Train ride

[fast1]

  Took one to Jasper and back this weekend with the wife. Was a lot of fun and a comfortable way to travel. Cheaper than the bus, no security,  very few passengers. Move around, buy a beer, they let you off for a smoke when you're waiting for a freight on a siding, observation deck awards a spectacular view. average speed is 40 m.p.h. and the cars were built in 1955 by craftsmen who made quality things that last. Lot's of hand finished stainless. They lose money on every run, so it's only a matter of time till' their gone. Hey Maxim X maybe this is a way to show your love how much you care. Choo-choo for now.CHEERS.

[Hans]

I did that with my son 2 years ago.  4 passengers left PG, we picked up 2 in Willow River, dropped the mail off in Penny and the whole town came out for the event (most were drinking, it was 9:30am), dropped one old codger off in the middle of nowhere, and one lady in McBride.  There was no way the fares paid for the wages, let alone the running costs.  Considered an essential federal service though, so on it goes.  It wasa fun trip. 

[madmac74]

 Very cool    I've been meaning to do this trip, ever since you did it Hans.  And you are correct in saying that its an essential service. 

MAC

[Dennis]

Years ago, I did the BCR to Vancouver and back several times.    They used to slow the train almost to a stop at certain places where people wanted to take pictures.  My American relatives used the BCR to come up from Vancouver in winter to avoid driving.  It was a great service.  Apparently, it was not "essential."

I also took the Via out to Terrace and back with my bicycle.  That was super cool.  Train ride to Terrace, commute around for a few days with my bicycle visiting, and relaxing ride back. 

I had funny visit with some German friends of my parents a few year ago.  They came over to British Columbia for the summer.  They obviously didn't do too much research before they came.  They had originally planned to travel all around the province by train, including the northern half.  In the end, they bought a truck and camper, and sold it after they did the great northern trek.

Peace & Grease, Dennis

[stevecrout]

I did a couple of months on the trains in Europe a few years back and suffice to say they have it figured out. One of the points I appreciated the most was the train stations being in the "nice" parts of town and not in the industrial wastelands that most Canadian lines terminate in.

There is some scuttlebutt around in some circles that suggests properly configured electric train lines could pose a considerable challenge to some airline routes in North America in the future and this makes sense when you consider the associated costs with air travel and the hassle of travelling to and from the airports. I suppose we need to change our view of trains from recreational toys to work tools first.

My oldest boy and I did some travel in PRC in 1990 using the train system and found there was a factory in a NorthWestern province that still manufactured steam locomotives. An interesting side note, the trains are government run of course and during a spurt of computerization attempts in the late 80's some forward thinking government department installed terminals for ticket dispensing in all stations. It was a good lesson in "If you build it they will come - maybe/maybe not " for someone as every station we stopped into had the terminals sitting on the desks, covered in dust and the agents faithfully using the old pull-tab system that had been around for a hundred years.   I also won't soon forget the term "soft seat" "hard seat" when making ticket choices either!

 

[MaximX]

I have considered doing something like this, but never seem to get around to it......You make it sound like a lot of fun alright....Overnight it in Jasper then back again?  Cost?

[fast1]

   64 bucks per person each way.  We stayed at the Astoria hotel-152.20 . Clean, comfy bed but small and no bathtub, the shower was kinda crappy.  Right across from the train station, though there are a couple others close as well.  Dinner at a Cantonese/Chinese joint was 50 bucks and not very good. Appys and drinks at the De'd Dog pub in the hotel were good.  Breakfast special in the downstairs Restraunt  was bacon and eggs for 6.50. Turns out you can bring your own food on the train so we went around the corner to the bear's paw bakery and bought some very good stuff for the trip. 20 bucks. Room checkout was 11 and the train did not leave until 12:45 so for 3 dollars they kept our luggage and loaded it. Bought some very good fudge at the rock gem and fudge store. Not only is the fudge tasty they have actual fossils and petrified wood for sale. Saw a small dusty wildlife museum at the whistlers inn for 3 bucks each. As for shopping I can only hazard a guess but we got some cool stuff. Cheers.

[Hans]

the train is cheap cheap cheap.  Do it for the fun of it.  Have to stay a night in Jasper, but you can find rooms cheapish (for Jasper) if you look.  It's really relaxing way to travel.

[PeggySue]

I've done the trip from Terrace to PG and back several times, and it's a stunner! Less than $100 each way, and even better if you do a 'return trip' ticket. It doesn't run every day each way, and food is wicked expensive on board, so plan ahead. The trip takes about 10 hrs each way,  but you may have to pull over for the 'payloads' to go by (we stopped for nearly 2 hrs on the way to PG one time!). Bring a book/laptop/tunes, earplugs, lunch and a pillow. If you want to have a drink, be very discreet, they don't allow it for obvious reasons, and will kick you off if they find out. Still, it's a great way to make the trip in the winter, avoid the icy highways, and see the sights. They let us up in the observation car on our way home after Christmas, a couple of years back, which was pretty cool. Usually, in the summer/tourist season, it costs about $300 for that class of ticket, if I remember correctly. You do get more seat space 'downstairs', tho, and if you can figure it out, put up both footrests and turn the facing seat across from you into a bed, should you need to nap or stretch out!