While not our prime reason to go north to the Canadian Rockies, trains turned out to be a big part of the story.  Canadian National and Canadian Pacific operate transcontinental lines thru the rockies.  The Rocky Mountaineer luxury passenger train stops in Banff delivering many of the 3.5 million visitors from all over the world.  Banff National Park itself was created after CP workers “discovered” the hot springs there.  The raiload built the famous Fairmont Hotels in Banff, Lake Louise and other scenic locations to spur tourist development.  Morant’s Curve was made famous by the official photographer of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Canadian Pacific promoted the Rockies

CP westbound at Banff

Rocky Mountaineer

Luxury train

Morant’s Curve

Jasper is served by the Canadian National Railway.  Trains run from Edmonton AB to Prince Rupert BC.  We tried to ride a special tourist train through the Rockies but they were sold out everyday we were there.  When we saw the train we weren’t surprised since they only had 2 or 3 passenger cars.  The Via Rail CN passenger train “The Canadian” had 16 or more cars and was well supported.

Via Rail tourist train

1923 4-8-2 Mountain locomotive

Long oil train at Jasper

Yoho National Park is home to the CP’s famous spiral tunnels.  When the transcontinental railroad was first built it included a 4.5% grade on the west side of Kicking Horse pass. This was twice the safe grade permitted by the Canadian government and terrified trainmen as well as passengers.  Though no loss of life was reported the railroad rebuilt the line using spiral tunnels to lengthen the mileage of the grade and reduce the incline.  The two tunnels enter the mountains then spiral back at a higher level so trains literally cross over themselves climbing the pass.  It is a big attraction for visitors to the park and a thrill for railfans.

Map of the Spiral Tunnels

Upper Spiral Tunnels

Exiting Lower Spiral Tunnel

Kicking Horse campground trail to discarded engine used in construction

Revelstoke BC features a large Railway Museum with lots of history and rolling stock displays.  Nearby Glacier National Park has trails to historic trestle piers of the CP railroad.  The park still hosts CP trains crossing Rogers Pass.  Many of the loops of the original route have been replaced by tunnels.

Historic CP trestle support piers

Sketch of original piers

Eastbound headed for Connaught Tunnel

Trail follows old rail line

Beautifully restored CP 2-8-2 Mikado

Revelstoke Railway Museum snow plow display

The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel is part of the Cranbrook History Centre in Cranbrook BC.  The museum has the largest collection of passenger cars in North America including very special cars for dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth and Winston Churchill.

Royal Alexandra Hall from CP’s Winnepeg hotel restored in Cranbrook

Elegant dining

Fascinating guided tour

First generation diesel Alco PA

Train watching and rail history are two of our favorite reasons to visit the Canadian Rockies.  We will be back.