great canadian rail adventure

all prices & options are per person

about this tour

Via Rail's Canadian in the Rockies

Via Rail Canada's Canadian and Skeena are two trains of only a few left in the world, still using the Budd built streamliner passenger cars built between 1953-1955. Most of these passenger cars were built for the the Canadian Pacific Railway. CP ordered 173 stainless steel cars from Budd and on April 24, 1955 they introduced it's new transcontinental train The Canadian operating between Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Now the current route is largely that used by the Canadian National Railway. After 70 years in operation the long distance Via Rail Budd fleet is down to 107 cars and time is now running short for these classic passenger cars.

Today the Canadian operates using an assortment of cars used on the original Canadian and cars of the same era purchased from US railways. The cars, mostly built in the 1950s, have been rebuilt several times and while quaint, are functional and have been modernized to a limited degree. During the summer months, when demand is higher, the train will be longer than 20 cars. While the train is dominated by tourists, especially in the summer, one of its purposes is to provide transportation services to the remote communities across Canada.

Via Rail's Canadian in British Columbia

VIA Rail Canada is now looking to replace the passenger equipment on its long-distance and regional trains. The railroad issued a “Notice of Market Consultation” to seek potential builders of new cars for trains outside its main corridor between Windsor, Ont., and Quebec City.

VIA has been investing heavily in updating its corridor trains with new locomotives and cars from Siemens, but the long-distance network is still using decades-old stainless steel cars built in the 1950s The “Notice of Market Consultation” would help gauge the interest of potential builders. The request comes as VIA works hard to keep what it has going. Yes, the classic Budd Built streamliner cars from the 1950's is on short time before retirement. This could be your last opportunity to ride on these cars. Via Rail has just announced that the money to replace it's long distance fleet has been set aside so the clock is now ticking for the last Budd built long distance train in the world.

Our tour will present to you a taste of riding these classic passenger cars between Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper, and Hinton plus Jasper to Prince Rupert. Additionally we will take an 18 hour cruise on a BC Ferry through part of the spectacular inside passage way from the mainland to Vancouver Island and the high speed Victoria Clipper using catamaran's between Victoria and Seattle. Also we will travel by highway over the famous Icefield Parkway through the heart of the Canadian Rockies and on Vancouver Island. Other points of interest on this tour that we wll be visiting include Railway Museum of British Columbia, Britannia Mine Museum, Vancouver, Jasper, Jasper National Park, and Victoria. Additional train rides will include Amtrak's Cascade passenger train Seattle to Vancouver, Railway Museum of British Columbia RDC Budd car, Vancouver's SkyTrain, Fraser Valley Heritage Railway, Burnaby Central Railway, and the West Coast Express passenger trains.

We invite you to join us on our exciting tour of Western Canada and Vancouver Island including the spectacular Canadian Rockies. This will be a small group so space is limited. Don't be disapointed and reserve your space now.

Via Rail's Skeena Passenger Train running
along the Fraser River

The Via Rail Canada Passenger Equipment

Sleeper Plus Class Cabin Car

Our group will be in the comfortable private cabins, where you can stretch out and watch the sunset (or sunrise, if you're an early bird). You'll have your own toilet and sink, plus a shower that is only shared with a handful of other people.

The perks of Sleeper Plus include:

*Three gourmet fine dining meals per day.
* Complimentary fruit and cookies between meals.
* Priority boarding and access to the station lounges in Vancouver and Toronto
* Access to the Panorama and Skyline viewing cars.
* Non alcoholic beverages included; alcoholic beverages available for sale.
* Cabins includes a toilet and sink, with access to a shared shower.

Double bedroom-one upper bed
and one lower bed

Skyline dome Car

There's a skyline lounge/dome car for Sleeper Plus passengers next to the restaurant car, or next to each restaurant car when the train runs with two of them. The skyline car has a lounge at the forward end, tables & chairs at the rear end, an observation dome in the center with attendant's galley underneath. At one end of the tables area is a complimentary tea & coffee station, you'll also find juice, biscuits and pastries here in the morning. In the skyline you can buy Canadian red & white wine by the glass, spirits, beer, snacks & soft drinks, just ask the attendant.

Skyline Dome Car upper and lower levels

Dome Observation Park Car

The lower level lounge seating at the rear of the train
in the Observation Park Car

The upstairs dome seating in the
Observation Park Car

The lower level bar in the Observation Park Car

Via Rail Canada's Observation Park Car
brings up the rear of the train

The Dining Car

There are two dining cars on The Canadian.
We will be assigned to one of these cars
for all of our onboard meals.

day by day - Itinerary

Day 1 - fri may 30

Day 2 - sat may 31

Departing the hotel at 9:00am we will go north of North Vancouver for 40 miles to the town of Squamish to visit the Railway Museum of British Columbia. This museum is located on 12 acres and is home to the famous Royal Hudson steam locomotive and houses the largest collection of railway rolling stock and engines in Western Canada. Besides the Royal Hudson this museum has both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific F units, Pacific Great Eastern Alco RS 3, Canadian Pacific Alco S 3, a Baldwin Pacific Great Eastern 2-6-2ST and a former British Columbia Railway RDC Budd rail car. We have requested a charter with the former BCR RDC Budd rail car onto the mainline. The museum has made a request on our behalf to the Canadian National to allow their Budd Car to run north into the rugged Cheakamus River Canyon and back to Squamish. This request is still pending.

🍽 lunch

The Royal Hudson at the Railway Museum of
British Columbia

Pacific Great Eastern Railway 2-6-2ST

Pacific Great Eastern Railway Alco RS 3

Canadian Pacific F7A at Squamish

Canadian National F7A at the Railway Of British Columbia

Canadian Pacific Alco S3

British Columbia Railway Caboose at Squimish

One of last operating Budd RDC railcars former
British Columbia Railway BC-21. We will take a
ride on this railcar. A request to Canadian
National to run our charter excursion up into
the rugged Cheakamus River Canyon has been made.

After our museum visit then we will head back south towards North Vancouver first making a stop to view Shannon Falls then near-by Britannia Mine Museum. This was a functioning mine from 1904 until 1974. Ore was first discovered here in 1888. At one point, more than 60,000 people lived nearby and worked in what was once the largest copper mine in the former British Empire. Over seven decades, workers extracted more than 50 million tons of ore that produced copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, silver, and gold.

The Britannia Mine Museum just south of Squmish,
British Columbia

The Britannia Mine Museum
just south of Squmish,
British Columbia

The Britannia Mine Museum just south of Squmish,
British Columbia

Returning to North Vancouver we then go up to the top of Grouse Mountain. (Only if it is not raining) Rising 4,100 feet above Vancouver is the iconic Red Skyride which gives visitors and locals alike the opportunity to see the jaw-dropping majestic British Columbia unfold in front of them during the 8 minute ride from the Valley Station to the summit. Back down from our Grouse Mountain adventure we return to our hotel and the rest of the evening is yours to relax and have dinner at one of the many restaurants near our hotel at the the pier and Lonsdale Quay Market. 2nd night at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel

Upon arrival back in North Vancouver we take a ride
on the Grouse Mountain Tram to the top of
mountain for spectacular views of Vancouver

Day 3 - sun jun 1

Day 4 - mon jun 2

Day 5 - tue jun 3

Sunrise is shortly after 5:00am and we will be near Blue River, BC, unless you're still sleeping. If we are running on-time No. 2 will depart from Blue River at 5:11am. After departing here the Canadian Rockies comes into view. Head up into the dome car and enjoy the spectacular show that will unwind as we continue our journey deeper into the Rockies. Breakfast begins at 6:30am and ends at 9:30am. Coffee, muffins, juices and fruit will be available at 6:00am for anyone who wants something prior to Breakfast in the dining car. We will be assigned to one of two dining cars upon boarding the Canadian in Vancouver. We will also be offered a choice of meal times. As we roll eastbound watch for Bears, Moose, Elk, Deer, Beavers and Muskrats in the rivers and creeks. Lots of wildlife today!! The Canadian will arrive into Jasper, Alberta at 11:00am (Mountain Time) and the schedule calls for it to depart at 12:30pm but it is unclear at this time what will really happen. A lot of Jasper was burnt down during the summer of 2024 from a forest fire and for awhile the train did not even make a stop at Jasper. This is one of the reasons why we are staying on the train until the next stop at Hinton at 1:45pm. But there is also another reason as the tracks east of Jasper are still running through the Rockies and for the next 48 miles you will be treated to more spectacular mountain scenery. Finally our train rolls into Hinton at 1:45pm. You will have enough time to enjoy lunch in the dining car before arrival.

🍽 breakfast, lunch

Those who get up out of bed in the early morning will
enjoy the spectacular scenery as the Canadian enters
the Rocky Mountains

By lunch time the train will be traveling through the
heart of the Canadian Rockies

At Hinton we detrain and board our waiting charter motorcoach for the journey back to Jasper except we will not stop. Instead we will head south on the famous Icefield Parkway headed deeper into the Canadian Rockies. We will make several photo stops on the parkway including at the famous Columbia Icefields. After visiting the icefields we continue south on the parkway for another 6 miles to Saskatchewan River Crossing and hotel check-in at the **Crossing Resort.

The spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies on the Icefield Parkway
south of Jasper, Alberta (next four photos)

Canadian Rockies south of Jasper, Alberta

Day 6 - wed jun 4

Day 7 - thur jun 5

Day 8 - fri jun 6

Day 9 - sat jun 7

Day 10 - sun jun 8

After the Sunday Brunch/breakfast we check-out of our hotel and depart at 9:45am and pay a visit to the last commercially operated railway on Vancouver Island, the Southern Railway of Vancouver Island. They have three EMD GP9's and one SW8 diesels. After our visit we continue southbound to near-by historic Ladysmith. We will also visit the old Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway Depot. The E & N had 140 miles of track on the island and passenger service was suspended in 2011.

🍽 lunch

We visit the Southern Railway of Vancouver Island at Nanaimo.
This is the last commercially operated railway on Vancouver Island.
They even still use a caboose.

A few miles south of Ladysmith is the small town of Chemainus. Known for the town of many murals. This once logging town now has 53 outdoor murals painted on their buildings. Well worth a stop to enjoy the wonderful art work done by local artists.

A hand full of miles south of Chemainus is the town of Duncan. Before we visit the BC Forest Discovery Center we will stop for lunch.

below are 5 of the 53 beautiful murals of painted on buildings at Chemainus

After lunch we pay a visit to the BC Forest Discouvery Center. Trains are operating today around their 100 acre museum and logging displays including the large Somenos Lake Trestle. They have an impressive collection of railroad logging locomotives and equipment. After our train ride we will visit the railroad workshops. Their collection includes No. 1 a 42 ton Lima Shay, 2nd No. 1 a 28 ton Lima Shay, No. 3 a 50 ton Lima Shay, No. 2 a 25 ton Climax, No. 9 a 50 ton 2 truck Climax, No. 25 a 18 ton 0-4-0T Vulcan, No. 24 a 12 ton 0-4-0T by Vulcan, No. 23 a 8 ton Plymouth, No. 26 a 10 ton Plymouth, and finally No. 22 a 8 ton Plymouth. Quite an impressive collection of motive power. We have made a request to have one of the steam locomotives fired-up and operating for our visit.

steam locomotives at the BC Forest Discouvery Center

steam locomotives at the BC Forest
Discouvery Center

steam locomotives at the BC Forest Discouvery Center

Northwest of Duncan is the small village of Lake Cowichan and the Kaatza Station Museum which is housed in the former Canadian Pacific train station built in 1913. This museum's archives place special emphisas on the forest industry that helped develop the village of Lake Cowichan. Exhitbits include a Plymouth switcher, Canadian National passenger car, a logging car, box car, caboose and Shay steam locomotive.

Finally it is time to continue south into Victoria located on the southen end of Vancouver Island. Victoria is the charming capital city of British Columbia, Canada. This is one of the most picturesque cities on the Pacific Coast. Hosting the mildest climate in Canada, this fair weather city has many things to do year-round within walking distance of the downtown area, which straddles the Victoria harbor. One of the oldest cities in the northwest, Victoria has many charming brick buildings, colorful gardens and fantastic culinary experiences from all over the world. Being on the coast, seafood is both prevalent and incredibly fresh. The harbor-front walkway hosts local artists and draws crowds to watch the talented street entertainers perform during the afternoon and evening. Nighttime casts a magical glow as the water and walkway are lit up by the 3,300+ lightbulbs that adorn the Parliament buildings . Hotel check-in at the *** Best Western Plus Inner Harbour Hotel. The rest of the afternoon and evening at your own leisure to explore Victoria.

Enjoy Downtown Victoria, British Columbia a night

Day 11 - mon jun 9

After breakfast at our hotel we have a nice leisure start to our day departing the hotel at 10:00am and first visiting Heritage Acres. This museum will take you back in time to life on Vancouver Island many years ago. Of interest to most of our group is the outdoor live steam railroad called the Victoria & Sidney Railway. We will take a ride on their layout with either a steam or diesel powered train.

Next we visit famous Butchart Gardens National Historic Site of Canada which is an internationally-known public attraction that has been open to visitors since 1904. It is located on the Saanich Peninsula. The gardens provide dramatic floral displays in a variety of garden settings and styles set against a backdrop of mature trees and shrubs and linked together by a network of paths and transition areas. You can get lunch at one of the restaurants at the gardens.

🍽 breakfast, dinner

We visit the World famous Butchart Gardens
National Historic Site of Canada

After our visit to the Butchart Gardens we will make a stop to visit the near-by BC Aviation Museum where the famous Hawaii Mars bomber has just been added to the displays. Only five of these airplanes were built and they served the US Navy during World War II entering service on January 23, 1944 and ferrying cargo to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. The Hawaii Mars made her final flight on August 11, 2024 with Its arrival at Patricia Bay near Victoria, accompanied by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. You can view the Hawaii Mars final flight and landing in Patricia Bay on YouTube by clicking on the link below

Hawaii Mars final flight and landing

The Hawaii Mars sits in Patricia Bay near
Victoria prior to being moved to the
near-by BC Aviation Museum

Mid afternoon we return to our hotel in Victoria and the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure exploring downtown and fisherman's wharf area. In the evening we will host our “Farewell to Canada Dinner” 2nd night at the *** Best Western Plus Inner Harbour Hotel.

Day 12 - tue jun 10

TOUR CONDITIONS PRICING - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Tour Pricing:

All tour prices are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. Those people that use a credit card for payments a 4% conveyance fee will be added to the tour price. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary without prior notice.