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How
Rocky Mountaineer sparked Canada's Rail Travel
Renaissance
by
Jerry
W. Bird
 Many
of our readers who've lived in Canada for several
decades will know about the love-hate relationship
that existed between previous generations and the
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). To a train fanatic
like myself, riding the train has always been a
positive, fun experience. After all, it was that
same vast system that brought and a vast army of
free spirits to Western Canada - to work hard,
dream big and sink their roots. Among them were my
great-grandfather Henry Morgan, who was one of
Vancouver's first blacksmiths, and my grandfather
Walter Bird, who left Guernsey for Alberta, and
eventually to Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles,
CA. His brother Frank Bird became a dominant force
in the BC Auto Association for decades.
Yet,
when I launched the series "Railways of the World,"
in 1989, several so called travel experts scoffed
at my idea of promoting rail travel in Canada, or
anywhere else. A chorus of doubting Thomas's kept
singing the same tiresome tune, until I turned the
tables, and they saw the color of
money.
 The
rather lukewarm response to my flash of inspiration
was not unusual; few other travel magazines in
North America bothered to find space for
railway-related items. Such topics usually appeared
no larger than a quarter column, tucked away in the
nether regions, or drowning in a sea of ads. After
months of research and a mountain of faxes sent to
various railway contacts, I managed to bring rail
travel front and center for the first
time
in decades. To everyone's surprise, "Railways of
the World" quickly became
the hottest at the magazine. That's why we are
proud to bring you "Adventure Rails." Watch for it
on this web site - and at newsstands.
Rocky
Mountaineer to Banff and Jasper
About the
same time as I was attempting to revive rail travel
in the public's mind, Peter
Armstrong
(the bellhop with a dream), launched the Rocky
Mountaineer. It operated from Vancouver's (art
deco) Pacific Station on Main Street,
via
Banff and
Jasper
National Parks, to Calgary
and
Edmonton.
His Great Canadian Rail tour Company Ltd. became
our first railway advertiser, taking the outside
back cover.
The
nonbelievers and scoffers were out in full force on
Peter's idea too - but look who has the last laugh.
Great
Canadian Rail tours has
earned a
prominent role on the Western Canada scene, and is
packaging its exciting railway experience with
cruises and motor coach combinations. There is no
limit to the multimode travel options, offered by
the geography of Alberta, British Columbia and the
US Pacific Northwest. All it takes is a good idea
and people to take up the challenge. Rail Travel in
North
America's National
Parks is
an ideal way to enjoy the complete view in a laid
back setting.
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Sample
Canadian Rockies Escape Rail tour
6
nights / 7 days
DAY
I Vancouver
Arrival
Arrive in Vancouver for an overnight
stay.
DAY
2 Vancouver to Kamloops
Transfer
(included) to Pacific Central Station
where you will board the Rocky
Mountaineer. Follow the Fraser River
through the Coastal Mountains and witness
the force of Hell's Gate before it meets
with the mighty Thompson River. Pass into
Canada's desert belt, then on to Kamloops
for the evening. Breakfast and lunch
included onboard the train both days.
Optional evening at Two River Junction
Dinner and Musical Revue.
DAY
3 Kamloops to Jasper
Your
rail adventure continues as you follow the
North Thompson River between the Cariboo
and Monashee Mountain ranges. Pass by
Little Hell's Gate, through the Rocky
Mountain Trench and feel the mist of
spectacular Pyramid Falls on route to the
Canadian Rockies. View the majesty of
Mount Robson, the Rockies' highest peak at
3,954 meters (12,972 feet), before
arriving in Jasper and transfer (included)
to your hotel. Overnight in
Jasper.
DAY
4 Jasper to Banff
Depart
Jasper in the morning for an all-day motor
coach tour down the awe-inspiring Ice
fields Parkway with a stop at the Columbia
Ice field. A Snowcoach ride on the glacier
is included. Continue your tour along the
Parkway and view Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and
Crowfoot Glacier. Stop at fabled Lake
Louise before arriving in Banff late
afternoon. Overnight in Banff.
DAY
5 Banff to Kamloops
Transfer
(included) to Banff Station to board the
Rocky Mountaineer. Travel through the
legendary Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse
Pass, over Stony Creek Bridge and under
Rogers Pass as you race wild mountain
rivers into Kamloops for an overnight
stop. Breakfast and lunch included
onboard.
DAY
6 Kamloops to Vancouver
Back
onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, follow the
path of the salmon down to the Pacific
Ocean, winding through the Thompson and
Fraser Canyons as well as the Coastal
Mountains before arriving in Vancouver
late afternoon for your overnight stay.
DAY
7 Vancouver
Check-out
this morning ends your Canadian Rockies
Escape.
Package
Includes 4 day Rocky Mountaineer Red Leaf
Service; 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches; 6 nights
accommodation; Ice fields Parkway Tour
& Snowcoach ride; Rail Station
transfers in Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper
and Banff.
.....
E-
mail
us for prices.
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Continued from above
Railways
of the World: Building a Great
Tradition
For
"Railways of the World," in 1989, I contacted every
known railroad operation worldwide, and spread the
word to selected media in the USA and Canada, .
Advertising support and a gallery of great photos
came from every source - South
Africa's
Blue Train, Rovos Rail, Venice-Simplon-Orient
Express, Trans Siberian, Malaysian Rail, Australian
Rail, Spanish Rail and India's Palace on Wheels, to
Colorado's Durango & Silverton.
Canada's
railways were totally onside. Every passenger
railway and rail tour operator in existence, was on
my editorial agenda, and still is ten years later.
Experts
like
Don Primi, of
Gold Coast Royal Rail, a organizer of executive
rail charters across North America, lent sage
advice. Few escaped my scrutiny, including many
short lines, with strange names that most so called
travel experts have never heard of. Did it work?
The railway features I wrote for a Seattle
newspaper, filled our mailbox in Point Roberts,
Wa., whenever they ran.
Virtually
overnight, came a flood of of requests and
anecdotes from readers in Seattle, King County,
Portland, and far beyond. Results were similar in
Canadian media that carried my 'Railways of the
World' features. But now being our own publishers,
there are absolutely no holds barred, as we lay
plans for a bigger and better edition, serving a
far larger market.
Question:
What about a
return to Historic Street Cars as a year-round
tourist attraction and revenue generator? See our
new series Streetcars
& Street
Sense.
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