4.5 day train trip.. Via rail Toronto to Vancouver.

[Howard Sterndrive]

Did that trip out to BC a few weeks ago. What a blast. If you have ever thought about it...do it. Via's express deals site had 75% off pricing on the cabin for two. Ended up being a bit more than a plane ticket.
We easily ate our tickets (and probably our weight). Think the exact opposite of airplane food. Cabin passengers have access to 5 star dining. The quality and quantity of food was superb. Even the coffee was excellent.
Two times there was free champagne and hor's d'ouvres.
But if you are easily excited about cool trains, don't expect to sleep much...this was 4:30 am the first night...checking out the Muskokas

spent most of the time in the caboose... there's coffee, tea. water cookies, and fruit out in these dome cars 24/7....
The rockies were nice - not quite like the old CP line where you go through those spiral tunnels and such, but nice. Met people from 8 different countries. Laughed continuously it seemed. Glad we stayed in Vancouver and mellowed out for 2 days before touring around Van Island.
I learned a lot about Canada.
cleaning the windows in Jasper for a bug free look at the rockies:

ferry ride to Vancouver Island where we spent 5 days..then flew back home

 

[rbh]

Re: 4.5 day train trip.. Via rail Toronto to Vancouver.

Luved the trip from Calgary to Vancouver on VIA back in the 80s before it went Rocky MTN.

Usually great entertainment in the last bar car!!

 

[JB]

Re: 4.5 day train trip.. Via rail Toronto to Vancouver.

Great story, Howard. I crossed the USA by train twice in the 50s, courtesy of the US Government. They were adventures of another kind. As a boy I traveled by Pullman Stateroom between NC and NY twice annually. Those trips sound more like your cross Canada adventure.

Thanks for stirring old memories.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 4.5 day train trip.. Via rail Toronto to Vancouver.

were the beds in the sleeping cars long enough for a tall guy or would I be trying to poke my feet through the side of the train all night? (I'm 6' 7")

I'm 6'2" and slept in the upper berth, which was actually a couple inches shorter than the lower berth, so I think it would be ok... I think the lower would be somewhere between a regular single and super single bed length. I bet Via could give you exact dimensions.

If one person not able to climb to the upper berth, I saw a couple of cabins where it appeared the bed was actually a big sofabed thing that folded down into a double.
it's hard to take a good pic of the cabin...
the beds fold into the wall/ceiling while you are at breakfast. When you come back, there are 2 chairs set up. I asked to watch how it is done - pretty cool system.
When you return from dinner - voila...beds again

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 4.5 day train trip.. Via rail Toronto to Vancouver.

Tofino sunset shot I took from our hotel. You folks that live on the Pacific side of N.A. have it pretty sweet...

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 4.5 day train trip.. Via rail Toronto to Vancouver.

Looks great. Mrs Ken and I may just have to try that out. Ashamed to say it but have only been in 2 provinces. Ontario and Quebec. Going to put this on our must do list.
Great photos and glad you had a great time.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: 4.5 day train trip.. Via rail Toronto to Vancouver.

I was in Muskoka a couple of weeks ago. You went right by our property which goes all the way back to the CN tracks. Probably saw you go by. Nice pics.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 4.5 day train trip.. Via rail Toronto to Vancouver.

Have never done a cross country that way, but used to run Via (pretty sure it was them) from Windsor up to Toronto every now and again. There's a historic train here in Nashville that does day excursions in vintage rigs from the 50's ... plan on taking the family out this year just for the experience.

Looks like a good time Howard.