Rocky Mountaineer: Kamloops - Banff

It was an extremely early start for our second and final day on the Rocky Mountaineer as we departed Kamloops before 7:00 am. Today was the longest day on the train with the journey to Banff covering 497 km/309 miles. Once again we were fed incredibly well throughout the day. For breakfast we had a croissant and farmhouse scramble with smoked bacon, breakfast hash and roasted mushrooms. Lunch included a spinach and apple salad along with roasted pork loin in a creamy Dijon mustard sauce with brown rice risotto and local market vegetables. We had a few desserts with a piece of cheesecake, a cheese and wine course, and an oatmeal raisin cookie towards the end of the journey.

There was lots to see today as this was the day we hit the Canadian Rockies. We began heading around Shuswap Lake to the Eagle River, and then went through Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Rail line was driven, which linked Canada by rail from coast to coast.

We crossed the Columbia and Illecillewaet Rivers, and went in the 8 km/5 mile long Connaught Tunnel through Mount MacDonald before hitting the Stoney Creek Bridge which towers over the creek bed.

With the Canadian Rockies coming into view, additional bridges were crossed over Surprise Creek and Mountain Creek before leaving the Columbia River behind for the Kicking Horse River and traveling through Kicking Horse Canyon.

The next big architectural marvel was the Spiral Tunnels, modeled after a tunnel system in Switzerland. The Lower and Upper Spiral Tunnels allowed the grade to be reduced from 4.5 per cent to a much safer 2.2 per cent, with the railway doubling back on itself twice in the process of gaining altitude.

 

After passing the Continental Divide and highest point in the journey at 1,626 m/5,332 feet, we went through Lake Louise (though couldn't see the lake) and saw Castle Mountain as we arrived at the Banff train station to the welcoming waves of the ever friendly Rocky Mountaineer staff. Once again we made excellent time and arrived over an hour early. Shuttles for passengers to the various hotels around town were there on our arrival, and we were taken to the Banff Caribou Lodge and Spa, where we could head straight to our room with our bags arriving shortly after.

Riding the Rocky Mountaineer was a great experience, but I think two days was enough time on the train. The staff were really lovely and accommodating of everyone's needs, and you can see how much pride they take in their customer service. For the sheer variety of scenery I think the First Passage to the West trip we did is hard to top, so if you can only do one Rocky Mountaineer journey I think it is the one to pick.

Rocky Mountaineer: Vancouver - Kamloops

Mom and I were up bright and early for our Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the West two day train journey from Vancouver to Banff. When we arrived at the Vancouver Rocky Mountaineer Train Station around 6:45 am we were greeted by the friendly staff who brought our bags to the check in counter to tag them for the hotels we would be staying at over the next two nights. The train station was big and filled with sunlight and you could get drinks and lounge around watching clips of the journey on large screens while a piano player played in the background. 

Before boarding the train they gathered everyone together at the front of the hall for a departure ceremony with a bagpiper. After the call of "all aboard" everyone headed to their designated train carriage and as we departed at 8:00 am all the Rocky Mountaineer staff were outside waving us farewell on our journey. We were in the SilverLeaf Service single level dome car and had assigned seats near the front of the carriage. There was lots of leg room and large windows to peer out of to see all the scenery. You could also go out back to the outside platform where we entered to take pictures as well. 

Each carriage has three dedicated staff - we had sisters Katie and Tracey as our servers and tour guides, and Jordan cooking all our meals. One thing about the Rocky Mountaineer is that you will never go thirsty or hungry. They are constantly serving you throughout the day. The food was hot and excellent. For breakfast we got a cinnamon scone then three cheese omelette with chicken sausage, skillet potatoes and roasted tomatoes. For lunch we had a sliced tomato salad and grilled salmon with a creamy dill sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and roasted root vegetables. For dessert there was a chocolate brownie with fudge sauce, as well as snacks of mixed nuts and dried fruit in between meals if you were interested. 

For today's journey we traveled from Vancouver to Kamloops, which was 460 km/285 miles. We began with the green agricultural region of the Fraser Valley and the sight of our first mountain - Mount Baker.

As we climbed into the Cascade Mountains it got very green and lush, and then we saw Hell's Gate, which is the narrowest part of the Fraser River in the canyon.

Next we hit the Cisco Crossings, where the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National train lines cross the Fraser River on an orange arched bridge.

As we traveled further we came through Lytton, where the Thompson and Fraser Rivers met and the water goes from muddy to clear.

From here the landscape changes and becomes more dry and arid. The trees became more sparse as you went along and then it became more like a desert with all the brown rocks and slides.

On the way into the town of Kamloops the Thompson River widened into the massive Kamloops Lake. As we traveled around it we kept an eye out for animals on the hills and saw a few mountain goats along the way.

We made really good time during the day, and as the Rocky Mountaineer pulled into Kamloops we were greeted by the volunteer Kamloops Mounted Patrol. They come out with their horses to welcome train passengers into town.

Everything was very well organised as we departed the train. We got on our designated motorcoach and then drove the short distance to the Thompson Hotel and Conference Centre, where everyone was already checked in and had their bags waiting for them in the room. Mom and I grabbed dinner next door at The Noble Pig Brewhouse, and then got to sleep as it was another early start with a 6:15 am departure back to the Rocky Mountaineer in the morning.