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BCRail
Whistler Northwind: Behold the spectacular!
An additional summer train, the Whistler Explorer between Whistler and Kelly Lake is used extensively by tour groups from overseas and the United States. BC Rail also operates the popular Royal Hudson steam train excursion from North Vancouver to Squamish between June and September. It is truly a classic piece of machinery, definitely one of the most photographed trains in Canada. I look forward to its friendly whistle tooting its greeting as this historic train passes by my favourite summer time haunt at West Vancouver's Dundarave Beach. We never miss a chance to wave hello to the passengers and crew. Information
Lines: (604) 984-5246 or (604) 631-3500, Royal Canadian Pacific Circle Tour: Calgary return via Kicking Horse,Crowsnest Pass, Golden, Lethbridge One of the highlights of last summer's return to Calgary and Alberta Foothills Country, was the opportunity to visit a grand new 'Railtour' product being introduced by Canadian Pacific Railway, adjacent to the elegantly refurbished Palliser Hotel. Here we were given a private tour through the museum facilities and the various railcars that have been beautifully restored to carry tourists and corporate parties on the 'trip of a lifetime,' through the blue Canadian Rockies. While there will be a variety of rail tours leaving from Calgary, the most popular tour heads west through the Kicking Horse Pass, then swings south at Golden, following the Columbia River to the Cranbrook- Kimberly area in BC's East Kootenays. At the town of Elko, the train heads east via the Crowsnest Pass to Lethbridge. The final leg is a return north to Calgary via Vulcan and High River. The map below shows the complete circle tour from Calgary and return. On a separate page you will see a larger, more detailed map of the exciting route the Royal Canadian follows (much more description to come). How timely this visit was, since the previous afternoon was spent reliving a slice of Western Canadian railway history at Calgary's Heritage Park. This view of
railroad equipment and memorabilia set the stage for our
real life opportunity at Palliser Square. You and your group
should consider such a visit prior to boarding the Royal
Canadian Pacific Railtour on the Canadian Rockies Circle
Tour, or one of the other options available thanks to a
Railway Renaissance in Western Canada and across the
country. If you plan to drive a segment of this exciting
route between Banff and Cranbrook in the East Kootenays, see
'Hot Springs Heaven' from our Adventure Roads series. Canada's
railways were instrumental in establishing a chain of
Great
Hotels and Resorts.
Across Western Canada, the palatial Banff Springs and
Chateau Lake Louise, Victoria's elegant Empress, Hotel
Vancouver, Edmonton's Macdonald, Saskatoon's Bessborough,
Regina's Hotel Saskatchewan and Calgary's Palliser are all
prime examples. Further east there's the Fort Garry, Royal
York, Chateau Frontenac and Laurier - the list goes on.
Continued.
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by
Jerry W. Bird
Rail
Adventures
and
Super Cruises
Details
......
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our SUPERMAP
of REGIONAL GATEWAY AIRPORTS