A Remarkable New (Old) Land-Cruise Train!
2002 Tour Dates
June 6-11; 13-18; 20-25; 27-July 2;
July 4-9; July 11-16; 25-30
August 15-20; 29-September 3
September 12-17; 26-October 1
October 10-15; 17-22
Complete land-cruise including all meals, beverages, sightseeing, and private car accommodations from $4995.00 plus G.S.T.
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) has returned to the passenger train business! It was the CPR that introduced the "Trans-Canada Limited" in 1929 and the "Canadian" domeliner in 1956. The CPR set the standard for on-train service and elegance, while the scenery along its routes through the Canadian Rockies was unmatched for grandeur. Canadian Pacific passenger train operation ended in 1976. However, the company retained a fleet of private sleeper-observation-lounge cars for corporate use. This equipment now comprises the extraordinary new ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC land-cruise train.
This vintage rail tour allows you to enter a world of which most train riders only dream: travel by private business car. The ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC uses executive cars otherwise reserved for the senior officials of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The fleet is comprised of meticulously restored vintage cars, some over 80 years old. The interiors glow with polished woods, and the finest crystal and elegant silver settings grace the dining tables. Food service defines the term "gourmet", yet the atmosphere is casual and welcoming. The staff anticipates needs and desires, yet tipping is not permitted! Each car offers room accommodations with private toilets and shower baths. The train includes lounge and observation cars, some with open platforms from which to enjoy the panorama of the Rockies.
The Canadian Pacific Railway Company was renowned as an integrated transportation system. Banff and Yoho National Parks were developed by the CPR; and the railway also was noted for elegant hotels like the Palliser, located in the Calgary Terminal. The ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC tour re-creates the CPR travel experience. The first and last tour nights are spent in the finest rooms at the landmark Palliser Hotel. After the first night at the Palliser, the tour continues with a three-night/four-day circuit of the Canadian Rockies in the private cars. All travel is by day, with the train stopping on private sidings at night.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
The tour follows a circular routing through the Rockies. The legendary CPR mainline is traversed from Calgary west through Banff and Yoho National Parks to Golden, near the headwaters of the Columbia River. Enroute the train runs through the legendary Spiral Tunnels and conquers the Continental Divide over Kicking Horse Pass. From Golden to Fort Steele, the train operates on a remote coal-hauling branch through the Rocky Mountain Trench rather than over the regular passenger route. The line follows the Columbia River to its headwaters, passing crystalline lakes and meadows teeming with wildfowl.
At Fort Steele, the route turns east on the CPR's little-known secondary crossing of the Great Divide over Crowsnest Pass. The line ascends the beautiful Elk River Valley and traverses a tight horseshoe curve as it climbs to the "Crest of the Continent". We spend our second night on a private siding beside the glistening waters of Crowsnest Lake, quite literally on the top of the world. Descending onto the high plains, the train crosses the 314-foot-elevation, mile-long High Level Bridge at Lethbridge and runs north along the foothills back to Calgary. For a distance of 442 miles, passengers ride railways not traveled by passenger trains in over 30 years!
The tour includes unique off-train sightseeing. There are visits to beautiful Lake Louise, Fort Steele Historic Village, and Cranbrook to see the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel. The latter includes a completely restored train-set of the 1929 "Trans-Canada Limited". Participants also visit Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Spruce Meadows Equestrian Center for a private exhibition of superb horsemanship.
On-board service includes all meals and beverages. This is unquestionably an expensive tour, but extraordinary value is here as well. Few other opportunities exist for a multi-day excursion in the private executive cars of a great railway. When combined with scenery second to none and a route offering nearly 450 miles of mountain grandeur not seen from passenger trains in thirty years, this is the ultimate rail travel experience! Rail Travel Center General Manager Carl Fowler has traveled over 350,000 miles by train. His comment is "This is the best train I've ever ridden, and that includes the "Super Chief", the "20th Century Limited", the "Blue Train" and "Rovos Rail". Complete details follow. ALL ABOARD!
Day One, Thursdays - (D)
Arrive Calgary; dinner and overnight Palliser Hotel. Participants arrive in Calgary independently. Accommodations are included in deluxe "Entrée Gold" rooms at the Canadian Pacific's landmark Palliser Hotel with exclusive check-in, concierge, private lounge and complimentary snacks. A superb dinner is included in the Rimrock Room.
(D)
Day 2:
Day Two, Fridays -(CB,L,D)
Train journey/touring through Banff and Yoho National Parks. Following a deluxe continental breakfast in the Entrée Gold lounge, we board the ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC train and roll west on Canada's first transcontinental railway. An hour out of Calgary the Rockies come into view. We enter Banff National Park and follow the glacial-blue waters of the Bow River to Banff Station, where we make a brief stop to pick up a local guide, then continue along the Bow River past Castle Mountain. We visit legendary Lake Louise, with its panorama of the aqua-green lake and Victoria Glacier. Continuing west we ascend to the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass (elevation 5,332 feet). At the headwaters of the Kicking Horse River we cross into British Columbia and descend through the Spiral Tunnels to Field, the station for Yoho National Park. Yoho is the Cree Indian word for "amazing", and the panorama fully justifies the name. Next we traverse the Kicking Horse River Canyon to Golden. Here we leave the mainline (and rails regularly traveled by passenger trains) for the balance of the tour.
We ascend the rift valley of the Rocky Mountain Trench along the headwaters of the Columbia River, passing wild-fowl marshes often teeming with osprey, eagles and ducks before our first overnight stop on the shores of Lake Windemere. We spend the next three nights in our private rooms on the ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC. The layover sidings were specially constructed for this train.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 3:
Day Three, Saturdays -(B,L,D)
Train journey/touring in the Rockies to Fort Steele, Cranbrook and Crowsnest Pass.
Our train runs south in the shadows of the towering peaks of Kootenay National Park and past the source of the Columbia River to Fort Steele, where we detrain to see this wonderful "living history" village. This was a very important place in the days of the B.C. frontier, as the Northwest Mounted Police maintained one of their forts here. The town has been rebuilt by Parks B.C., and the interpreters dress as residents from the 1890s. A steam-powered railway offers a ride to the stunning overlook of the mountains. Luncheon is included in the village before the short drive to Cranbrook.
We visit the remarkable Museum of Canadian Rail Travel here. The collection includes a restored train-set from the CPR's 1929 "Trans-Canada Limited". The elegance of these cars is echoed in the equipment of our train, which we re-board to ascend to Crowsnest Pass. This little-known crossing of the Continental Divide was once part of a secondary line to Vancouver, the route of the beloved "Kettle Valley Express". Since the 1970s, the tracks have been used only by freight trains. The scenery is wild and grand as we ascend the Elk River Valley and pass through the coal-mining hamlet of Fernie. We overnight on the shores of Crowsnest Lake at the heights of Crowsnest Pass. A pre-dinner live concert in the observation-lounge car provides a very special end to this day.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 4:
Day Four, Sundays -(B,L,D)
Train journey/touring to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Spruce Meadows.
We descend the eastern slope of Crowsnest Pass, passing through the remnants of the colossal Frank Slide rock-fall and seeing the great tower of Crowsnest Peak before rolling out onto the high plains. At Fort McLeod we visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For 10,000 years, Native Americans drove buffalo over a cliff here during their periodic hunts. All interpreters are members of the Blackfoot nation. The view across the sweeping plains climaxes at the distant peaks of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. This is a place of great beauty, history and spiritual power!
Continuing by rail, we cross soaring High Level Bridge (at one mile, forty-seven feet in length and 314 feet in height the longest and highest steel trestle on the CPR) departing Lethbridge. Turning north, our train runs along the foothills through grain and cattle-ranching country to Okotoks. We detrain to visit Spruce Meadows Equestrian Centre, an internationally renowned show-jumping venue, for a private exhibition. We enjoy our last night on the train "stabled" at Okotoks.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 5:
Day Five, Mondays -(B,D)
Train journey to Calgary; free time; dinner/overnight at the Palliser Hotel. The ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC completes the journey to Calgary after an on-board breakfast. The final miles are not anti-climatic as the train descends through verdant meadows, along a sparkling stream and past beautifully framed views west to the Rockies and north to the vibrant Calgary skyline. We transfer to the Palliser Hotel for a final night's stay and a "Farewell Dinner" in the Rimrock Room. The afternoon is free. The Light Rail System runs to the Zoo and lovely Botanical Gardens, or you might take a short walk to the Glenbow Museum to view its art/history exhibits. On the south side of the city is Calgary Heritage Park, the re-creation of a high plains village of 1900. It has a trolley car line, steam railway and lake steamer as highlights. Admissions are not included for Calgary attractions, allowing you to make your own choices.
(B) (D)
Day 6:
Day Six, Tuesdays -(CB)
Tour ends with independent departures. After another deluxe continental breakfast in the Entrée Gold Lounge, the tour ends with an included airport transfer. Rail service is available from Calgary to Vancouver, departing early this morning on the ROCKY MOUNTAINEER land-cruise train. This is a two-day trip, traveling entirely by day, with enroute hotel accommodations included in Kamloops. Please let us know if you would like to book the ROCKY MOUNTAINEER option. Flight connections are offered to all points from Calgary as well.
$4995.00 per person, double occupancy
$5325.00 single occupancy
*Plus applicable 7% Canadian Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.)
EQUIPMENT USED ON THE ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC train is all original to the CPR, including a matched set of 1950's passenger diesels (originally built for the CPR's "Dominion" train) and private cars from the executive fleet. The train usually carries a maximum of 22 passengers, although more participants can be accommodated by adding cars. The consist normally includes the 1926 open-platform observation-lounge-diner "Mount Stephen", the 1926 lounge-diner-sleeper "Royal Wentworth", the 1927 observation-lounge-sleeper "Van Horne", the newly constructed all-stateroom Pullman car "N.R.Crump", and the 1916 open-platform observation lounge-diner "Killarney". The "Royal Wentworth" boasts the distinction of having been used in the 1937 Royal Train of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the current Queen Mother.
(B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
TOUR PRICES include all rail and coach fares; hotel and sleeping car accommodations; all meals and beverages except lunch in Calgary on Day Five; admissions except in Calgary; entertainment; guide and escort services; luggage handling; and transfers during the tour. If you arrive on the day the tour begins and advise us before departure of your flight times, an airport/hotel transfer is included. The Palliser Hotel is at the rail station. Souvenirs and alcoholic beverages at the hotel are not included.
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