A Backyard Train Trip

In recent years our holidays have tended to be events - standing on the Great Wall of China - climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge - watching the sun set over the Taj Mahal. This past weekend was spent somewhat differently. We did something that would normally be relegated to a trip with relatives from overseas - seeing our own Province.

We have lived in BC for close to thirty years and the only time we seem to venture out of the Lower Mainland is when a relative wants to visit Vancouver Island or go wine tasting in the Okanagan. Anxious for a few relaxing days away we booked a trip on the new Whistler Northwind - a trip that travels from North Vancouver to Whistler, 100 Mile House and Prince George.

It was a sunny Sunday morning as we drew out of North Vancouver's train station. We had chosen summit service as a result of a special offer to BC residents. This meant assigned seating in a glass-domed car, meals served in a dining car decorated with colourful murals, and use of a bar and sitting room in the last carriage - a converted 1939 Budd car.

It is amazing how we take our own back doorstep for granted. From the moment the train left the Station, the view of the Lions Gate Bridge looked somewhat haunting from our vantage point. The views of West Vancouver gardens, blazing with late spring colour in the sunlight was alluring. Meanwhile, on board, our hostess served champagne and orange juice and told us what to expect over the next three days.

Soon we were passing Horseshoe Bay as a ferry obligingly pulled into the terminal below. Howe Sound looked like a postcard.

The Squamish Highway snaked its way north alongside us and as we enjoyed brunch in the dining car we began to appreciate the romance of travelling by rail and why people always seem to wave at trains.

We detrained in Whistler around noon, spending the afternoon trying to retrace our steps from years ago when we used to ski out to the garbage dump. How times have changed!

Next morning our crew whisked us by bus to Pemberton where we reboarded the train for day two.

It was a day of superlatives - the sun shone brightly, making the snowline gleam.

The scenery only improved as we travelled north. The colours of Anderson and Seton Lakes rivalled anything we had seen in the Rockies and as we entered the Fraser Canyon lunch was served. Later that afternoon we arrived in 100 Mile House for an overnight stay at a guest ranch - something else we had always wanted to do one day.

Before returning to the station the next morning we went trail riding on Cowboy and General, two gentle sure-footed horses.

The final day was to take us to Prince George and while the scenery was not as dramatic, it still proved mesmerizing through the large picture windows of the train. Both lunch and dinner were served in the dining car and we were beginning to feel this trip was a cruise on rails.

Thanks to friends in Prince George, we toured the University of Northern British Columbia, the Art Gallery and the Railway Museum.

After a short flight back to Vancouver that evening we relived what we had seen, the people we had met and some of the vistas of our beautiful Province.

And the best part, it was all in Canadian dollars!

Our trip on the Whistler Northwind took place in June 2001 and this piece was written and published as a postcard in the travel section of the Vancouver Sun. Sadly the Whistler Northwind did not last many seasons. Currently the Vancouver-Whistler scenic train trip is operated by the Whistler Mountaineer.