Trains aren’t just a good way to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. The modern Rocky Mountain rail tour, the classic railroad vacation, caputres the romance, history, and scenic splendor of the Canadian Rockies. The steel rail strips and wooden ties that cross Canada between oceans are among modern Rocky Mountain history’s most significant elements.
The last spike was driven in the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR) in 1885 at Craigellachie, British Columbia (B.C.). The first train rolled through the Rockies the following year. In 1883, when the tracks were laid between Calgary and Lake Louise, three railway workers stumbled onto a natural thermal spring on Sulphur Mountain while prospecting for minerals and attempted to file a claim. The railway prospectors weren’t the first to try and profit from the sulphur springs – two American prospectors discovered hot springs in 1874 on the same mountain, also filing a claim – but this time the Government paid attention and prompted ‘National Park’ status on what was then a native reserve at Banff.
Building the railroad didn’t come cheap, so the CPR opened the Banff Springs Hotel in 1888, followed by a chalet in Lake Louise two years later. Full-page colour ads in North America’s and Europe’s premier magazines invited well-heeled travellers to visit the Rockies by rail, staying in the CPR’s luxurious hotels while they hiked and explored the mountains by horseback. Now, more than a century later, visitors to the Rockies can still experience the romance, viewing the same scenery from a train car’s comfort while adding hiking and horseback segments to their trips, too.
Some rail tours include an overnight stay in Kamloops, B.C. so all your time rolling the rails takes place during daylight hours. Others include stops in the Jasper or Banff town sites. The scenery will captivate as you roll past landmarks including the Rockies’ highest peak, 3,954-metre (12,972-foot) Mount Robson and the mighty Fraser River tumbling below.
Some rail tours take place in vintage stainless steel cars restored to their original sleek 1950s art deco style and refurbished with today’s best technology. Dome cars allow you to sit comfortably while savouring Western Canada’s stunning panorama. Settle back in a uniquely shaped Bullet Lounge with wraparound windows or sip a refreshing cocktail in the Mural Lounge named for its Canadian artwork collection. With board games, videos and even a book exchange, rail travel is relaxing and luxurious.
Dining cars offer moonlight service and extensive wine lists. Sleeping cars feature comfortable private or semi-private rooms, complete with thick towels, plump pillows, cozy down duvets and shower kits to be used in your own shower. Rail tours last anywhere from one night to two weeks but the memories last an entire life history.
