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.

California’s Gold Rush Rail Adventure

California, here we come! Our new California Gold Rush Rail Adventure is perfect for anyone who delights in riding the rails and taking a trip back in time. Start your adventure in the City by the Bay where you’ll enjoy the famous sights. Wind your way along the Pacific coast, through beautiful old-growth redwood forests and into the heart of Old Sacramento. Come take a seat and enjoy the ride!

Highlights include

Day 1—San Francisco: Mighty railroads were essential to the success of the Gold Rush miners and loggers in the early days of Northern California. You’re on the right track to relive this glorious era on our exclusive itinerary for California’s Gold Rush Rail Adventure.

Day 2—San Francisco/Sonoma Valley/Mendocino: Board a deluxe motorcoach for an exciting tour of San Francisco—”the City by the Bay.” You’ll see so many famous sights, including Chinatown, Nob Hill, Union Square and Golden Gate Park. Then take in the spectacular surroundings as we cross the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge to Sonoma Valley, the heart of California’s beautiful wine country.

For more information click here

Colorado’s vintage railways

Ride on “North America’s Most Scenic Railway,” the world-famous Royal Gorge Route. Return to the exciting days of the Frontier West on the old-fashioned Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad as you climb high mountain passages and pass through a breathtaking gorge along the way. The Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad will take you through the San Isabel National Forest past Mount Massive and Mount Elbert, Colorado’s tallest peaks. All aboard!

Highlights include

Day 1—Denver: It was the Iron Horse that helped tame the Old West, bringing an entire continent together and leading to the historic expansion of the United States. Now you can relive the thrill and excitement of that historic era on our Colorado’s Vintage Railways Tour.

Day 2—Denver/Colorado Springs: Today we’re off to the stunning Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. This 1,367-acre park at the base of Pikes Peak is where the Great Plains meet the Rockies—and is like a little piece of heaven! You’ll be amazed by the abundance of plant and animal life here, as well as the magnificent red sandstone formations such as the Kissing Camels and Balanced Rock.

For more info and to make bookings click here

The steam train will start its journey from the railway station Jesenice and pass the Alpine jewels of Bled and Bohinjska Bistrica on its way towards the final destination the town Kanal in the valley of the river Soča.

At the railway station in Kanal we will get off the train and continue our way on buses – accompanied by tour guides we will drive along the river Soča past the villages Anhovo and Plave to the wine-growing region at the Slovene-Italian border – Goriška Brda. In this picturesque area we will enjoy the views of beautiful small villages, vineyards and fruit gardens.

On our way to Dobrovo, the centre of Goriška Brda, we will make a short stop in the village Gonjače and climb up a 23 m (75.5 ft) belvedere tower, where the whole region of Goriška Brda will be seen from. With some luck with the weather, the neighbouring regions of the Vipava valley, the plateau of Kras, Friuli in Italy, the Italian Dolomites and the Julian Alps can be clearly seen from there.

Afterwards our journey will continue past the medieval village of Šmartno into the centre of the region, Dobrovo. Because we’ll have been “on the road” for quite a while by then, it will already be lunch time. Some entertainment, suitable for children and adults, will be arranged after lunch.

Before our return to the Soča valley we will also visit the largest wine cellar in the region and there you’ll be able to buy some of the prominent wines of Goriška Brda. Returning to Nova Gorica, the centre of the western part of Slovenia, laying right at the Slovene-Italian border and start our railway journey back towards the region of Gorenjska.

More info: http://www.abc-tourism.si/steam-train/

Arrive Montreal
Welcome to Montreal. A city of sophistication and style, where the restaurant guide is required reading. Where fashion calls home and the shopping is hard to beat.

Montreal is a very modern city, the eighth cleanest in the world, yet full of history and vibrancy which give it an old world feel. Check out some of the views of the city on this webcam site, plan a trip using the wiki travel site or brush up on your French to better enjoy your stay.

Here are some highlights of the 10 day train trip:

Montreal to Moncton
You have the full day to enjoy Montreal. Your city sightseeing tour will help you understand Montreal’s history and achievements.

Arrive Moncton
Today would be a great day to visit Water Theme Park, Magnetic Hill Zoo, and Magnetic Hill, where you can put your car in neutral and go uphill!

Bay of Fundy
On the way to the “Rocks” & “Fundy National Park” there is the Salem & Hillsborough Railroad Museum, with an operating 1912 steam engine.

Arrive Montreal
You arrive early morning, leaving the opportunity to spend time in Montreal.

For more information about this fantastic round trip rail journey from Montreal then visit here.

The next weeks Tico Times had a small article about the train I saw. I visited their web page http://www.ticotraintour.com/ and liked what I saw and fired off an Email. I received an almost instant reply in English and they sent 5 or 6 pictures of the train ride which are not on the website. Two small problems with the web page. Page says the train goes to the East coast but it goes to Caldera (west coast) and two of the Email addresses (both RACSA) do not work . The working address is: americatravel@ice.co.cr Anyway, we along with 4 friends took that train ride yesterday (8th of May) and had a good time. This was a spur of the moment decision. I received a phone call around noon on Saturday (7th of May) from a Tico friend asking if we’d be interested in taking the train the next day if he could get tickets? “Of course”, I said. Less than an hour later I received another call saying everything was set and a taxi would be picking us up at 7:15 am at our front door. It was on time and we were off! I had no idea where the train station was in Alajuela but the taxi driver did and when we were dropped off, another group was waiting on the platform at the (seemingly) deserted train station. It’s difficult to describe but everyone on that platform appeared quite exited for the upcoming train ride. I know I was and my expectations were rewarded nicely.

The company has an office in Alajuela in addition to the one at the Pacific train station in San Jose and they claim tickets must be purchased in advance. One of our party joined us at the last minute and purchased her ticket on the train. Since we all reside in Alajuela we really did not wish to go into San Jose to catch that train at 7:00, we asked for another pick up location. The train stopped and picked us (and 6 others) up at the station in Ciruelas (spelling) here in Alajuela at 7:45.

The Islands of the Bahamas lie 50 miles off the Florida Coast; closer to mainland USA than any other Caribbean destination. The Bahamas are a diverse chain of Islands that can be explored over a lifetime.

Cabo San Lucas is famous for golf, fishing, nightlife and a laid back Mexican atmosphere. Pedregal, located in Cabo San Lucas, is the location of the most beautiful vacation rentals.

However there is also something for the train enthusiast. A short day trip to a scenic village outside of Amsterdam including a steam train trip and boat ride.

The trip is from Hoorn to Medemblik. You get there from Amsterdam Central station by going to Hoorn, a journey that takes 32 minutes on a 4 car double deck train.

Once in Hoorn you can transfer to the steam train and journey to Medemblik which takes 77 minutes. There you can stroll around or continue onwards by ferry.

For more read this account, and visit this site for local tourist information.

Here are some of the highlights:

Monday, May 8: Munich-Verona (L, D)
Meet in the main station for the departure of a Eurocity train direct to Verona, Italy. We will travel via Innsbruck, the Brenner Pass and Bolzano and through the magnificent Dolomites. Have a three-course lunch in the restaurant car while taking in what the Thomas Cook Timetable calls one of Europe’s most scenic routes…

Thursday, May 11: Venice–Naples (B, L, D)
This morning we leave early to depart on the Italian Intercity tain, giving us a peek at Bologna’s Centrale Station where we change to Eurostar Italia 9429. Again, we will be whisked across the beautiful countryside to Napoli, situated on a bay Mount Vesiuvius as the backdrop. Lunch included on the train. We’ll have a city tour upon arrival.

Monday, May 15: Acireale (B, L)
Today we take a picnic with us for our Catania Light Railway (FCE) trip around Mount Etna—largest and highest volcano in Europe—and enjoy a private tour of Taormina with our local guide. The FCE is a private, diesel narrow-gauge line. And Taormina is a classic little Italian town known for its natural beauty.

Sunday, May 21: Florence–Milan (B)
Today we take our last Eurostar Italia train to Milan Centrale Station, one of the grand stations of Europe, opened in 1931.

Monday, May 22: Milan (B, D)
Today, we connect by train to nearby Genova, birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Our destination is the Genova-Casella Railway, a private electric, narrow-gauge line that climbs from 307 feet above sea level in Genova, to 1,336 feet at Casella, traveling through 13 tunnels and offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of Genova.

More information about the rail tour can be found here.

Steam fans also have a railway museum located just outside the city (suburban train (S-Bahn) line S1. Get off at Silberwald, (not Strasshof!) station.) which features many different types of steam trains from all ages of Austria’s transport history.

This company offers railway tours of Austria including the Vienna museum.

Some features are:

10 nights’ accommodation
Lunch on outward bound Eurostar to Brussels and dinner on return

First class rail travel throughout (vintage accommodation on the steam trains is Second class)

Passing nearly 300 bridges and through the Winter snow or Summer green this is certainly a train trip you’ll remember. There is a special Swiss-Pass
ticket available which offers great value for money on all the Swiss bus train and trams found throughout the country, as well as free entry to 400 muesums and 50% discount on private mountain railways.