Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions
A Major Alberta Attraction - Great For The Whole Family
"Country Dinner" (A) Excursion
The following is a outline of what
passengers usually experience during these typical diesel and steam-powered regular scheduled excursions.
Please be assured that all aspects of the trip will be
carefully supervised and will be of the highest standard possible.
12:30
p.m. - Passengers arrive and train available for boarding
1:00 p.m. - Train departs Stettler station
- Passengers will be served by a full complement of Alberta Prairie hosts, hostesses and train operating crew.
- Typically the train features two concession and souvenir areas, open air observation car, children's play area, two beverage service areas, a special coach designated and decorated as the Lone Star Saloon. This special Saloon coach usually, but not always, features continuous live entertain.
- On-board public address system keeps passengers abreast of features along route, history of the area and things to see and do at destinations.
- Gabriel Dumont, Métis buffalo hunter and hero of the Riel Rebellion will move about the train greeting and meeting passengers.
- During your journey, we pass through some of the best farm lands in Alberta rich with various kinds of animals, birds and plant life. Sightings of deer and coyotes are common.
- On route points of interest include the Fenn-Big Valley oilfields, Fenn General Store, Warden Jct. rail yards and locomotive shelter, and Caprona siding.
- Passengers will be encouraged to wander, visit and re-discover the sights, sounds and smells of turn-of-the-century train travel.
- Somewhere on route the train may be stopped by the notorious Bolton Gang. This group of heavily armed horsemen have a habit of robbing trains, extracting loose change from passengers and taking hostages. It is Gabriel Dumont's job to try and protect Alberta Prairie's patrons.
- Musician/singers will move about the train entertaining and Gabriel Dumont, if requested, will tell the story of the buffalo hunt and the rebellion.
2:35 p.m. - Train arrives at Big Valley
- Passengers are met by the good people of Big Valley and encouraged to explore Big Valley and visit its many interesting attractions.
- During your stop at this typical rural Alberta town, passengers will have a chance to visit a fully restored 1912 Canadian Northern Railway station which also doubles as the community's museum, historic St. Edmund's church (the blue church on the hill), Jimmy Jock Boardwalk (an old time Western town within a town) the railway roundhouse interpretive centre and wander through this community's shops and stores as they meet the people of Big Valley.
3:30 p.m. - Depart Big Valley bound for Stettler
- Entertainment in the coaches and in the Lone Star Saloon continues as passengers relax and enjoy evening among the beautiful rolling hills of this part of Alberta.
4:55 p.m. - Train arrives in Stettler and stops at Agricultural Grounds
- Follow a short walk to the Stettler Agriplex building, passengers are treated to a full home cooked country meal including roast hip of beef, vegetables, salads, baked potatoes, dinner rolls, dessert and beverages.
- After supper passengers have the choice of waiting until everyone has re-boarded the train or make the short three block walk back to their cars at the Stettler station.
6:30 p.m. - Train arrives at Stettler station
