Canadian Railroads > Royal Canadian Pacific Rocks the Canyons

So far the only appearance of the Royal Canadian Pacific to Vancouver occurred this week. Monday Sept 9 saw the train travel westbound from Kamloops to Vancouver and the next day it departed eastbound as a deadhead move back to Calgary.

For me, an epic overseas journey concluded with a leisurely ride across Canada on Via’s Canadian last week but here I was right back out there a few days later for one of the the best looking business trains in North America.

Neutral lighting made for some striking images as the train worked its way west down the Thompson and Fraser River canyons utilizing the directional running agreement between CP and CN. Departing Vancouver the next day the train went into the same canyons albeit on home rails as eastbounds use CP track for most of the canyon running.
 
Here’s a selection of images from the last two days:
 
1. Westbound along Kamloops Lake at Cherry Creek
 
2. Approaching Ashcroft beside the Thompson River.
 
3. Between Martel and Spence’s Bridge on CN track.
 
cp1400
 

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4. Deeper into the Thompson Canyon across from Indictment Hole thats bridged by CP.
 
5. Through the rugged and dangerous White Canyon of the Thompson River.
 
6. Across the iconic CN bridge over the Fraser River at Cisco.


cp1400
 

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7. Tuesday Sept 10 departing downtown Vancouver with the busy Alaska cruise season still in full swing.

8. Mission Abbey watches over the Fraser Valley at Hatzic.

9. Crossing the seasonal swing bridge at Harrison Bay
 

cp1400
 

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10. First eastbound test for these old girls climbing Haig hill across the Fraser River from Hope BC.

11. Emerging from the first tunnel at Yale.

12. Entering the second tunnel at Yale. Rear car Mount Stephen has a storied history on Canadian Pacific.
 

cp1400
 

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13. Deep in the Fraser Canyon crossing Whites Creek.

14. A more classic F unit look at Chaumox as the train rolls off into the fading light of the day.
 
The recently acquired and refurbished ex-SP three quarter dome did not make this trip. Hopefully it will appear on a future trip to the coast for this great train.
 

cp1400
 

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cp1400, thanks for sharing a great series on the CP line.  That's a pretty dynamic shot of those three snow sheds.  They sure look stout!  It's hard to pick a winner, but I like that Mission Abbey shot.  Nice work.

Kent in CArmel Valley

We were aboard TIOGA PASS Eastbound headed for Medicine Hat, Alberta, to escort some high value shipments across Canada. At Field.  After changing crews about 400pm , we hoped to depart quickly to see the spirqal tunnels in daylight, but the dispatcher held us for 4 trains, the first of which was the Royal Canadian.  It was quite a surprise for us but a beautiful sight gliding by.  The CPR between Vancouver and Calgary is a well maintained line and a fine ride.

Norm  

Norman Orfall
Helendale, CA
TIOGA PASS, a private railcar

yes, hard to pick a favorite but I would vote for the father/son picture on the observation platform....those smiles tell a whole lot.   MANY thanks for some great pictures!
    Arlen

Hard to tell for sure, but it appears that North America's MML, our own Mr Norm Orfall, failed to detect a defect.  MML=Manager of Marker Lights, which appear dark on the Royal Canadian.

Does your route take you east along Lake Superior on the CP?

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

All great images...thx for posting
upbuddyboy in Oregon

Great images!  Thanks for your efforts!

Do you know if the business train tied up downtown Vancouver at the old CP station now known at the Waterfront 
station I think?  I have viewed those tracks many times going to Sea Boat and w ondered if CP ever used the location.

viatrainrider Wrote:
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> Great images!  Thanks for your efforts!
>
> Do you know if the business train tied up downtown
> Vancouver at the old CP station now known at the
> Waterfront 
> station I think?  I have viewed those tracks many
> times going to Sea Boat and w ondered if CP ever
> used the location.

No. Waterfront Station is used on weekdays by the West Coast Express commuter trains. The RCP uses the northen most track in the N yard that has gate access from the road. CP built this access for the 2010 Winter Olympics and since then has become the defacto station for this train albeit no canoy and a gravel surface.

cp1400

Great photos!

Does anyone know the why the Royal Canadian Pacific train came to Vancouver?

Really NICE series!!

Larry

RuleG Wrote:
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> Great photos!
>
> Does anyone know the why the Royal Canadian
> Pacific train came to Vancouver?

This was a private charter from Calgary to Vancouver and a deadhead trip Vancouver to Calgary.

Great stuff..!!  Thanks for posting.

Excellent coverage of a great looking trainset in some really nice locations.

611

Posted from iPhone

Awesome