North America By Rail » A Trip on VIA Rail’s ‘Skeena’ (Jasper, AB – Prince Rupert, BC)
A Trip on VIA Rail’s ‘Skeena’ (Jasper, AB – Prince Rupert, BC)
(Scroll down for images) – Photos of the ‘Skeena’s’ route begin at pic #29
Routes shown:
The Canadian (Toronto, ON – Edmonton, AB) -1st leg of trip The Skeena (Jasper, AB – Prince Rupert, BC) -2nd leg of trip Plus return trip on The Canadian (Vancouver, BC – Toronto, ON)
The Canadian (Toronto, ON – Edmonton, AB):
‘The Canadian’ is VIA Rail’s Western transcontinental train. For a description & pictures of the Canadian please see the page on The Canadian. VIA’s ‘Canadian’ has a traveling musician program featuring artists performing at specific times in one of the train’s several dome cars. On this trip the artists were Piper & Carson from www.pipersings.com
On this trip, we detrained from the ‘Canadian’ at Edmonton to explore Alberta before heading to Jasper to catch VIA’s ‘Skeena’ train to Prince Rupert, BC, from which we were able to explore the city & Vancouver Island.
Passengers leaving the train at Edmonton may take a taxi to stay overnight at the Super 8 Hotel in Leduc/Edmonton Airport. For passengers then wishing to explore Alberta, there is a shuttle from the hotel to Edmonton International Airport where Avis Car Rental provides rental car connections.
From Edmonton it is then a 4-1/2 hr drive to Medicine Hat, AB, where rail fans can visit a pair of restored Canadian Pacific FP7A diesel locomotives on display in Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park on River Rd S.E.
From Medicine Hat it is a 4-1/2 hr drive to Banff where persons can stay at the renowned Banff Springs Hotel with it’s beautiful mountain vistas.
From Banff it is then a 3-1/2 hr drive along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper through Banff & Jasper National Parks (which features gorgeous scenery & abundant wildlife). Travelers can turn in their rental car at Avis Car Rental in Jasper before boarding VIA Rail’s ‘Skeena’ for Prince Rupert
The Skeena (Jasper, AB – Prince Rupert, BC):
The ‘Skeena’ is VIA Rail’s train that operates over the original Grand Trunk Pacific mainline on a 2-day journey from Jasper, AB to Prince Rupert, BC, via Prince George, BC, where an overnight stop-over is made (passengers can overnight in the Travelodge Prince George Hotel which is accessible from the Prince George VIA station by taxi. Note that hotels & taxis are not included in the VIA Rail fare). The train began operation by VIA Rail in 1979 & is often referred to by it’s unofficial moniker – the ‘Rupert Rocket’.
The equipment on the ‘Skeena‘ includes ex-Canadian Pacific stainless steel coaches with large picture windows & comfortable & extremely spacious reclining seats with leg rests; & an ex-CP stainless steel ‘Park’ series dome-lounge-observation cars. The lounges of the Park cars were adorned with murals painted by the renowned Group of Seven artists depicting Canada’s National Parks. The car also features a tail end “bullet lounge” with comfortable armchairs & a fantastic scenic dome section on the upper level of the car.
In addition to the accommodations described above, VIA Rail has added a new ‘Touring’ Class of luxury service on some departures twice a week during the summer. Normally this service is hosted aboard ex-BC rail Panorama cars (with extra-large windows) which are added to the train, however service requirements sometimes force VIA to substitute these scarce cars with one of the stainless steel coaches mentioned above (which are just as comfortable). Regardless of which type of car is used, Touring class passengers are provided with delicious at-seat meals & beverages included in the fare & have exclusive access to the Park Car on those days which Touring class is offered on the train.
Current VIA Rail motive power on the ‘Skeena’ consists of 3,000 horsepower 6400-series F40PH-2 diesel locomotives built by General Motors Diesel in London, ON.
The route of the ‘Skeena’ passes some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Departing from the scenic mountain-locked resort town of Jasper, AB, the train runs along the shores of beautiful Moose Lake, then 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 Mcbride, BC with it’s elegant old Grand Trunk Pacific Station, following the upper Fraser river before arriving at the overnight stop at Prince George, BC. The next day finds the train passing along the Nechako River & beautiful Burns Lake, then on to Smithers, BC with its majestic views of Hudson Bay Mountain & Kathlyn Glacier before continuing on its way through the Coast Mountains & along the Skeena River to the Pacific Coast at Prince Rupert, BC.
For travelers wishing to continue their journey, in Prince Rupert there are taxi connections to the Highliner Plaza Hotel where a stopover can be made before continuing to the BC Ferries Inside Passage connection to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. In Port Hardy there are taxi connections to the Glenn Lyon Inn & Budget Car Rental, where you may book a car to tour the island including a visit to the Pacific Sands Beach resort in Tofino, with its beautiful beach & views of the Pacific Ocean.
If you enjoy stunningly captivating scenery, great food, superb seating accommodations & impeccable service, then you’ll enjoy a ride on VIA Rail’s train to the North BC Coast – the ‘Skeena’.
1 Toronto Union Station2 Departing Toronto Union Station on VIA’s Westbound Canadian3 Onboard VIA Rail’s train #1, the Vancouver – bound Canadian, near Downsview, ON4 By train along Lake Simcoe near Washago, ON5 Onboard the Canadian crossing the Seguin River, Parry Sound, ON6 Parry Sound, ON, VIA Rail Station7 Sudbury, ON, VIA Rail Station8 CN Class U1F steam locomotive on display at Capreol, ON9 Class F40 diesel locomotives on the point of the westbound Canadian, refueling at Capreol, ON10 Northern Ontario lake near Hornepayne, ON11 The Canadian crossing a trestle at Sioux Lookout, ON12 Entering a tunnel near Canyon Lake, ON13 Red River floodway east of Winnipeg, MB14 Winnipeg Union Station15 Human Rights Museum, Winnipeg, MB16 Folk artists Piper & Carson performed at Winnipeg station and onboard one of the train’s dome cars17 Grain elevator at Watrous, SK18 Onboard the Canadian departing Saksatoon19 Potash mine in the distance, near Unity, SK20 Wainwright, AB, VIA Rail Station21 The Canadian crossing the Battle River trestle22 Detraining at Edmonton VIA Rail Station23 Canadian Pacific FP7 class diesels on display in Medicine Hat, AB24 The Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, AB25 Room at the Banff Springs Hotel26 View from the Banff Springs hotel27 Bighorn Sheep on Icefields Parkway28 By rental car along the Icefields Parkway heading towards Jasper, AB29 CN 4-8-2 type steam locomotive on display at Jasper VIA Station30 Jasper VIA Rail Station31 Jasper VIA Rail Station32 Class F40 diesels on the point of the westbound Skeena, Jasper, AB, bound for Prince Rupert, BC33 Park series Dome Observation car on the tail end of the westbound Skeena, Jasper, AB34 Jasper, AB as seen from the train35 Onboard the westbound Skeena, meeting a CN freight, Jasper, AB36 Onboard the westbound Skeena, travelling through the Yellowhead Pass37 Entering a tunnel at Wynd, AB38 Moose Lake, BC39 The westbound Skeena travelling along Moose Lake40 Travelling through the Yellowhead Pass41 Crossing the Fraser River42 Waterfall near Redpass Junction, BC43 Mount Robson, highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, 12,972 ft44 Coach seating on VIA Rail’s Skeena45 Mural Lounge in Park car on VIA Rail’s Skeena46 Scenic dome section in Park car on VIA Rail’s Skeena47 Bullet Lounge in Park car on VIA Rail’s Skeena48 Tour bus connecting with train at Harvey, BC49 Travelling through the Rocky Mountains, Dunster, BC50 Travelling through the Rocky Mountains, Dunster, BC51 Rocky Mountains, Dunster, BC52 Travelling through the Rocky Mountains, Dunster, BC53 Robson Valley, Mcbride, BC54 CN caboose on display at Mcbride, BC55 VIA Rail station, Mcbride, BC56 View from rear of train West of Mcbride, BC57 Onboard the Skeena in the Rockies west of McBride, BC58 By train along the Fraser River59 250-metre tunnel west of McBride, BC60 Onboard the Skeena in the Rockies & along the Fraser, west of McBride, BC61 Mount Rider, 8245 ft62 Meet with a CN freight near Loos, BC63 View from rear of train crossing Hansard Bridge over the Fraser River64 Onboard the Skeena entering railway yard at Prince George, BC65 The Skeena, after arrival at Prince George, BC, for an overnight stop66 Room at Travelodge, Prince George, BC67 BC Rail GF6C electric locomotive on display at Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum68 Former CP CLC C-liner B-unit on display at Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum69 CN GE diesel on display at Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum70 Waiting room, Prince George, BC, VIA Rail station71 Prince George, BC, VIA Rail station72 VIA Rail’s Skeena at Prince George, BC73 Breakfast in Touring Class on the Skeena74 Crossing Nechako River75 Onboard the Skeena running along Fraser Lake76 Onboard the Skeena running along Fraser Lake77 Onboard the Skeena, entering the town of Endako, BC78 Lunch in Touring Class on the Skeena79 Abandoned farm house west of Endako, BC80 Sawmill west of Endako, BC81 Along the Endako River82 Onboard the Skeena along the Endako River83 Mountains west of Endako, BC84 Onboard the Skeena along Burns Lake85 Burns Lake86 Onboard the Skeena along Burns Lake87 Onboard the Skeena entering the town of Burns Lake, BC88 Class F40 diesels on the point of the Westbound Skeena at Burns Lake, BC89 Burns Lake, BC, station stop90 Park series Dome Observation car on the tail end of the Westbound Skeena at Burns Lake, BC91 Onboard the Skeena passing sawmill west of Burns Lake, BC92 Onboard the Skeena along Decker Lake93 Onboard the Skeena along Decker Lake94 Onboard the westbound Skeena east of Houston, BC95 Town of Houston, BC96 Meet with a CN ballast train near Telkwa, BC97 CN Point-Ste-Charles caboose on rear of ballast train98 Onboard the westbound Skeena near Telkwa, BC99 Onboard the westbound Skeena near Telkwa, BC100 Dinner in Touring class on the Skeena101 Boaters waving to the train near Smithers, BC102 Onboard the westbound Skeena at Smithers, BC, VIA Rail Station103 Coast Mountains west of Smithers, BC104 Onboard the Skeena departing Smithers, BC105 Hudson Bay Mountain106 Crossing a trestle in Bulkley Canyon at dusk107 Seven Sisters mountain range in the distance108 Entering a tunnel in Bulkley Canyon at dusk109 Terrace, BC, VIA Rail station110 Onboard the Skeena entering the rail yard at Prince Rupert, BC111 Onboard the Skeena passing Fairview ocean terminal at Prince Rupert, BC112 The Skeena, after arrival at Prince Rupert, BC113 Prince Rupert, BC, VIA Station & Ferry Terminal114 Waiting room, Prince Rupert, BC, VIA Station & Ferry Terminal115 View from Highliner Plaza Hotel, Prince Rupert, BC116 Boarding the BC Ferry Northern Expedition headed from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy, Vancouver Island117 Outside cabin on the Northern Expedition118 Cruising BC’s inside passage119 View from Glen Lyon Inn, Port Hardy, BC120 Canadian Forest Products 2-8-2 type steam locomotive on display at Woss, BC121 By rental car through northern Vancouver Island122 Pacific Terminus, Trans-Canada highway, Tofino, BC123 Totem Pole, Tofino, BC124 Room at Pacific Sands Hotel, Tofino, BC125 View from Pacific Sands Hotel, Tofino, BC126 Pacific Sands Hotel, Tofino, BC127 Beach, Pacific Sands Hotel, Tofino, BC128 On the ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver, passing other ferry returning to Nanaimo129 Downtown Vancouver130 Pacific Central Station, Vancouver, BC131 Park Series dome observation car on the tail end of the Eastbound Canadian at Pacific Central Station132 Onboard the eastbound Canadian, approaching Agassiz, BC133 Former CP station at Agassiz, BC134 Onboard the eastbound Canadian, passing through the Fraser River Canyon near Yale, BC135 Hell’s Gate Canyon, narrowest & fastest flowing part of the Fraser River136 Eastbound Canadian crossing the Fraser River & passing under the CN line at Cisco, BC137 Onboard the eastbound Canadian thundering through Yellowhead Pass, BC138 Class F40 diesel locomotives on the point of the eastbound Canadian139 Dome car window wash, Jasper, AB140 Passing herd of Elk east of Jasper, AB141 VIA Rails eastbound Canadian roaring through the Rockies near Henry House, AB142 Meet between east & westbound Canadian’s at Henry House, AB143 Passing Black Bear rubbing against a tree east of Henry House, AB144 Roche Miette145 Rockies near Devona, AB146 Through the Rockies in the Dome Car147 Meet with a CN freight at Devona, AB148 Passing baby Eagle in nest near Devona, AB149 Onboard the Canadian, rolling along the Athabasca River near Park Gate, AB150 Park car on the end of the eastbound Canadian at Capreol, ON
