As reported earlier in this blog, the Wakefield steam engine running through the Gatineau Park is a beautiful way to discover the natural reserves in western Québec. Unfortunately, this steam trip was closed down temporarily in June 2011 due to track damage caused by torrential rains. The cost for fixing up this train line was estimated at approximately $7 million and fears were rising that these costs would force the steam train out of existence in the local area.

Fortunately, this Wakefield steam train has been saved with a $500,000 contribution from western Québec municipalities, Outaouais tourism and the government of Ontario. Local councils of the train that runs from Wakefield to Hull Québec were able to match an offer presented from an outside bidder for the train in order to keep it running in the region. This means that the loud train horns heard from one Québec region to the next will live on in the year 2013.

Owner Andre Groulx had received a purchase offer for the steam train but municipal representatives were determined to keep this steam train alive and running in the area. They mobilized quickly to raise the funds worth $500,000. This gave them the ability to make a promise to buy the train within a certain time limit.

This steamer has had its air horns blowing to the tune of $10 million in revenue per year and has attracted approximately 50,000 – 60,000 Wakefield tourists yearly. While Hull Québec attracts a lot of tourists with its casino, there can never be a replacement for garnishing visitors to see nature in the raw in the beautiful Gatineau Parks. The Wakefield steam engine travels for 64 km that lasts five hours, with a 2 1/2-hour Wakefield stop.

Get aboard in 2013 for a historical adventure on one of the best scenic eastern Canada rail routes. Musicians and tour guides join in this adventure on board the Wakefield steam train. This is a half-day excursion that will be a truly unforgettable experience. You will also enjoy a guided tour of Wakefield that is included in the price as well as watch as the train is turned manually in the town.

This is one of the last European excursion steamers that is still operating in Canada. It is a type 2-8-0 909 steamer that will have its train horn kit blowing again in the beautiful picturesque Gatineau region next year.

Experience the pristine wilderness and stunning Rocky Mountain ranges right outside your window while wrapped in the comfort and sophisticated elegance of the Royal Canadian Pacific. 

The Royal Canadian Pacific takes you through some of the most rugged, inaccessible and spectacular terrain in the world along the historic Canadian Pacific Railway lines.

Take in Banff, Lake Louise, Kicking Horse Resort in Golden, the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel in Cranbrook, the UNESCO World Heritage site Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump in the foothills of the Rockies, and the Homeplace Ranch in the Alberta Prairies. 

This tour is a first class experience and a marvellous way to see otherwise hard to find places in Canada's beautiful countryside.

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Day 1 Vancouver Arrival

Arrive in Vancouver and spend time exploring this scenic city. Admission to the Vancouver Observation Deckat Harbour Centre with  views of the city, mountains and ocean is included.

Day 2 Vancouver to Kamloops

Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the coastal city of Vancouver to Kamloops. You can see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser River Valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade Mountains, to the desert-like environment of the interior. 

Day 3 Kamloops to Jasper

Your journey continues north and east to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Today’s highlights include Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet), Pyramid Falls, as well as the climb over the Yellowhead Pass into Jasper National Park. 

Day 4 Jasper departure

Your tour ends with check-out from your Jasper hotel.

At some point during your excursion the train may be brought to a screeching halt. Look out! It’s the dreaded outlaw “Bolton Gang”. They are known to frequent these parts and on occasion hold up the train.

But fear not the Canadian Metis hero, Gabriel Dumont, is there to stops them. After a short but furious gun battle, the money the outlaws took from passengers is retrieved. Since it’s impossible to tell who the money belongs to, it is donated to a number of children’s charities.

All excursions include a full course buffet meal which is included in the fare, on board entertainment and maybe even a train robbery.
During your journey on board the train you will travel through the beautiful rolling and treed countryside of Alberta’s Parkland.

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The train takes you for a 64 km round trip on the banks of one of Canada’s most beautiful natural reserves, the Gatineau park. Discover the enchanting landscapes of western Quebec’s Outaouais region.

You can sit back and relax aboard the climate-controlled cars and let the “clickety-clack” of the wheels carry you back to a by-gone era.
Tour highlights: In Wakefield, don’t miss the spectacular pivoting of the 93-ton steam engine on the last operating manual turntable in Canada.

Take part in a guided tour throughout the village or take a peak inside the cab of the steam engine.

During your stop, visit the many shops and restaurants of Wakefield.

The musicians will offer a short performance in the park. Trip details:

The complete five hour round trip consists of a two-hour stop in Wakefield and travel time is a hour and a half in each direction.

The 909 steam engine is a type 2-8-0 and was built in Sweden in 1907. It is the only operating European steam engine in Canada and one of the last operating excursion steam engine in Canada.

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