| Once upon a time, Alberta more or less owed its existence to Canada’s early railway lines. You couldn’t venture very far without stumbling upon a railway – tracks crisscrossed the countryside like a bad hairdo. If you had to get somewhere, you went by rail, as there were no highways, just steel stripes. Wherever the steel went, communities sprang up, and for over half a century, railroads were king. Today the lines are mostly abandoned save for a few main routes. Old railroad beds have weeded over and fallen to time. The romance is mostly over, but not forgotten.
From its Stettler station, Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions takes passengers on a literal trip down memory lane behind a vintage steam-powered locomotive. During the excursion, professional performers entertain passengers in their seats as the prairie landscape unfolds around the train. For those who want to feel the gentle breeze, there is an open-air coach to while away the afternoon in. Otherwise you can kick back and take in the moving scenery with a cold one in the Lone Star Saloon. These heritage tours typically last five to six hours going to Big Valley and returning to Stettler, and include a buffet dinner of Alberta roast beef.
At some point during your trip the train may be brought to a screeching halt. Watch out. It's the dreaded outlaw "Bolton Gang." They are known to frequent those parts of Central Alberta and on occasion hold up the train. Fear not, the Canadian Métis hero, Gabriel Dumont, is there to stop them. After a short but furious staged gun battle, the money the outlaws have taken from passengers is retrieved.
Summer excursions begin on the May long weekend and continue until mid-October. There are many different trip options, packages and themed events over the course of the summer and fall. For fares and specials go to www.absteamtrain.com. |
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