Wheels on Steel
We’ve noted before, if it’s got wheels. It goes in this column … well, unless it’s a tea caddy. So here we have a selection of photos taken by one of our readers when he and his wife travelled west in VIA Rail’s dome car in January. We asked Ken to send us a few photos when he Dear Paul,
I thought your readers might be interested in this wheels on steel means of transportation. Michelle and I travelled from Toronto to Vancouver in January on VIA Rail’s flagship train, the legendary Canadian.
The four day/ three night journey included considerable time spent in the famous Dome Car and ours was the Glacier Park. One of 18 stainless steel Park cars built in 1954 for the Canadian Pacific Railway and named after a Canadian Park, this one represents Glacier National Park, located in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia. Obtained by VIA Rail in 1978 and with 14 still in service, this 85 foot long car has been beautifully refurbished with a downstairs lounge at the rear, returned. So here we are. Ken is a rail enthusiast and has authored two album-style photo books on our trains, “Rails Across the Rock” and “Rails Around the Rock”. They’re still available for purchase (online from Amazon is one source).
“The trip was truly one of a lifetime.”
a full bar-lounge in the centre, and upstairs seating for 24 in the glass dome offering 360 degree viewing from the top of the train.
We were blessed with an 11-hour delayed departure as it afforded us daylight views of parts of Canada seldom seen by any rail traveller the Canadian Shield, parts of the Prairie and most of British Columbia. In addition to the views of the passing countryside, the Canadian offers some of the finest meals anywhere from prime rib to shrimp and scallops, expertly prepared on board by the chefs in the diner. The trip was truly one of a lifetime.