We have been saying for more than 50 years : "We must do the Rocky Mountaineer one day" and today was the day. We met a coach at 6:55 am that took us to the Banff Station and climbed aboard our Gold Leaf Service carriage with its all round and overhead windows. Downstairs was a nice dining room for our meals.
It had snowed overnight and the station and parked buses were coated.
It had snowed overnight and the station and parked buses were coated.
We needed all our warm clothes as this is one of the coldest spots in Canada this week. Just before we took off the manager told us there had been a freight train collision about one third of the way to Kamloops, our destination today. It was necessary for us to go by bus for the rest of the distance.
Shortly after leaving Banff at 8:30 we saw a herd of elks on both sides of the track. Our first stop was at Lake Louise, where we saw the Station for the first time.
While having breakfast we saw some moose in a pond. The trees and meadows were covered in snow and looked wonderful. We followed rivers mostly, with plenty of tunnels and bridges.
We waited for a goods train with nearly 200 carriages to overtake us and then watched it circle itself in the spiral tunnel. There were two of these in a row designed to ease the climb from 4% to 2%. We have seen these spirals in NSW near the Queensland border and on the Bernina Express in Switzerland. this is all one train.
While having breakfast we saw some moose in a pond. The trees and meadows were covered in snow and looked wonderful. We followed rivers mostly, with plenty of tunnels and bridges.
Straight after lunch we boarded a bus and belted down Highway 1 to cover the 400 km to Kamloops. Our driver did a great job. He had left Calgary at 8am to help out. We stopped at the site where the railway across Canada was completed. The last spike was a golden one driven by a dignitary. This is the place but the spike is only painted gold.
They gave us snacks and a bottle of water along the way, but we arrived disappointed and tired at our hotel after 14 hours of travel. They say the train will be ready in Kamloops tomorrow morning and we have to leave at 7:30, so fingers crossed.
We got a letter of apology and an offer of CAD200 each to our credit card account for compensation. We are not sure what to do about that yet.
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