(Scroll down for images and videos)
Note: The images & videos shown on this page are a composite of both the westbound and eastbound trips and are shown in geographical order.
The Canadian
Inaugurated on April 24, 1955, the ‘Canadian’ was a revolution in Canadian train travel. It was the first stainless-steel stream liner in Canada to be equipped with high-level scenic dome cars. The ‘Canadian‘ originally ran on the transcontinental route of the Canadian Pacific (CP). In 1978 VIA Rail assumed operation of the ‘Canadian’ & in 1990 amid massive cuts to service, shifted the train’s route from CP to that of it’s former rival – CN’s ‘Super Continental’.
The equipment on the ‘Canadian‘ was state-of-the-art: 173 stainless steel cars were ordered from the Budd Company of Philadelphia and included baggage-dormitories, leg-rest coaches, dining room cars, ‘Skyline’-series dome-coffee shop-coaches, ‘Chateau’ & ‘Manor’ series sleeping cars with berths, bedrooms, roomettes, compartments & drawing rooms, and finally the ‘Park’ series dome-sleeper-lounge-observation cars. The lounges of the Park cars were adorned with large murals, some by members of Canada’s renowned Group of Seven artists, depicting the National & Provincial parks the cars were named after, making the Canadian a veritable art gallery on wheels. The decision to go with stainless steel was a sound one as the cars remain in service with VIA today in top-notch condition.
In addition to the accommodations described above, VIA Rail has added a new ‘Prestige’ Class of luxury accommodation & service consisting of rooms that are 50% larger than a standard bedroom.
Current VIA Rail motive power on the ‘Canadian’ consists of 3,000 horsepower 6400-series F40PH-2 diesel locomotives built by General Motors Diesel in London, ON.
Today’s route of the ‘Canadian’ passes some of the most captivating scenery in the world, running from the sprawling metropolis of Toronto, ON, past the mining town of Sudbury & the rocks, lakes, rivers & muskeg of Northern Ontario, crossing the Red river in Winnipeg, MB over the vast prairies & through the beautiful Qu’Appelle river valley on its way to Saskatoon, SK & Edmonton, AB, into the spectacular front range of the Rockies at Jasper National Park, through the pretty mountain resort town of Jasper, over the continental divide through the famed Yellowhead pass with views of Mount Robson, highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 12,972 ft, on to Kamloops & following the Fraser river canyon to the Pacific coast at Vancouver, BC.
As an added bonus VIA allows stopovers, enabling one to leave the train for a few days at Jasper to explore Jasper & Banff national parks before returning to Jasper to catch the train to Vancouver, where opportunity for a further stopover enables travelers to explore the city and Vancouver Island.
For passengers wishing to visit Jasper & Banff National Parks, Avis Car Rental provides rental car connections across the street from the VIA station in Jasper, AB. Passengers may stay overnight at the Astoria Hotel in Jasper. It is then approximately a 3-1/2hr drive along the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise through Jasper & Banff National Parks (which features mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, spectacular waterfalls and abundant wildlife including bears, elk, deer and bighorn sheep) and after visiting the Parks, persons can stay at the Best Western in Radium Hot Springs about 3 hours south of Lake Louise. From Radium it is approximately a 1-1/2hr drive to Cranbrook, BC where one can view an impressive collection of vintage rolling stock and locomotives at the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel. From Cranbrook it is approximately a 3 hour drive to Banff where persons can stay at the renowned Banff Springs hotel with it’s beautiful mountain vistas before the return trip to Jasper.
Also, for passengers wishing to explore the city of Vancouver & Vancouver Island, Hertz Car Rental provides rental car connections at VIA’s Pacific Central Station in Vancouver. Vancouver’s Stanley Park offers abundant sightseeing opportunities with views of totem poles, the waterfront, the Lion’s Gate Bridge, and enormous trees. From Vancouver it is approximately a 1 hour drive to the BC Ferries Tsawassen Terminal in Delta, BC which provides ferry connections to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. From the Swartz Bay Terminal it is then approximately a 4-1/2hr drive to Tofino where accommodations are available at the Pacific Sands Beach resort in Tofino, with its beautiful private beach and views of the Pacific Ocean.
If you enjoy spectacular scenery, fantastic dining, superb accommodations & impeccable service, then you’ll enjoy a ride on VIA Rail’s premier train – the ‘Canadian’.
- TORONTO UNION STATION
- TORONTO UNION STATION GREAT HALL
- FIRST CLASS LOUNGE FOR SLEEPING CAR PASSENGERS AT TORONTO UNION STATION
- THE CANADIAN VIA TRAIN NUMBER 1 DEPARTING FOR VANCOUVER & ALL POINTS WEST
- LEAVING TORONTO ON THE CANADIAN
- BULLET LOUNGE IN PRESTIGE PARK CAR
- MURAL LOUNGE AND BAR IN PRESTIGE PARK CAR
- SCENIC DOME SECTION IN PRESTIGE PARK CAR
- PRESTIGE CLASS BEDROOM DAY SETUP
- PRESTIGE CLASS BEDROOM NIGHT SETUP
- DINING CAR
- COFFEE SHOP IN SKYLINE DOME CAR
- LOUNGE IN SKYLINE DOME CAR
- SCENIC DOME SECTION IN SKYLINE DOME CAR
- ROOMETTE IN CHATEAU CLASS SLEEPING CAR
- UPPER BERTH IN MANOR CLASS SLEEPING CAR NIGHT SETUP
- LOWER BERTH IN MANOR CLASS SLEEPING CAR DAY SETUP
- DOUBLE BEDROOM IN MANOR CLASS SLEEPING CAR DAY SETUP
- COACH CAR
- IN THE PARK CAR DOME ON VIA’S CANADIAN WEST OF PARRY SOUND ON
- THE CANADIAN WEST OF PARRY SOUND ON
- VIEW FROM REAR OF PARK CAR WEST OF PARRY SOUND ON
- BREAKFAST MENU ON THE CANADIAN
- THE TRANSCONTINENTAL EGGS BACON HASHBROWNS AND TOAST
- A FALCON POKES ITS HEAD OUT FROM THE NEST
- EAST OF CAPREOL ON
- CN BULLET NOSE BETTY CLASS U1F STEAM LOCOMOTIVE ON DISPLAY AT CAPREOL ON
- CLASS F40 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES ON POINT OF THE CANADIAN RE FUELING AT CAPREOL ON
- CAPREOL ONTARIO VIA STATION
- REFLECTIONS OF NORTHERN ONTARIO
- MEET WITH A CN FREIGHT EAST OF FOLEYET ON
- MODERN VIA STATION AND STEAM ERA COALING TOWER AT FOLEYET ON
- CROSSING A TRESTLE EAST OF FLINDT LANDING ON
- FLINDT LANDING ON
- NORTHERN ONTARIO SCENERY EAST OF SIOUX LOOKOUT ON
- THE CANADIAN PULLING INTO SIOUX LOOKOUT
- PRESTIGE PARK CAR LAURENTIDE PARK ON THE TAIL END OF THE CANADIAN SIOUX LOOKOUT ON
- F40S ON THE CANADIAN BEING FUELED AT THE SIOUX LOOKOUT VIA STATION
- MEET BETWEEN EAST & WESTBOUND CANADIANS AT CANYON ON
- MEET BETWEEN EAST & WESTBOUND CANADIANS AT CANYON ON
- APPROACHING A TUNNEL WEST OF CANYON ON
- TUNNEL WEST OF CANYON ON
- NORTHERN ONTARIO SCENERY WEST OF CANYON ON
- THE CANADIAN ROARS THROUGH A CUT WEST OF CANYON ON
- BOATERS WAVING TO THE TRAIN
- ONE LONG TRAIN REDDITT ON
- MINAKI ONTARIO VIA STATION
- CROSSING THE RED RIVER FLOODWAY WEST OF ELMA MANITOBA
- ENTERING DOWNTOWN WINNIPEG
- WINNIPEG NOCTURNE WITH TRAIN NUMBER 1
- WINNIPEG UNION STATION MAIN HALL
- WINNIPEG UNION STATION
- MEET WITH A CN FREIGHT NEAR MELVILLE SK
- CUTARM POTASH MINE
- ELK IN WATERING HOLE
- VIA STATION AT SASKATOON SK
- THE CANADIAN RE FUELING AT SASKATOON
- LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE RAILROAD AND CANADIAN WEST
- THE CANADIAN WEST OF SASKATOON SK
- PRAIRIE GRAIN ELEVATOR
- THE CANADIAN ROUNDS A BEND EAST OF MANITOU LAKE SK
- MANITOU LAKE SK
- OIL WELLS EAST OF WAINWRIGHT ALBERTA
- WAINWRIGHT AB VIA STATION
- ON THE CANADIAN CROSSING THE BATTLE RIVER WEST OF WAINWRIGHT AB
- ON THE CANADIAN CROSSING THE BATTLE RIVER WEST OF WAINWRIGHT AB
- SPEED CHECK ON THE CANADIAN
- ABANDONED FARMHOUSES EAST OF EDMONTON AB
- DINNER MENU ON THE CANADIAN
- RACK OF LAMB SERVED WITH AU JUS POTATOES AND VEGETABLES
- APPROACHING EDMONTON AB
- VIA STATION AT EDMONTON AB
- CROSSING A TRESTLE NEAR ENTWISTLE ALBERTA IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ROCKIES
- WABAMUN LAKE ALBERTA
- SWAN LANDING AB
- REAR OF OUR TRAIN PASSING SWAN LANDING
- APPROACHING THE TUNNEL AT DISASTER POINT AB
- ROLLING ALONG THE ATHABASCA RIVER WITH ROCHE A PERDRIX IN THE BACKGROUND
- THE CANADIAN APPROACHING JASPER NATIONAL PARK AT ENTRANCE AB
- THE CANADIAN ROLLING ALONG THE ATHABASCA RIVER NEAR PARK GATE AB
- ROCHE A PERDRIX
- PARK GATE AB
- PARK GATE AB
- THROUGH THE ROCKIES IN THE DOME CAR
- ATHABASCA RIVER
- THE CANADIAN ROARING THROUGH THE ROCKIES JASPER NATIONAL PARK AB
- ROCHE MIETTE
- THE CANADIAN CROSSING A FILL IN JASPER LAKE
- DEVONA AB
- CROSSING THE SNARING RIVER AT HENRY HOUSE AB
- THE CANADIAN AT HENRY HOUSE AB
- ATHABASCA RIVER VALLEY
- ROLLING THROUGH THE ROCKIES NEAR ENGLISH AB
- THE CANADIAN ROLLS THROUGH A CUT AT ENGLISH AB
- ATHABASCA RIVER VALLEY EAST OF JASPER AB
- ATHABASCA RIVER VALLEY EAST OF JASPER AB
- THE CANADIAN AT JASPER EAST AB
- THE CANADIAN AFTER ARRIVAL AT JASPER ALBERTA
- ASTORIA HOTEL IN JASPER AB AFTER AN OVERNIGHT STAY
- JASPER AB HERITAGE RAILWAY STATION
- CN MOUNTAIN TYPE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE CLASS U1A ON DISPLAY AT JASPER AB
- TOTEM POLE AT JASPER RAILWAY STATION
- ALONG THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY BY RENTAL CAR SOUTH OF JASPER AB
- SERVICE STOP ON ICEFIELDS PARKWAY NEAR ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE AB
- WATERFOWL LAKE AB
- LAKE LOUISE AB HERITAGE RAILWAY STATION
- DINING AT THE CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
- THE CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
- VIEW FROM THE CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
- CP CLASS FP9A ON DISPLAY IN CRANBROOK BC ONE OF THE ORIGINAL LOCOMOTIVES WHICH ONCE PULLED THE CANADIAN
- CP CLASS FPA2 ON DISPLAY IN CRANBROOK BC ONE OF THE ORIGINAL LOCOMOTIVES WHICH ONCE PULLED THE CANADIAN
- TEEPEES NEAR RADIUM HOT SPRINGS BC
- BANFF HERITAGE RAILWAY STATION
- HEADING TO THE BANFF SPRINGS HOTEL FOR AN OVERNIGHT STAY IN BANFF AB
- MODEL TRAIN ON DISPLAY AT THE CP STORE IN THE BANFF SPRINGS HOTEL
- WILLIAM CORNELIUS VAN HORNE FIRST MANAGER OF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RWY STATUE AT BANFF SPRINGS HOTEL
- VIEW FROM THE BANFF SPRINGS HOTEL
- THE TOWN OF BANFF AB
- CASTLE MOUNTAIN NEAR BANFF AB
- THE JASPER PARK LODGE
- CABINS AT THE JASPER PARK LODGE
- THE CANADIAN ARRIVING IN JASPER
- DOME CAR WINDOW WASH AT JASPER
- BOARDING THE TRAIN AT JASPER AB
- BACK ON THE CANADIAN IN A DOUBLE BEDROOM
- PASSING THROUGH THE ROCKIES NEAR WYND AB
- THE CANADIAN APPROACHING A TUNNEL NEAR WYND AB
- ENTERING A TUNNEL NEAR WYND AB
- THE CANADIAN EAST OF FITZWILLIAM BC
- MEET WITH A CN FREIGHT AT FITZWILLIAM BC
- MOUNT FITZWILLIAM
- THE CANADIAN CROSSING A TRESTLE EAST OF MOOSE LAKE BC
- BY RAIL ALONG MOOSE LAKE
- MOOSE LAKE BC
- THE CANADIAN RUNNING ALONG MOOSE LAKE
- WEST OF MOOSE LAKE BC
- WEST OF MOOSE LAKE BC
- ALONG THE HEADWATERS OF THE FRASER RIVER
- MT ROBSON PROVINCIAL PARK
- MT ROBSON PROVINCIAL PARK
- MT ROBSON PROVINCIAL PARK
- THE CANADIAN PASSING MT ROBSON
- MT ROBSON HIGHEST PEAK IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 12972 FT
- MT ROBSON HIGHEST PEAK IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 12972 FT
- THE ROBSON VALLEY
- EXITING A TUNNEL WEST OF MT ROBSON
- ROLLING ALONG EAST OF REDPASS JUNCTION
- EAST OF REDPASS JUNCTION
- EAST OF REDPASS JUNCTION
- REDPASS JUNCTION BC
- VALEMOUNT BC
- PASSING A FREIGHT WEST OF VALEMOUNT BC
- ALBREDA BC
- THE CANADIAN AT ALBREDA BC
- ALBREDA BC
- PYRAMID FALLS 300 FEET HIGH
- THE NORTH THOMPSON RIVER
- BLUE RIVER BC
- MEET WITH A CN FREIGHT AT BLUE RIVER BC
- WEST OF BLUE RIVER
- EAST OF CLEARWATER BC
- EAST OF CLEARWATER BC
- EAST OF CLEARWATER BC
- ALONG THE NORTH THOMPSON RIVER
- THE CANADIAN ROLLS ALONG THE NORTH THOMPSON RIVER
- LUMBER MILL ALONG THE NORTH THOMPSON RIVER
- SPARSE VEGETATION ALONG THE NORTH THOMPSON RIVER
- DEER GRAZING IN THE DISTANCE
- EAST OF KAMLOOPS IN THE PANORAMA CAR WHICH WAS ADDED TO THE TRAIN AT EDMONTON
- HORSES EAST OF KAMLOOPS
- DESERT TERRAIN EAST OF KAMLOOPS
- THE CANADIAN ROLLING ALONG THE NORTH THOMPSON EAST OF KAMLOOPS
- A TASTY WAY TO CELEBRATE CANADAS 150TH
- KAMLOOPS BC AT SUNSET
- THE CANADIAN CROSSING THE FRASER RIVER INTO VANCOUVER
- CROSSING THE FRASER RIVER
- THE CANADIAN APPROACHING DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER
- WEST COAST EXPRESS COMMUTER TRAIN AT VANCOUVER STATION
- THE CANADIAN STANDS AT VANCOUVER AFTER BACKING INTO THE STATION
- VANCOUVER PACIFIC CENTRAL STATION MAIN HALL
- VANCOUVER PACIFIC CENTRAL STATION
- ART IN THE CITY
- CP STEAM LOCOMOTIVE NUMBER 374 WHICH PULLED THE FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN INTO VANCOUVER IN 1886
- VANCOUVER SKYLINE AS SEEN FROM STANLEY PARK BY RENTAL CAR
- LIGHTHOUSE IN STANLEY PARK
- LIONS GATE BRIDGE VANCOUVER
- HOLLOW TREE IN STANLEY PARK
- FERRY SERVICE TO AND FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND
- PASSING BC FERRY TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION
- APPROACHING VANCOUVER ISLAND
- TOTEM POLE AT MALAHAT SUMMIT
- MALAHAT MOUNTAIN RANGE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND
- VANCOUVER ISLAND DRIVE WEST OF PARKSVILLE BC
- VANCOUVER ISLAND DRIVE EAST OF UCLUELET
- VANCOUVER ISLAND DRIVE EAST OF UCLUELET
- BLACK BEAR EAST OF TOFINO
- PALM TREE IN TOFINO BC
- STAYING AT THE PACIFIC SANDS BEACH RESORT IN TOFINO BC
- PRIVATE BEACH ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN AT THE PACIFIC SANDS BEACH RESORT
- END OF THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY TOFINO BC