of photographers a chance at a masterpiece, so you won't want to forget your camera.

The Snow Train to Jasper features VIA Rail's Silver & Blue Class aboard the legendary Canadian, which this year celebrates its 50th year of operation. Silver & Blue Class passengers can choose from premier-level private or semi-private sleeping compartments with cozy down duvets, plump pillows, thick towels and a shower kit. Meals are also included in the price of a Silver & Blue Class ticket.

The panoramic Dome cars, a signature feature of the Canadian, provide 360-degree views of Western Canada's magnificent landscape. Two lounges, the Bullet Lounge and the Mural Lounge - so named for their Collection of Canadian art - are ideal spots to enjoy a refreshing cocktail and friendly conversation. In addition, the Skyline Car features books, video, board games, and an Activity Coordinator who points out scenic highlights for passengers en route in addition to organizing activities and other entertainment options for passengers.

Nothing could be finer than dinner in the diner and the Canadian's elegant and polished dining cars that, combined with the spectacular views from the wide windows, create a special mood and ambiance no matter what the time of day. Meals, freshly-prepared onboard, favour delicious regional cuisine. To complement meals perfectly, a selection of award-winning, all-Canadian VQA wines are also available for purchase. After dinner, passengers can retreat to one of the Domes for a nightcap under the stars or to the privacy of their room.

Once in Jasper, travelers have their choice of seemingly limitless cold-weather activities in this absolute winter wonderland. A destination surpassed by none for its natural beauty, Jasper offers everything from first-rate snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing to "ice walks" exploring the park's famous, cavernous Maligne Canyon. Frozen-lake ice-skating is also available at nearby Mildred Lake or, for the less agile, embark on a leisurely nature hike through the beautiful snow-clad landscape or tour the town in a horse-drawn carriage and breathe some of the purest air in the world.

Vacationers have a variety of hotels and resorts from which to choose, including the Jasper Inn and the esteemed Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, both located within the heart of the national park. Other premier accommodation possibilities include Mountain Park Lodges' Amethyst Lodge, Lobstick Lodge, and Marmot Lodge, all in downtown Jasper, all of which also immerse winter revelers in the wonders of this rustic paradise.

For further information on Snow Train to Jasper, visit www.snowtraintojasper.com ( http://www.snowtraintojasper.com ) . For tour programs that showcase VIA Rail Canada's The Snow Train to Jasper, please visit the package section of VIA Rail's website at www.viarail.ca/packages ( http://www.viarail.ca/packages ) , and select "The Canadian" from the drop-down menu in the "VIA Rail Trains Featured" section. To best optimize search results, it also is helpful to select "Jasper, AB" from the "Cities You Wish to Visit" section and complete the questions designed to identify which package best suits your needs.

For more details on VIA Rail Canada's products, services and fares contact VIA Rail Canada at 888-842-7245 (888-VIA Rail) or visit www.viarail.ca ( http://www.viarail.ca ) .

As Canada's national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally responsible and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada's busiest corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. Serving more than 450 communities with a 14,000-kilometer network of inter-city, transcontinental and regional trains, demand for rail services continues to grow as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe and convenient travel choice.

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Contacts:

Catherine Kaloutsky
(416) 956-7683
catherine_kaloutsky@viarail.ca ( mailto:catherine_kaloutsky@viarail.ca )

Aurelio Macaraeg
(604) 640-3746
Aurelio_Macaraeg@viarail.ca ( mailto:Aurelio_Macaraeg@viarail.ca )

October 19, 2005

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER VACATIONS SELECTED AS A PREFERRED SUPPLIER WITH VIRTUOSO

Canadian tour operator, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV), has announced a new relationship as a preferred travel supplier with U.S.-based consortium, Virtuoso.

This network of over 500 travel agents connects its customers with the world’s most luxurious vacation destinations. As a preferred supplier, RMV will be able to reach a wider audience in North America, while appealing to a higher-end clientele with its deluxe vacation offerings.

“It is an honour to be selected as a preferred supplier with this world-renowned consortium,” said Nicole De Wilde, vice-president, sales and business development for Rocky Mountaineer Vacations. “We are delighted with this opportunity to work closely with Virtuoso’s agencies, some of the most highly respected in the travel industry and we look forward to developing a strong and successful partnership in the months and years ahead.”

Virtuoso is one of the most prestigious organizations of independent, carriage trade travel agencies in North America and is known around the world as a leader in the travel industry. Its members have personal relationships with top hotels, resorts, spas, lodges, cruise lines and tour companies around the world, enabling Virtuoso’s agents the opportunity to provide their guests with incredible value and rare experiences.

Author: Canadian Travel Press
Organization: Baxter Travel Group
Contact: ctp@baxter.net

September 14, 2005

Hundreds experience rail history

Winnipeg Free Press
Jen Skerritt

After working on steam and diesel engines as a machinist for nearly 40 years, Bob Torrance says it's nice reminiscing about his days working for CN.

"It's nice going through it again," he says, while standing next to a boxcar.

Torrance was one of hundreds of people who took a walk through Winnipeg's rail history last weekend at Winnipeg Rail Museum's Railway Days. With everything from model trains to the first steam engine in Western Canada, Daryl Adair, co-chairman of the eighth annual event, says this year was the first time people had the opportunity to view the interior of one of VIA Rail's sleeping cars, a dining car and coaches.

"It's metamorphed into many things," he says.

The Winnipeg Railway Museum opened in 1992 to showcase everything from the city's rail history to current-day railway operations. Adair says Railway Days started in 1997 as a way to commemorate the museum's fifth anniversary, and says they have grown to include railway companies, tour operators and model-train enthusiasts from across the province.

Aside from promoting rail safety, organizers say the two-day event helps bring the importance of Winnipeg's railway history in the spotlight. According to Ben Van de Mosselaer, the original Canadian Pacific Railway line was planned to go to Selkirk instead of Winnipeg. Van de Mosselaer says a last minute switch turned the railway headed towards Winnipeg, and Selkirk never became a big city like Winnipeg. "The CPR came into Winnipeg and made it what it is today," Adair says. "It was a railway hub and to some degree it still is."

Standing next to a display of old newspaper clippings, Grace Torrance, a former Transcona resident, has one memory of a train that hasn't dissipated for more than 50 years. Torrance says that she can still hear the sirens going off in Dugald after a train crashed in 1947. She says she still recalls going to school the next day and finding out how many students had lost family members in a crash that claimed the lives of 35 people.

VIA Rail announces fall foliage excursions

Canada NewsWire 050909

As the vibrant colours of summer become the rich hues of autumn, the green spaces throughout Ontario and Quebec's largest cities explode into auburns, oranges, and golds. Parks and public gardens are filled with visitors armed with cameras ready to bid farewell to another fine summer. The fall foliage season is short but sweet in a region that is easily accessible by train. Safe, affordable and comfortable, with multiple daily departures, and downtown-to-downtown service, VIA's frequent Corridor services operating between Windsor and Québec City, make travel and the ease to pick up and go at the drop of a hat - or a leaf, for that matter, a great idea. From Niagara Falls and Toronto to Ottawa, Montréal and Quebec City, there are a wide variety of festivals, and attractions to be enjoyed.

September 11, 2005

Discover the best of Canada, coast to coast, by rail

Chilliwack Progress

In 1885, the CPR tied Canada together "like a ribbon of steel from coast to coast," said Pierre Berton, author of The National Dream and The Last Spike. "Our cities and towns popped up along it like beads on a string. We became the nation we are because of the railroad." Railways continue to provide us with great rail excursions today along some of the most historic routes in Canadian history. As well, staying in one of the great Canadian railway hotels is part of the journey. They were built with all the opulence and services available at the time and many were constructed in very out-of-the- way places, surrounded by spectacular scenery. These hotels have become very much a part of Canada's national heritage and identity. Two of Canada's great railway companies, the CPR and CN, were responsible for the hotels which are located in some of the most stunning surroundings in Canada.

John Steel Rail Tours continues the great tradition of rail travel and Canada's trains present one of the world's great rail journeys from sea to sea across this vast, amazing country. The Classic Canada Coast to Coast travels from Vancouver to Toronto, and features a stop in the Rocky Mountains. Travellers can enjoy a trip aboard VIA Rail's flagship, the Canadian and a stay in the resorts of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper in the Alberta Rockies. Maple Leaf Magic - Canada Coast to Coast is a fully independent tour departing Vancouver, BC which travels to Halifax and features stops in Jasper, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

Railway Days 2005

Dates:      Sat & Sun - September 10^th and 11^th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m each day

The Winnipeg Railway Museum will again be hosting their Annual Railway Days on September 10^th and 11^th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m each day.  Admit it, young and old, boy or girl, we all have a fascination with trains.  Since 1997 the annual Railway Days show has given the opportunity for everyone to share their fascination, a memory, and love for rail travel and learn about the past.  This weekend event, which will again be at the museum located in Winnipeg’s VIA Rail Canada Union Station, continues to grow and will feature displays from numerous railway related organizations, from model railway clubs, railway excursions, railway heritage museums/ attractions and the rail industry from around the province as they get together for a fun and educational weekend.  Admission to the museum will be by donation to help preserve the regions rich and diverse rail heritage.

This fun weekend will feature the following attractions and activities:

• Railway memorabilia and lore
• Model Railway displays
• Operation Lifesaver display to learn about railway safety
• Learn more on how you can travel by train in Canada
• A well stocked gift shop of all your favorite railway collectibles.

The Winnipeg Railway Museum, dedicated to preserving and showcasing Manitoba’s rail heritage, is a project of the Midwestern Rail Association which in 2005 celebrates 30 years since being formed to protect and preserve the areas rail heritage.

September 10-11, 2005

COME DANCE WITH THE GANDY DANCERS!

Saint-Constant, July 27, 2005 . – Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum, offers you this coming September 10 and 11 a fascinating activity called Gandy Dancers. Who had this mysterious name? Come find out, join in the dance yourselves and become a Gandy Dancer!

Well before track maintenance was done by machines, this task was performed by hand, by gangs of track workers. Six men made up each gang and did this very hard physical work. Their job included inspecting the track, replacing rotten ties and worn or broken rails, shoveling and packing ballast (broken-up rock), driving spikes etc. They moved around on the tracks by means of gang-cars or pump-cars and used basic tools well-suited to their work : shovels, mallets, tamper rods, wrenches, picks, bars, jacks, … all made by the Gandy Company. After each repair job, the track workers, who were mostly Irish, had to jump up and down in place to help the ballast work its way in among the ties. This repetitious movement reminded people of a dance, an Irish jig. This is why these workers ended up being called "Gandy Dancers" !

On September 10 and 11, the Exporail track gang will be made up of volunteers. They will perform demonstrations and you will be able to join the "dance" and try to spike and move ties, rails etc. You’ll be guaranteed a good workout ! And we haven’t forgotten the children. There will be a special activity just for them, where they also can try "spiking" rails.

Several motorized track-cars as well as a hand-car will be on the Exporail site. You will have a chance to try them out and take them for a short ride. In addition, a 1910 gas-powered velocipede and a small crane will be demonstrated.

Exporail promises you many hours of family enjoyment. The site offers restaurant service and in addition a grassy area and an old baggage car which can be used for picnics. Free parking is available for all visitors.

EXPORAIL is open Wednesday to Sunday until October 30, from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

INFORMATION : 450 632-2410

www.exporail.org

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Contact de presse : Monique Tairraz & Cie - Annick Van Craenen– 514-393-3404

August 1, 2005

Much more to come at EXPORAIL

St-Constant, August 1st 2005 . – Already half way thought the summer and Exporail , the Canadian Railway Museum keeps offering more exciting activities.

SAVOUR THE RAILWAY EXPERIENCE TO THE UTMOST!

Come admire, visit, and discover one of the most wonderful railway collections in the world! Return to the era of the iron horse, luxurious business cars, the conquest of the West! Or travel back to the 1930s, 1940s or the 1950s with powerful streamlined, a school cars and heavyweight sleepers and the first diesels. Take a streetcar ride or go for a spin on a miniature railway. Turntable demonstrations and the occasional switching move with a 1950 era diesel are also on the agenda. Or enjoy a Sunday train ride. Great facilities await you on the site of the museum, to plunge you into action!

A NEW, SENSATIONAL PAVILION

In this new pavilion, Exporail highlights the stars of its fabulous collection. Locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars, horse-drawn cars are displayed in a context that recalls a train station. And, throughout the facility, interpretation modules inform and entertain .

SERVICES THAT MAKE YOUR VISIT EVEN MORE INTERESTING

At Exporail, take the time to explore and have fun… Our staff hopes to make your family visit as pleasant as possible. There are numerous locations on the site where you can sit. A restaurant service is available. A grassy picnic area and a baggage car has been outfitted with tables and chairs. The picnic area is for games and leisure activities. A free parking area is also available. Of course, a stop in the gift shop is a must.

THRILLING PROGRAMMING

There’s nothing more thrilling than the Exporail theme weekends. In 2005, the public’s favourite events are back, along with a few new ones.

A great passion fors mall trains , on August 20-21, gives adults a chance to play like children, and share the passion of miniature trains enthusiasts. Small marvels to discover.

Gandy Dancers , on September 10-11, bring visitors into the world of these unique workers, called Gandy Dancers, who maintained the tracks. They used to jump up and down to level the ballast between railroad ties, performing what looked like an Irish jig.

Railway ghosts , on October 22-23, guarantees that shivers will run up and down your back with its collection of legends and mysteries.

Finally, the Museum Express will be in service for one last occasion on August 21, to carry museum visitors to an unforgettable day. For information and reservations, call (514) 287-7866.

EXPORAIL is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm until Labor Day.

Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm until October 31 st.

INFORMATION: (450) 632-2410

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Media contact: Monique Tairraz & Cie - Annick Van Craenen – 514-393-3404

Media Invitation: Ride the Dream Catcher Express

For Immediate Release: August 30, 2005

Members of the media are invited to ride the Dream Catcher Express “preview” train on Thursday, September 15, 2005, and to experience various activities upon arrival in Temagami.

The Dream Catcher Express, an exciting train excursion between North Bay and Temagami, will offer you, as a passenger, a variety of unique experiences including the romance of rail travel, vibrant fall colours and a sampling of aboriginal culture.

Agenda: Thursday, September 15, 2005

7:30 a.m.
Board the Dream Catcher Express at The Station, 100 Station Road (off of Seymour Street), North Bay

7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Travel aboard the Dream Catcher Express to Temagami Warm breakfast to be served en route

9:30 a.m.
Arrive in Temagami
Ribbon cutting ceremony at Temagami Station

9:50 to 10:30 a.m.
Tour station / Slide show

10:30 a.m.
Board motor coach for short ride to Tipi Village

10:45 to 11:15 a.m.
Tour Tipi Village and enjoy sampling of native fry bread

10:45 to 11: 15 a.m.
Visit lookout

11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
Take mini hike on wide trail back to bus

11:45 p.m.
Board motor coach for short ride to Temagami Outfitters for quick health break prior to departure for North Bay

12:15 to 1:45 p.m.
Travel aboard a Motor Coach to North Bay
Lunch to be served en route

1:45 p.m.
Arrive at North Bay Station
Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 7, 2005 to Lyn Owca at Ontario Northland, 705.472.4500 or 800.363.7512 ext. 276, lowca@ontc.on.ca to reserve your spot!

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For more information, please contact Beverly Watkins, Manager of Public Relations, Ontario Northland, 705.472.4500 or 800.363.7512 ext. 265.

August 27, 2005

It's more than a train -- it's like an ocean cruise

Calgary Herald

Today, after more than a century of rail travel in Canada, the train is apparently no longer a mode of transport. Rather, in some parts of the country, riding the rails has been elevated to a "travel experience" -- with lofty fares to match. In a recent example, a round trip full-fare senior's ticket between Toronto and Edmonton at the end of July is priced at $939 for "comfort class" and $2,300 for a sleeper car. In comparison, the cheapest ticket for a round-trip flight on Air Canada in the same time period is $388 ($506.48 including all taxes and service charges). "It depends on the market, but between Toronto and Edmonton, airlines are not our competition -- they are complimentary," says Steve Del Bosco, vp of marketing for Via Rail Canada. He adds most people take the three-day trip one way and fly the other. "The kind of customer that takes that journey is looking for an experience. They've decided they want to travel across the country and see Canada," says Del Bosco. The western journey on Via's Canadian train has been rated by National Geographic as one of the top five rail trips in the world. Passengers buying a silver- or blue-class ticket receive complimentary gourmet meals with white-linen service and Canadian wines, a room with a bed and shower, access to the domed sightseeing car and a host of daily activities. "It's perceived as a very classy tour," says Del Bosco.

August 20, 2005

Blackjack train a success

St. Catharines – Niagara Standard

After taking a gamble on a new premium train service that offers passengers from Toronto to Niagara Falls the chance to learn to play blackjack, Via Rail says it will offer it again next summer. "It has been a very great test run," said Pierre Santoni, Via's Ontario regional director. Via is just completing a 13-week trial of a third train to Niagara Falls from Toronto. Unlike its two regular trains, the 10am train used a converted bar car to offer blackjack lessons on the trip to Niagara Falls and a wine and cheese reception on the return trip. An average of 100 people a day used the service, Santoni said. Via offered the service in partnership with the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Peller Wines and Ontario dairy farmers. Bruce Redwood, a pit manager from Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, had a blackjack table set up in the train. No real money was exchanged, but he showed passengers how to play. On the return trip to Toronto at 7:20pm, passengers were treated to wines from Peller Estates wineries. The cost was the same $29 adult fare they charged for regular trains.

August 19, 2005

Enjoy northern scenery and hospitality on the Dream Catcher Express

Canada NewsWire
The inaugural voyage of the Dream Catcher Express, a train excursion between North Bay and Temagami, is fast approaching. Operated by Ontario Northland as a special 100th anniversary of rail initiative, the Dream Catcher Express will enjoy a limited run of just 9 days - September 22 to 25 and September 28 to October 2, 2005. In partnership with local hospitality operators, the Dream Catcher Express will offer passengers a variety of unique experiences including the romance of rail travel, vibrant fall colours and a sampling of aboriginal culture.

August 17, 2005

Mini-railway steams along

Winnipeg Free Press

Hundreds of Winnipeggers trekked to Charleswood last weekend to weave through the bushes and hop aboard the neighbourhood's newest steam train to ride the rails of the Assiniboine Valley Railway. "It's a real railroad," says Bill Taylor, one of the founding members of the Assiniboine Valley Railway. "It's just smaller." Last weekend, the Assiniboine Valley Railway celebrated its 10th anniversary by welcoming a new steam engine to the existing five mini-locomotives that circle through Bill Taylor's yard. Taylor says the new addition was modelled after CPR Heavy Pacific trains, which were in their heyday in the early 1930s and 1940s. He says the steam engine was paid for by two members of the Assiniboine Valley Railway, and adds that the cost rivals that of a new automobile. For 10 years, Taylor has welcomed people onto his residential property in Charleswood to share in the joy of a miniature railway. Since Taylor found a tiny model train under the Christmas tree when he was eight years old, he says it has always been his dream to re-create a railway of his very own. "It allows us to use it and to share it," Taylor says. "What's the point of having this if you're not going to share it?" Taylor, who is also a member of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club, says his love of trains spawned the idea behind the Assiniboine Valley Railway 10 years ago. Since then, Taylor and his fellow 60 members of the Assiniboine Valley Railway have volunteered their time to build the expansive track that winds through seven acres of natural trees and hazelnut bushes. According to Taylor, the railway will soon mark 10 years on the track by giving a ride to its 100,000th passenger.

August 16, 2005

Train late? Check your email

Toronto Star


GO Transit can't eliminate annoying delays, but riders can now learn about those slowdowns sooner. The transit system has just launched E-News, a program that uses email alerts to tell commuters when buses or trains are delayed by 30 minutes or more. "We want to let the customers have an opportunity before they start their trip to find out what's going on," said managing director Gary McNeil. "We're reaching out and saying, 'If you want more information, we'll give it to you.'" Users can visit www.gotransit.com to sign up, giving an email address for home and work, and indicating the train/bus routes and times they want details on. Notifications can be sent to any device that accepts email, but so far text messaging is not an option. E-News users can also opt to receive alerts about service improvements, new schedules, construction and other news.

The idea evolved out of an informal email bulletin system created by one person in the customer-service department to deal with complaints during the particularly bad winter of 2003-04, when frozen switches frequently delayed trains. The low-key, non-advertised system soon had 5,000 people signed up. When GO brass learned of it about a year later, they decided the alert system should be expanded and automated so all GO customers - about 180,000 each workday - could use it. "We didn't even know we even had an informal email system," said McNeil. "Somebody internally was doing it as a means of dealing with the customer. When we found out we said, 'Keep going.' But it was getting so popular, we couldn't handle it without an official way of doing it." It took several months and $200,000 to upgrade the software and Internet service. "A $200,000 solution. Those are the ones I like," McNeil said. About 20 to 30 trains a month are delayed by 30 minutes or more, including up to 10 that are cancelled outright.

August 13, 2005

Train trips through the Rockies

Kamloops This Week

When it comes to railway tours, many Kamloopsians would no doubt think Rocky Mountaineer, which has just celebrated its 15th anniversary of service. But, for those interested in vintage luxury train travel with a Canadian flavour, there is another option. CPR operates the Royal Canadian Pacific train based in Calgary. Evoking the golden age of train travel, the Royal Canadian Pacific consists of vintage equipment, meticulously restored and maintained. The coaches, built between 1917 and 1933, were built for the "elite" such as railway dignitaries and prominent people of the era. The locomotives which pull the train were built in the early 1950s, and were in service for years, pulling the stainless steel train the Canadian. Completely overhauled and refit, they wear the grey-and Tuscan red scheme complete with the CPR Beaver emblem on the front of the leading unit. The coaches are in the Canadian Pacific traditional Tuscan red livery, associated with the glory years of railroading. Inside, they are finished in fine woods, glass, and appointments reminiscent of gracious living. Fine cuisine representing the different areas the train passes through is offered in the dining car. On many trips, passengers enjoy the sleeping car accommodations while the train overnights in a siding. Although the Royal Canadian Pacific is based in Calgary, many of its trips cover areas of BC. The Internet features websites for both the Rocky Mountaineer and the Royal Canadian Pacific tours. One can spend a good deal of time browsing these sites, looking at the different options, and whetting their appetite for a train trip to remember.

August 13, 2005

Port Moody Museum blog a first

Coquitlam Now

Port Moody, the first western terminus of the CPR and first-place winner of 2004's Planning for the Future award, can add another first to its list of achievements. The city now boasts one of the world's first museum blogs. Located at www. portmoodystationmuseum.blogspot.com, the Port Moody Station Museum's blog (short for weblog) is a frequently updated online journal that gives the public a look at what goes on behind the scenes at a small community museum. The museum's blog traces the progress of the museum's 1910 to 1912 style CPR garden, exhibits photographs of the museum and describes events at the museum. The blog also touches on historical research relating to Port Moody, the CPR, railways, telegraphs and the province. Created by museum assistant Oana Capota and Port Moody Secondary student Azra Habib, the blog has been online since April.

August 10, 2005

Ontario Northland appoints new vp passenger services

Canada NewsWire

The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of Cheryl Sutton as its new vp passenger services, effective Monday, August 8, 2005. "Cheryl has been with Ontario Northland for 20 years and has an extremely strong track record," said Steve Carmichael, president and ceo of Ontario Northland. "She has tremendous credentials and I am confident in her ability to lead the passenger services division of Ontario Northland." Sutton will be responsible for overseeing Ontario Northland's motor coach and passenger rail services, as they contribute to the prosperity of northeastern Ontario by providing safe, reliable and competitive transportation solutions for all residents of the region. This will include managing the Company's fleet of 23 highway motor coaches, along with the Northlander, Little Bear and Polar Bear Express passenger trains.

August 9, 2005

VIA Rail's student savings make the grades

Canada NewsWire

In a news release, VIA Rail reminds students of all ages that they can take advantage of savings and fare discounts available with the railway throughout the school year. VIA said it is offering student discounts ranging from 35-50%, and has plenty of departures from university/college towns served by VIA's Windsor-Québec City Corridor services. Also starting in September 2005, VIA Rail Gift Cards will be available for purchase at VIA Rail stations system-wide.

July 25, 2005

VIA Rail Canada's travel packages website

Canada NewsWire

Get online before you get on board. With hundreds of rail-inclusive vacation package options offered by a plethora of reputable tour operators, VIA Rail's www.viarail.ca/packages is one-stop shopping for travellers looking for their ideal Canadian vacation. The website presents information in a clear, concise manner, allowing visitors to efficiently narrow in on their ideal getaway despite the generous amount of overall packages available. Festivals celebrating history, music, cuisine or just plain celebrating give travellers an in-depth look into the culture of a number of cities within the Ontario/Quebec corridor. And VIA Corridor service between Windsor and Quebec City offers an ideal way to travel to these summertime events that include Toronto's Caribana and Taste of the Danforth Festivals; Montreal's Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, World Film Festival and, International Balloon Festival of St. Jean sur Richelieu and; Québec City's Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition and New France Festival. For more information on VIA's 2005 offers, products, and services, customers can visit VIA's secure Web site at www.viarail.ca to book their trip with one-stop shopping for trains, cars, hotels and activities.

July 14, 2005

Riding the rusty rails

Edmonton Journal

In Stettler, AB, the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion gives people from across the country and across the seas a taste of what it was like when transportation along the prairies meant diesel and steam engines. Each year the railway attracts 20,000 to 25,000 people to the small Alberta town. Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion runs trips from Stettler to Big Valley from the May long weekend to the third week in October. The steam operated engine finishes at the end of September, because of the fear of frost, and a diesel engine picks up from there.

July 6, 2005

Train keeping reservations

Timmins Daily Press

Having passengers reserve a seat on the Polar Bear Express is all in the name of customer service, say the people at Ontario Northland. While the railway started this initiative as a pilot project last year, it was only officially announced recently that the new policy was here to stay and that the Little Bear service would also be affected. "It allows us as a company to better schedule seating," said Beverly Watkins, Ontario Northland's manager of public relations. "The goal is to make things run more efficiently." The train, which travels between Cochrane and Moosonee, requires all passengers to be assigned seats, as if they are on an airplane. Watkins said she has heard no complaints and that most customers were receptive to the idea. She said the new system will allow Ontario Northland to add extra cars to the train if the need is there, so no one would end up getting left behind during an unexpected busy period. Ticket agent Isabelle Kingsbury said while it takes a little bit longer to process a customer, she feels it'll be worth it in the long run, especially in the winter, which brings an influx of hockey teams and Christmas shoppers. "It allows us to take better care of passengers and make sure they have everything they need," she said.

July 4, 2005

KVSR can chug a little better

Penticton Herald

The Summerland district council has approved a $5,000 grant to the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. Debbie Kinvig, the railway's gm, appeared before council last week to request the grant-in-aid to cover the property tax. She cited extra costs associated with track upgrades, restoration of the 3716 locomotive and increases in insurance premiums as the reasons for requesting financial assistance from the municipality. "The grant will help protect the direct benefit of the train to the community," Kinvig said. The KVSR steam railway is fast becoming a destination attraction, drawing more than 20,000 visitors a year from around the world and generating more than $3 million in spin-off to the community each year. Direct purchases from Summerland businesses by the KVSR exceeded $73,000 in 2004. Members of the KVSR, a non-profit society, contribute over 9,000 volunteer hours per year, the equivalent of 4.5 full time staff.

July 4, 2005

A piece of history chugs into Ridgetown, ON

Chatham Daily News

A final chapter in railway history was recorded Saturday. A 1923 hand-fired steam locomotive made what may be the final passenger train run to Ridgetown, ON. More than 170 passengers boarded the train earlier in the day in St. Thomas for the journey. The train, consisting of the steam locomotive, a 50-year-old diesel locomotive, a 1930 observation car, three coaches, a snack diner and a water tank, is owned by the St. Thomas Central Railway. The railway company is owned and operated by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society and the train is operated by volunteers. The train was more than an hour late because an extra coach had to be added in St. Thomas to accommodate additional passengers. "We understood there would be about 140 passengers in total,? said Joan Cofell, president of the Ridgetown and District Chamber of Commerce. "But it turned out there were more than 170.? CE Beckett, secretary of the locomotive restoration society, described Saturday's event as "special. We are celebrating the existence of the Canada Southern Railway Line of 1872, which is slated for abandonment."

Kettle Valley Steam Railway to launch the 3716 locomotive May 22nd

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway (KVSR) in Summerland, BC is fast approaching the day that Rail Fans have been looking forward to since the restoration of the 3716 Steam Locomotive began two years ago. On Sunday, May 22 nd the 3716 steam locomotive, built in 1912 by CPR, will be back on the rails, fully restored and ready to steam its way over the historic Kettle Valley Railway line.  “It has been two years of hard work,” says KVSR General Manager Debbie Kinvig. “Our Operations Manager & Engineer Brad Coates has done an excellent job in leading the restoration work and team.” The locomotive was given its safety certification from the BC Safety Authority in March and then work to restore the engine’s exterior beauty soon followed. “The KVSR is planning a big launch on May 22 nd with two trains (10:30 am & 1:30 pm) each complete with a Great Train Robbery and Barbeque, live music and a souvenir for people to take home,” says Kinvig.  “We want to share this monumental day with people from all over the country and extend an invitation for them to join us.”  There will also be an area set up for photographers who want to get an unobstructed view of the 3716 in action. Tickets will be $55 for adults and $22 for children. Reservations are a must and can be booked at 1-877-494-8424 or online at www.kettlevalleyrail.org

3716 Background  

The 84,150 Kilogram steam locomotive was disassembled and sent on five tractor trailer trucks from the BC Rail yards in North Vancouver to the Kettle Valley Steam Railway in March of 2003.  Restoration challenges included building a new firebox, boiler jacket, side sheets and other repairs at an estimated cost of $100,000.   The Kettle Valley Railway Society acquired the historic 3716 steam locomotive from BC Rail as a lease arrangement of $1 a year for the next 15 years. Built in 1912 by Montreal Locomotive Works, it was originally numbered the 3916 but was rebuilt and renumbered as the 3716 in 1929.  It spent the first half of its life in the east running out of Montreal.  It wound up out west in the 1940’s when it was converted to burn oil and assigned to CPR’s Kootenay Division based in Cranbrook where it ran until 1966 and was then moved to Port Coquitlam. In 1976, BC Rail received the engine from the City of Port Coquitlam and for the next 26 years, it was used as a back up for the well-known Royal Hudson on the North Vancouver to Squamish route before being retired in April 2001. The 3716 has also starred in many movies and television commercials over the years including "The Grey Fox", a movie about Bill Miner, and "The Journey of Natty Gann", a Walt Disney Production.

For more information contact:

Debbie Kinvig – General Manager
Kettle Valley Steam Railway
18404 Bathville Rd; P.O. Box 1288
Summerland B.C. V0H 1Z0
250-494-8425 
Email: kvr@telus.net 
www.kettlevalleyrail.org

May 11, 2005

Fine dining aboard Via Rail a balancing act for servers

Winnipeg Free Press

By Carolin Vesely

THEY'VE been workin' on the railroad.

Since May 2, Winnipeggers Nicole DeVriendt, 19, and Bronwyn Moffatt, 22, have been putting in 12-hour days aboard a Via Rail train, learning the tricks of the "rail-dining" trade. Trick No. 1: Practise your yoga moves. Flexibility and balance come in handy when trying to serve an elegant four-course meal in a dining room that's the approximate length and width of a city bus. Trick No. 2: Get used to dish-pan hands. There's no automatic dishwasher on this rail-bound bistro.

DeVriendt and Moffatt are among Via Rail Canada's spring crop of trainees -- 36 new hires who are honing mobile hospitality skills to become senior-service attendants for the railroad's peak travel season. Yesterday, seven of them put those skills into practice during a special "rail-car" luncheon in the Annapolis dining car for Via Rail's invited guests and former employees. On the menu: blackened Pacific halibut, feta garlic stuffed chicken, curried potato and cauliflower bouchée. White chocolate key lime cheesecake for dessert. Think flight attendants have it tough, squeezing their beverage carts -- and fixed smiles -- down that narrow airplane aisle? Try hoisting a huge tray -- laden with bowls of roasted red pepper tomato soup -- along a similar serving path, all the while ensuring you don't collide with a fellow server who's pouring wine at an adjacent table, or upset the vase of fresh flowers or candle (battery operated) atop each linen-covered table. "It's like a ballet going back and forth in a dining car," says Daryl Adair, owner/operator of Rail Travel Tours, the Winnipeg travel company that hosted yesterday's luncheon. "There can be three to four sittings for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a busy dining car."

Up to 48 passengers can be seated in the average dining car, each of which is named for a CPR hotel restaurant. Moffatt, who has four years experience waitressing at stationary Winnipeg restaurants, says she looks forward to learning some new serving moves next month -- when the training train actually moves. She and her fellow trainees take their maiden rail voyage to Toronto on May 22. Besides their dining-room duties, senior-service attendants learn the fine arts of making sleeper cars cosy for overnight passengers, as well as safety, CPR and first aid. (All new Via Rail recruits must be bilingual. They earn about $17 an hour.) "I hear that the movements of the train add some fun aspects to the job," says Moffatt, who adds that "space" (or lack thereof) has been the biggest challenge thus far. "My biggest fear is when I'm leaning over the table, I'll hit you in the head with the tray," she says, laughing.

DeVriendt, a former banquet waitress, says she's especially grateful for these immobile practice runs. "I've never been on a train." But it's all in a (long) day's work for Paul Terpstra, the veteran Via Rail chef who prepared yesterday's vittles -- from scratch -- in his rail-car kitchen, which measures 45 feet long and about three feet wide. Think kitchen Pilates -- 18 hours at a stretch."We'll get on here in Winnipeg and go to Toronto," says Terpstra, who, on that kind of four-day run, will toil behind a hot oven from 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. "Basically, you're tense all day. Your back is tight, your legs are tight." And if the rails ride a bit rough? Terpsta demonstrates another trick of the moving-restaurant trade: hooking one foot under the bottom of the kitchen counter.

For more information contact Rail Travel Tours at 1-866-704-3528

Come to where the Orcas play and the Eagles soar!

Along with the Orca, the Raven and the Eagle give British Columbia’s Inside Passage a sense of living myth and magic. The Northwest coast peoples retained a memory of a time when men and animals were kindred spirits. Orcas, or Killer Whales, were depicted as symbols of great strength and bravery, but were sometimes feared. They called call them Max’inux or blackfish, and believed that one day they could be reborn as a Killer Whale. Long misunderstood and feared by humans, these animals have been found to be highly social, intelligent and even gentle creatures in captivity. The Raven is a cultural hero, transformer and magician and many legends portray the Raven as being the lesson learner. He is credited with many great feats such as creating the sun and the moon and giving the light, fire, and water to the people. The Bald Eagle is an important bird to the natives and many myths and stories surround it. Eagles fly the highest of all living beings and have eyesight that can see into the soul. The Bald Eagle with wingspans up to eight feet is not as fierce as its appearance suggests, feeding primarily on dead or dying fish, shellfish and carcasses of dead animals. Eagles mate for life, and build large nests of sticks in high treetops, which they occupy and add to for years.

The narrow maze of channels, deep fjords and temperate rain forests of the Inside Passage are home to the Orcas, the Ravens and the Eagles. In fact, the world’s largest concentration of easily observed Orcas is found in these waters and from July to September, both the Orcas following the spawning salmon and those following the sea lion migration, converge on the waters of the Inside Passage.

This fall join John Steel Rail Tours on a guided group tour off the coast of beautiful British Columbia and cruise the stunning bays and fjords of the Inside Passage. Orcas and Eagles~ Inside Passage Tour, departing Vancouver on September 25 and returning October 1, 2005, also features incredible journeys aboard two trains. The rails take you east from Vancouver across British Columbia aboard VIA Rail’s legendary Canadian, travelling through the towering Coastal peaks and crossing the rolling interior plateaus of British Columbia to the majestic Rocky Mountains. Return westward to the Pacific Ocean and historic Prince Rupert aboard the fabulous Skeena, a two-day daylight journey following the mighty Skeena River with its green rushing rapids and sheer canyons. Sail the beautiful Inside Passage with BC Ferries to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and then tour south through the island to Victoria, BC’s charming capital city.

John Steel Rail Tours has many great travel ideas for those seeking guided group tours led by knowledgeable tour guides. To find out more please call the friendly Tour Coordinators at John Steel Rail Tours ~ 1-800-988-5778, email to info@johnsteel.com or visit the website at www.johnsteel.com.

About Our Company : Located near Vancouver, BC, John Steel Rail Tours is in its sixteenth 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. We 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 Reg. #2042-5.

For: John Steel Rail Tours
Contact: Karen Davy, Vice President
Primary Phone: 800-988-5778
E-mail: karen@johnsteel.com
Date issued: March 31, 2005

April 24, 2005

Via Celebrates a Milestone in Passenger Rail "The Canadian" - 50 Years of Service in Canada

Fifty years ago, on April 24, 1955, Canadians celebrated as two transcontinental trains were launched. The introduction of Canadian Pacific Railway's "The Canadian" and Canadian National's "Super Continental" heralded a bold new era in transcontinental passenger rail service in Canada. Today, "The Canadian" departs Toronto and Vancouver three times a week on a three-day, three-night odyssey. The stainless steel train still gleams brightly as it crosses the country bringing travellers from every corner of the planet face to face with some of the most famous landscapes in the world.

The "Super Continental" and "The Canadian" made the western transcontinental voyage one to remember. And while aspects of their operation have changed over the past half-century, one thing has not: Canada's cross-country voyage is a once-in- a-lifetime experience. In fact, it has been recognized by National Geographic as one of the top five journeys in the world.

To celebrate the past 50 years, VIA will mark the occasion on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24, with cake-cutting ceremonies at:

- the departure of Train No. 1 from the Departure Concourse of Toronto's Union Station (7:30 - 9:00 a.m., Saturday);
- the departure of Train No. 2 from the Station Concourse of Vancouver's Pacific Central Station (4:30-5:30 p.m., Sunday), and;
- the greetings on Sunday of Train No. 2 at 11:20 a.m. and Train No. 1at 3:30 p.m. at Winnipeg's Union Station, while on their station layover.

Although this special event marks an anniversary that is replete with nostalgia, its true significance speaks to the future. The introduction of the stainless steel fleet was a defining moment in the modernization of passenger rail service in Canada. VIA is building on this proud heritage and has embarked on a new era in train travel. As part of the anniversary celebrations, VIA has been offering a special "Happy Birthday" fare to Baby Boomers turning 50 this month. From April 1st to 30th travellers can take a trip on "The Canadian" in "Silver & Blue" class on any segment between Vancouver and Toronto for $50, or $100 for the round trip.VIA's Silver & Blue class is an award-winning service that includes on-board meals and accommodation.

Last year, more than 120,000 passengers travelled on board "The Canadian". 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. Serving more than 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.

For further information: Electronic versions of the press release and backgrounder are available at www.viarail.ca/media . You can also download photos of The Canadian at www.viarail.ca/extranet; VIA Media Contacts:

Catherine Kaloutsky, Public Affairs, (647)-228-1127; Ali Macaraeg, Marketing, (604) 640-3746

April 21, 2005

Via Rail Smartens Up Atlantic Canada Ocean Service with New Easterly Class: A Maritime Learning Experience

New Educational Program and Other Added Amenities to Commence June 1

Starting June 1, VIA Rail Canada will be relaunching its overnight Easterly Class service on the Montreal-Moncton Halifax train, the Ocean, creating a rail journey that immerses travellers into the romance of the Maritime provinces. Educational and enriching, the new

and improved Easterly Class: A Maritime Learning Experience will celebrate this history-rich region while pampering passengers with the amenities they'd expect from a premier class sleeper service.

Operating June through October 31 of 2005 and May through October beginning next year, the new Easterly Class service will be a seasonal upgrade to the Ocean's already existing Comfort Sleeper class, which will continue to run year-round. For passengers departing from Montreal or Halifax, the features of the new Easterly Class will be apparent even before getting on the train. Prior to boarding, the excursion's Learning Coordinator -- a new position created to organise and implement the new Easterly Class' educational components – is introduced as host, ascertains passenger expectations, and previews the experience as a whole. Once aboard, a welcome sparkling wine toast will be offered in the Dining Car to passengers boarding the train in Montreal, Moncton or Halifax.

Throughout the ensuing journey, the Learning Coordinator will be available to provide insight and commentary relating to the scenery and area through which the train is traveling. In addition, the Learning Coordinator will invite Easterly Class passengers to attend brief lectures covering a wide range of topics related to Maritime Canada, such as history, culture, geography, regional cuisine and dress. Enticing "tales of the rail" will also be presented, and travelers are invited to participate in hands-on activities designed to introduce them to Atlantic Canada's arts and craftwork.

Another feature exclusively for passengers in the new Easterly Class is the use of VIA Rail's signature tail-end panoramic Park Car with a charming, elevated domed viewing area from which passengers can watch the scenery roll past. Downstairs, they will also have sole access to the Park Car's two lounges. The Mural Lounge - so named because it features a wall mural by a Canadian artist - features table seating and a bar, making it ideal for a refreshing cocktail and friendly conversation with fellow passengers. The Bullet Lounge is the place to relax over tea, coffee or a magazine. The inception of the new Easterly Class: A Maritime Learning Experience will mark the first time that the Park Car / Domes are available on VIA Rail's

Renaissance equipment.

Décor aboard the new Easterly Class section of the train will also be revamped. The service's Renaissance equipment will feature Sleeper Cars with Maritime-themed artwork - a separate theme for each car. Sleeping accommodations amenities include comfortable duvet bedding, plump pillows, towels and a shower kit, bottled water, and chocolates. Deluxe double bedrooms include showers in the in-suite restrooms. Other rail cars will also be decorated with artwork representative of the region, including the train's elegant yet unpretentious Dining Car. Here, the dining experience itself has also been enhanced. Dinner, which will be included in the ticket price for Easterly Class passengers, will feature impressive cuisine inspired by local specialties and products, and a variety of fine Maritime wines available for purchase. Menus include information about the century-long history of the Ocean service, as well as the Maritime destinations that influenced the meal selections for that evening. As dusk turns to evening, diners discover the romantic nostalgia of overnight rail travel as they enjoy a mouth-watering meal while the picturesque vistas roll past. Breakfast in the morning will also be included in the price of Easterly Class tickets.

For tour programs that showcase Easterly Class: A Maritime Learning Experience, please visit the package section of VIA Rail's website at www.viarail.ca/packages, and select "The Ocean" from the drop-down menu in the "VIA Rail Trains Featured" section. To purchase tickets or for more information on all of VIA's fares and products, please visit VIA's website at www.viarail.ca, call 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245), TTY ( 1-800-268-9503) or contact your travel agency.

As Canada's national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient and cost effective passenger transportation services. Serving more than 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.

/For further information: Seychelle Harding, Public Affairs, (514) 871-6119; Marc Deschênes, Marketing, (514) 871-6378/

April 19, 2005

Heritage train to steam way to Armstrong, BC

Kamloops Daily News

A steam-powered heritage train ride from Kamloops to Armstrong, BC is already drawing international attention. Howard Grieve, operations manager for the Kamloops Heritage Railway, said Monday the 2141 steam engine begins the first of five Armstrong Explorer excursions May 28. The 182-kilometre round trip departs Campbell Creek at 8:30am and passes by the communities of Monte Lake, Westwold and Falkland before arriving in Armstrong for a two-hour break, he said. Passengers detrain in the downtown area for lunch, shopping and sightseeing before returning to Kamloops at 5:30pm. "In addition to the inaugural trip, the Kamloops Heritage Railway will operate trips on June 11, June 25, Sept. 10, and Sept. 24," he said. The KHR offers an introductory price of $129 per person. So far 420 rides have been presold, including 150 from out of town, Grieve said. "They are coming from as far away as New Zealand, Arizona, and England," he said.

April 14, 2005

Rocky Mountaineer isn't only about train tours

Vancouver Sun

North America's largest privately owned passenger rail service is on a roll. Vancouver-based Rocky Mountaineer Vacations got its start taking over two failing train tours. Fifteen years later, it's a full-fledged vacation company, with non-rail travel packages making up 40% of the company's revenue. Just last year, the firm bought a Kamloops hotel, gained the rights for two new Western Canadian train routes, started a shore excursion for cruise ship passengers arriving in Prince Rupert, and began offering 21 non-rail vacation packages coast to coast. "Most of our guests want a complete experience and want to see more of Canada," CEO Peter Armstrong said in an interview. "We decided to go beyond just the two-day rail [trip] and provide a range of options and experiences that Canada's uniquely suited to provide. His market is baby boomers who have travelled extensively in the past and seek an active experience. "They are interested in a travel experience that encompasses more than just sitting on a beach. They want to be active; they want to learn the culture; and they want to experience the area they are going into," Armstrong said.

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Fancy a little intrigue?

It’s back! John Steel Rail Tours’ Mystery Tour has returned! Come along on a special guided group tour to… well, we can’t tell you that because it’s a mystery! However we can tell you that it is fun for all ages and no matter where we travel, you are guaranteed spectacular scenery, camaraderie with fellow mystery travellers and many surprises. Each year we invite our guests to join us on this secret adventure highlighting the spectacular scenery of the Northwest. In the past, our Mystery Tour has taken adventurers to the windswept coast of British Columbia, to the picturesque wine country in BC’s interior, and to Canada’s largest island, to name a few. This year the tour will be something completely different and we think you will be delighted with what we’ve planned.

Our Mystery Tour departs from Vancouver, BC on April 22 nd and returns on Monday April 25 th. This fully guided trip, priced from $659 CAD, includes three nights hotel accommodation, three meals, all transportation, transfers, guided sight seeing and admission to the selected attractions. The Mystery Tour is suitable for people of all ages and provides a comfortable blend of travel and relaxation. Let us take you on a unique journey— a delightful Mystery Tour!

To find out more about the Mystery Tour, contact the friendly Tour Coordinators at John Steel Rail Tours at 1-800-988-5778 or send an email to info@johnsteel.com. Visit our website, www.johnsteel.com for our complete 2005 schedule of escapes, adventures and rail journeys!

About Our Company: Located near Vancouver, BC, John Steel Rail Tours is in its fifteenth 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 Reg. #2042-5.

A Day Out With Thomas

NEWS RELEASE                                              
Dated: January 5, 2005

The Elgin County Railway Museum (ECRM) is pleased to announce the arrival of "A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS" in St. Thomas.

The favourite railway engine of thousands of children the world over is coming to the London / St.Thomas area and will be featured at the Elgin County Railway Museum and surrounding rail lands. "Thomas the Tank Engine" will be giving rides to children (and those who wish they were children) at "A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS" at the museum in St. Thomas.

"A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS" is an exciting way for children and grown-ups to enter the world of "Thomas" and will be able to have their pictures taken with Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of "Thomas's" railway.

Other highlights will include "Imagination Station", a children's play centre with "Thomas" train tables and lots of arts and crafts. There will also be live entertainment, a store with "Thomas" merchandise and a railway post office where youngsters can mail letters to "Thomas".

"Thomas" has taken children, parents, grandparents, and maybe even great-grandparents for rides at the West Coast Heritage Railway in Squamish, B.C., and appeared at Kid Power's Bandstand at the recent Pacific National Exhibition, where people sang and danced along with "Thomas". He has also appeared in many locations in the United States.

You'll want to take the family to "A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS".  The cost will be $18 plus taxes for all persons with the exception of children one year and under, who are free.  How and when tickets can be purchased will be announced within the next few weeks. 

The dates are: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, July 22, 23, 24, 2005 and Friday, Saturday, Sunday, July 29, 30, 31, 2005. at the Elgin County Railway Museum, Wellington St., just west of First Avenue, in St. Thomas, Ontario.

This will be the biggest railroad event to hit St. Thomas since "Jumbo".

Sadly, 140 years ago in 1885 Jumbo the elephant was killed by a Grand Trunk locomotive in a rail accident.

For more information call 519-637-6284 or visit the website at http://www.ecrm5700.org

CREDIT VALLEY SNOW TRAIN!

Orangeville, Ontario – Orangeville Brampton Railway’s Credit Valley Explorer Tour Train presents an exciting line-up of winter tours, featuring the Credit Valley Snow Train and a Valentine's Sunday Brunch. Advance reservations are required for all tours. For additional details please visit www.creditvalleyexplorer.com.

The "Credit Valley Snow Train" will depart Orangeville February 5th & 12th for a 70km scenic tour through the winter wonderland of the Forks of the Credit and the Hills of Headwaters.

On February 13th, the Credit Valley Explorer and Orangeville’s Train Station Restaurant will team up for a delicious Valentine's Sunday Brunch tour. Passengers will enjoy freshly-prepared meals while taking in the constantly- changing scenery as the tour train winds its way through the Credit Valley on a 70km return tour from Orangeville to Snelgrove and return. Tickets are
$56.50.

For a complete listing of upcoming winter and spring tours and reservations visit creditvalleyexplorer.com.

About the Tour Train
The Credit Valley Explorer is Orangeville Brampton Railway’s scenic tour train through the Credit Valley and Forks of the Credit. Known for its rolling hills, deep valleys, unsurpassed fall colours and being the headwaters of four major river systems, the Headwaters region provides a spectacular backdrop for the Credit Valley Explorer’s journey. Travelling on a rail route established 125 years ago along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, the 70km adventure aboard classic rail cars is sure to be a memorable experience. Passengers will enjoy the Credit Valley Explorer’s spacious first-class seating, large picture windows and complimentary refreshments, all in a comfortable climate-controlled environment. Tours include interpretive commentary and a souvenir mile-by-mile printed tour guide. Scenic highlights include the 1,146 foot long railway trestle bridge spanning the Credit Valley and the Forks of the Credit River, and the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park at Cataract. Most tours stop in the village of Inglewood to let passengers enjoy the charms of this quaint rural community.

GROUP TOURS & CHARTERS
Credit Valley Explorer specializes in group tours and charters. Let us customize a tour for you! Call for details.

For further information contact:
Orangeville Brampton Railway
866-708-OBRY
info@creditvalleyexplorer.com

January 8, 2005

Party in The Pas: From bannock baking to moose calling, the Trapper's Festival is five days of frigid fun

Yvette Cardozo and Bill Hirsch
For the Calgary Herald

When the announcer asks the hairy-legged contestants to step up, two of 'em are (gulp) women. Worse yet, they nearly win. So goes the Northern Manitoba Trapper's Festival in The Pas, where these days, the thickest pelts aren't necessarily on wild animals.The idea is to celebrate survival skills of the bush and preserve a past that is, sadly, fading away. The days when folks in these parts truly subsisted on the catch of their traplines may be gone, but lots of locals still set the occasional trap. And everyone definitely still goes into the wilds, where you'd better know how to light a fire, boil decent tea, whip up a palatable chunk of bannock (pan bread) and (shiver) filet a wet, half frozen fish at 30-below.

So, why not make a contest of it all? Give a guy in the Far North a reason to compete and he'll even race his buddy in a cookie-baking contest. And don't even begin to downplay the competitive soul of the women.The late-February festival started here in 1912 as a dogsled race and was reinvented after the Second World War as a trapper's festival. It was an excuse for a small, snowy town to party in midwinter.And party they do. We're talking five days of contests, races, banquets and impromptu gatherings at local homes to which everyone is invited, including the increasing number of visitors from outside.Last year brought the first rail tour to the festival and we were along for the ride. Via Rail's Hudson Bay train pulled out of Winnipeg at 8:45 p.m., travelling west and then north 635 kilometres across the snowy prairie, through tiny towns with buildings so close to the tracks, we could have reached out and touched them.Canadian train travel in winter is an intimate affair. We were 11 passengers going north and not many more coming back. By the time we pulled into The Pas the next morning, we knew all the passengers and crew by name.The Pas: 5,700 people, four traffic lights and, sadly, a McDonald's. The Pas has been a trading crossroads for centuries. Furs gathered from across northwest America came by river to this spot, then onto Lake Winnipeg to outside markets.So, our trip was not only a visit to a winter festival, it was a look at small-town Manitoba -- simple hotels, hearty no-nonsense meals, friendly folk willing to give you a ride, or chat over breakfast. And yes, it is cold here during February. If someone says it's 27, you know that's 27-below. What better place to hold a rip-snortin' winter party?

Oddly, there's not much fur at this fur-trapper festival. We saw fur hats and fur gloves. But the coats were all moosehide -- butter-soft, caramel-coloured leather with fringes and beads.Everyone gathers daily at a parking lot downtown for the tests of skill. There's pole climbing, wood splitting, trap setting, tea boiling, bannock baking, moose calling, leg wrestling, ice hole chopping plus a couple of contests that involve hauling inhuman amounts of weight.And yes, of course, muskrat skinning. Though this year, nobody could find any 'rats,' so the guys got to filet fish instead. Enter at least 19 of the 21 events and get enough points and you could be King or Queen Trapper.In between, we visited the Sam Waller Museum. It's more than the usual collection of granny castoffs. Sam gathered stuff from everywhere. There are drawers of butterflies and pocket watches, walls hung with old tools, plus a two-headed calf, and in the back is also a fine historical record of the area.

Our last night, we went to the Musher's Wind Up Banquet, where the reigning champ musher family continued its winning streak.And Derwin McKenzie, by the way, won King Trapper. Guess it pays to be careful with your bannock. His prize for all that effort? $1,000 and a Calm Air flight to anywhere else in Manitoba.The next day was the beard contest (most colourful, shaggiest, yuckiest). An assortment of trapper princesses dutifully sifted beards for softness, then sifted leg hair for the same.We cut out before they could sift for hairiest chest or, worse yet, world champion trapper buns.We also missed the ugliest truck contest, though we spotted a contestant with a bag of frozen fish tied to a tail light and moose antlers on the roof.Our last morning, we visited The Pas's Hudson Bay Railway train yard. Even those who weren't rabid rail fans were impressed by a chance to touch a 12-ton locomotive motor and ride an antique -- but still chugging -- roundhouse turntable. And then we hopped on board for the night trip back to Winnipeg. We lay in our beds dreaming of smoked moose and bannock while the cars swayed gently and clicked along the tracks.

If You Go:
The 2005 Trapper's Train tour goes Feb. 17 to 21. The $895 Cdn price includes overnight sleeper on Via's Hudson Bay, hotel in The Pas, events at the Northern Manitoba Trapper's Festival, museum visit, musher's banquet and tour of The Pas train yard, but not transportation to Winnipeg.
For more information, contact Rail Travel Tours, toll free 1-866-704-3528 or 1-204-897-9551, website: www.railtraveltours.com.

January 9, 2005

How they put the 'Royal' in Hudson

Vancouver Province

The Vancouver Province explains that the Royal Hudson #2860, one of five Hudson-class engines built in 1940 by Montreal Locomotive Works, received the designation Royal, along with her sister engines, after CPR Hudson #2850 hauled King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's royal train from Quebec to Vancouver on a visit in 1939. The train was specially refinished in royal blue and aluminum for the trip, with a golden crown (the King's crown) at the front of each running board. Today, #2860 is the only operable Royal Hudson in existence and in just over a year, the icon that's long been BC's unofficial "queen of tourism" will in fact be puffing out of retirement -- and maybe into Olympic glory. Or at least that's the plan, if the money to finish rejuvenating the ancient steam engine comes through. The Royal Hudson's leaky tubes and flues will be replaced, her firebox re-bricked and she'll be building up a head of steam once more. "This is the most photographed piece of machinery in all of Canada," says Henry Reimer, a retired conductor who worked on the famed train for 20 years. "I retired in 1994, but I took a trip every two weeks in the summer. It was my love." For now, the object of Reimer's affection sits idle in the 1914 Pacific Great Eastern Car Shop, a massive wooden shed at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish. Don Evans, executive director of the West Coast Railway Association, reckons it will cost about $500,000 to finish fixing the engine. So far, the association has raised more than $170,000, enough to start work in February or March. A big boost came from a recent grant of $110,000 from Western Economic Diversification Canada, and he's hoping to find a major corporate sponsor to fund the balance needed. "We don't intend to put it back into five-day-a-week service," says Evans. "We see it doing 10 to 15 trips annually, but not all North Vancouver-Squamish trips. It's an ideal special event kind of thing." Plans for the engine include trips to Seattle, charters, conventions and conferences. Evans even thinks The Royal Hudson could be a key player in the 2010 Olympics.