Canadian Railroads > Western Canada road trip May 2023

Morning,

There's a plan being worked on for a Western Canada road trip in May this year. Flying in & out of Calgary via WestJet then heading west via Banff and Lake Louise towards Revelstoke and maybe Kamloops. Return to Calgary via Revelstoke, Golden & Fort Steel / Cranbrook or Revelstoke, Nelson and across.

Any tips & hints from the local railfan fraternity would be welcome as in eateries, accomodation, good spots for trainwatching etc on the proposed route,s. I've already suggested MP 113 on the Laggan sub as it's on my bucket list.  

Road trips south of the border involved a DeLorme road atlas, what's the equivalant in Canada as it would be a good idea to get one in due course to assist with the planning.

Recommended Railroad hobby shops are also required to be factored into the plan.

Many thanks,

Dave
 

The Revelstoke Railway Museum is well worth a visit.

Chris Rye

exrtc Wrote:
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> The Revelstoke Railway Museum is well worth a
> visit.
>
> Chris Rye

I concur.

Posted from Android

Be sure to watch the action at the overlook above the Spiral tunnels.  That would be east of Field, BC.

Do yourself a favour and don't stop at Kamloops. Go west to Ashcroft and you'll be in heaven.
Fred

viatrainrider Wrote:
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> Be sure to watch the action at the overlook above
> the Spiral tunnels.  

Have the cut down any trees yet?  If not you won't be able to see any trains.  The information on the plaques are very interesting howerver.

Gerry Gaugl
Ottawa ON

moonliter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> viatrainrider Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Be sure to watch the action at the overlook
> above
> > the Spiral tunnels.  
>
> Have the cut down any trees yet?  If not you
> won't be able to see any trains.  The information
> on the plaques are very interesting howerver.
>
> Gerry Gaugl
> Ottawa ON
Against the Parks law

No DeLorme maps for Canada, or any equivalent that I'm familiar with.  I've been doing quite well lately between Google Maps and a GPS in the car, both in the US and Canada.  

GTD

Definitely the railroad museum in Revelstoke is worth a visit, and so is Fort Steele.  Also I have a vague recollection of a train shed in Cranbrook with vintage passenger cars?

As far as maps go, Steam Powered Video has the best...

Western Canada

To see some of the best spots in B.C. I would seriously consider flying into Calgary and driving all the
way to Vancouver for the return home.  This will give you the opportunity to see the Thompson and
Fraser Canyons.  If you're that close it would be a shame to miss them.

Another thought might be to drive to Kamloops, go north from there and make a loop through Jasper
before returning to Calgary on the Icefields Parkway.  You could catch some CN action and the Parkway
is a very spectacular and scenic drive.

If you're driving Highway 1 west of Revelstoke don't forget Craigellachie where the last spike on the CP
was driven.

 

Keith Robertson
Langley, BC

MapArt.com sells similar products to the DeLorme in Canada.  The BC version and Alberta versions of their backroad atlas are well worth the money invested.
Got mine at Chapters in Calgary or your local PetroCan even carries them

i agree with driving from Calgary to Vancouver.  it is an awesome drive..............

66

moonliter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> viatrainrider Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Be sure to watch the action at the overlook
> above
> > the Spiral tunnels.  
>
> Have the cut down any trees yet?  If not you
> won't be able to see any trains.  The information
> on the plaques are very interesting however.
>
> Gerry Gaugl
> Ottawa ON

This past summer I was on a bus tour which had a brief stop along the Trans-Canada Highway to view the Spiral Tunnels.  Due to all of the trees, it was difficult/impossible to get decent photos of the train which passed through while we were there .However, I definitely enjoyed watching the train pass through and would recommend stopping at the overlook to take in the train action and view the information on the plaques.

The Railway Association of Canada has a Map Page.
It's called The Canadian Rail Atlas
  https://rac.jmaponline.net/canadianrailatlas/
Base map options.
Internet access required.
Shows street level detail.
 

You'll want to pay a visit to "Trains & Such" which is the premier model RR shop in Calgary at 6043 Centre Street S.
Not sure if you do Facebook, but if so, two FB groups that will provide you with a wealth of information are "RailsBC" and "RailsAB".

PM sent.

Thanks for all the info so far, especially the advice on maps etc. It's all been fed into the latest planning meeting :-)
Much appreciated.

If you drive through Kamloops take HWy 1 west and stop into Kelly’s Kaboose in Savona. About 20 miles west of Kamloops. Great model rail and antique shop. See their website. And right beside the CP mainline and across the lake from CN mainline. Great photo op location.
Have a safe and fun trip.

611

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