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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 3, 2018 12:26:18 GMT -8
A couple of signs that indicate that I'm approaching Basque: 1) The CN bridge in the distance  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr 2) The obvious sign  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Basque is the east end of the Directional-Running corridor, where all eastbound trains take the CP tracks, and all westbound trains take the CN tracks. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 4, 2018 8:40:31 GMT -8
Things seen from the Rocky Mountaineer between Ashcroft and Kamloops, on the CN Ashcroft Subdivision: - September 18, 2018 eastward in SilverLeaf Service. The bridge near Ashcroft Terminal  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr ...and another bridge. Lots of CN crossings in this area. It's almost as if the other railway got there first and choose the better route.  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The road to Walhachin. The people there created an irrigated farming community, and then the Great War happened and the men left. The farming community fell apart.  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The north side of Kamloops Lake  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Battle Bluffs along Kamloops Lake. This obstacle required a tunnel.  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The place where the government tried to kill the Indian and save the child. (that was the official policy quote, not my words)  DSC07412 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr A church on a reserve just outside Kamloops  DSC07420 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr A Kamloops welcome  DSC07431 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Our train hosts told us that "Rocky Mountaineer built the hotel industry in Kamloops." With 29 years of having hundreds of passengers overnight in Kamloops for many nights each week during May-September, the claim is justified. The Kamloops hotel operators have a solid regular market of train customers to fill their rooms. The Rocky Mountaineer warned customers that the Kamloops (and Quesnel) hotels aren't at the same standards as the other destinations' hotels, but that they are clean and comfortable modest accommodations. We found this to be true. If a developer were to build a high-end hotel in Kamloops, they would be able to tap into the already-there market. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 4, 2018 16:44:30 GMT -8
Here's video #5 in my series of trip vidoes of a Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver to Banff trip.
This is Kamloops to Revelstoke, otherwise known as the CP Shuswap Subdivision.
Why should someone watch this, here on this forum? Well, for travel it shows an important and historical route. There are some tunnels, a few snowsheds, a mighty bridge across a mighty river at "2nd Crossing at Big Eddy," and even a glimpse of my breakfast. mmm.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 6, 2018 7:09:26 GMT -8
Here's some views of Canadian Pacific's Shuswap Subdivision, eastbound on the Rocky Mountaineer train: Me in my glory: This day was a dream-come-true for me, to ride the Canadian Pacific route between Kamloops and Banff.  20180919_065556 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Sunrise at Kamloops, and foggy-sun at Pritchard  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The old church at Notch Hill  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 6, 2018 17:28:45 GMT -8
Rocky Mountaineer scenes in the CP Mountain Subdivsion: That lovely old bridge along the abandoned Rogers Pass line on the west side of Rogers Pass, between Albert Canyon and Illecillewaet (big thanks to Wett Coast for the location)  DSC07623 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Passing our twin. - That's Jane from Orlando waving at them. Jane and husband Jack were my constant models throughout the trip, showing-up in most of my photographs, and having Jane's reflection in much of my video. Good thing that they are nice people. (Jack referred to me as "Camera Man")  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The merge-point of the 2 lines on the east slope of the Rogers Pass, along the Beaver River at Rogers. - The track that we're on is the old track, which uses the 1916 Connaught Tunnel. The other track is the new 1988 track that uses the Mount MacDonald tunnel.  DSC07736 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 7, 2018 6:48:24 GMT -8
Rocky Mountaineer on the CP Mountain Subdivision, between Revelstoke and Field:
This is my favourite segment, so far.
Tunnels, bridges, rivers, valley, mountains, oh my.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 7, 2018 8:15:18 GMT -8
That lovely old bridge along the abandoned Rogers Pass line. I assume this is the stone arch over Cascade Creek, encountered almost immediately upon emerging from the east portal of the Connaught Tunnel? It is looking good considering that it was abandoned 102 years ago. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 7, 2018 12:19:34 GMT -8
That lovely old bridge along the abandoned Rogers Pass line. I assume this is the stone arch over Cascade Creek, encountered almost immediately upon emerging from the east portal of the Connaught Tunnel? It is looking good considering that it was abandoned 102 years ago. I'm working on identifying this. From my photo sequence times, this is West of the Connaught Tunnel. I'm searching my video files for some host-talking where hopefully they give me a name for the creek that this old bridge crosses. |
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 7, 2018 13:36:54 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 7, 2018 15:46:23 GMT -8
Thanks Mr. Wett Coast. That 99.5 mile mark places my photo precisely in the sequence of other shots on my camera. It was a very quick peek-a-boo view from the train, where the hosts told us "get ready, get ready, ok now !" |
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 7, 2018 16:04:08 GMT -8
That bridge was not, however, on the original Rogers Pass alignment abandoned in 1916. It likely was abandoned ~20 years ago as part of a double-tracking project between Glacier & Revelstoke. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 7, 2018 19:29:31 GMT -8
Rocky Mountaineer scenes seen between Golden and Field, on afternoon of September 19, 2018: The Kicking Horse River was a beauty highlight of our trip, for the river, the canyon, the bridges and the tunnels.  DSC07802 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The booming rail town of Field, under the watchful eye of Mt. Stephen.  DSC07846 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr  DSC07850 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr As I post this, I am also starting my edit work on my final trip video, covering Field to Banff. There's a few "going in circles" moments inside of mountains, and more spectacular mountains, and that crossing-the-divide moment. |
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,314
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Post by Neil on Oct 7, 2018 19:53:49 GMT -8
Mike, I just want to express my appreciation for you taking the time to upload all this documentation of your trip, and your insights. I envy you... hopefully I'll do something similar some day. My Expo Line adventures, when I'm in town, don't quite measure up.  Interesting what you notice, though. On one of your earlier photos, you caught the back of the bald headed passenger in the seat in front, and I noticed a red spot on his scalp that I really hoped he would get checked out. Life teaches us awareness about different stuff. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 7, 2018 20:19:58 GMT -8
Mike, I just want to express my appreciation for you taking the time to upload all this documentation of your trip, and your insights. I envy you... hopefully I'll do something similar some day. My Expo Line adventures, when I'm in town, don't quite measure up. Thanks Neil. On the 2nd day of the train trip, one of our hosts finally asked me "So Mike, are you a foamer?" I realized that while I'm not a "foamer" for the mechanics (I'm clueless on locomotive types), I am a train keener on things like the route, the route obstacles and engineering structures (all those bridges and tunnels), and the history of all this stuff. I think that's the same when it comes to ferries. I've got no interest in bridge equipment, or the latest in car-deck door automation, but I love experiencing a route and knowing its history, and doing something unique (such as the temporary Departure Bay to Saltery Bay route). And of course I love being outside on a ferry, enjoying the air and scenery and feeling a sense of peaceful freedom. |
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 7, 2018 20:56:23 GMT -8
Thanks Neil. On the 2nd day of the train trip, one of our hosts finally asked me "So Mike, are you a foamer?" I realized that while I'm not a "foamer" for the mechanics (I'm clueless on locomotive types), I am a train keener on things like the route, the route obstacles and engineering structures (all those bridges and tunnels), and the history of all this stuff. I think that's the same when it comes to ferries. I've got no interest in bridge equipment, or the latest in car-deck door automation, but I love experiencing a route and knowing its history, and doing something unique (such as the temporary Departure Bay to Saltery Bay route). And of course I love being outside on a ferry, enjoying the air and scenery and feeling a sense of peaceful freedom. You have summed up pretty nicely where my interest is with rails & the ferry systems, Mike. PS: Now is the time to once again change your WCFF name. Go with "Are you a foamer, Mike?" |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 8, 2018 19:54:08 GMT -8
Some scenes seen from Rocky Mountaineer between Field and Lake Louise. I heard that there are some mountains and tunnels there... Making the hill climb at the slide-shed by Mt. Stephen  C0033T01 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Cathedral Mountain  DSC07863 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The view from Partridge. Morant has been there, Wett Coast has been there...  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Wapta Lake  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr The great divide, and a marker to mark it  DSC07893 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr |
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 8, 2018 20:56:22 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 8, 2018 21:18:14 GMT -8
That marker is commemorating Dr James Hector, the man who was knocked unconscious by a horse ... Thanks, good sir. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 9, 2018 20:03:18 GMT -8
Here's a couple of spiral tunnels, a continental divide, and a log-cabin styled train station:
This video has a lot of rail-nerd candy, for those who like quality CPR engineering.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 10, 2018 16:44:24 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 10, 2018 20:21:34 GMT -8
Here's my final installment in my Rocky Mountaineer trip. This has some spectacular scenery along the Bow River, and shows Morant's Curve and Storm Mountain Lookout from the tracks.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 11, 2018 17:04:55 GMT -8
The on-board experience on Rocky Mountaineer revolves around the outside scenery, the hosts' commentary and storytelling, and the food & drink. GoldLeaf and SilverLeaf are pretty much the same, except that GoldLeaf is higher-up on a bi-level coach, they have one more story-teller/host, and they have a few more food choices. But SilverLeaf was good and fine for us. Here's what the food & drink experience looked like to us: Day-1 Menu:  DSC01789 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Serving breakfast:  DSC07084 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr My breakfast:  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Snack time:  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Lunch:  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Thirst quenchers:  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Afternoon snacks and drinks:  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Day-2 menu:  20180919_065427 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Her breakfast:  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr His breakfast, with some of her french toast:  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Serving lunch:  C0031T01 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr My lunch:  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr My dessert:  DSC07833 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr My Chardonnay (or perhaps the Sauvignon Blanc):  . by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr |
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 11, 2018 19:32:29 GMT -8
So better than BCF's 'Sunshine Breakfast'?
In fairness, you are paying a pretty hefty fare so you should expect good food.
It looks like they provided just that, good food!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 11, 2018 20:06:28 GMT -8
So better than BCF's 'Sunshine Breakfast'? In fairness, you are paying a pretty hefty fare so you should expect good food. It looks like they provided just that, good food! More than a few times while on the train, I remarked that the advertising hype and my expectations were matched by what we actually experienced. It's good to get what you pay for. Regarding breakfast, I did consider that both days I was having a true "All Aboard Breakfast." |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 12, 2018 7:54:35 GMT -8
Here's a final Rocky Mountaineer video, made just for the detail-nerds who are curious about on-board announcements about meals, drinks, and how some of the rail stuff is explained to the passengers.
The video sound also illustrates what the train sounds like. There is no clickity-clack sound. There is the sound of the HVAC system, people talking, and some forks & knives on china.
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