Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions
A Major Alberta Attraction - Great For The Whole Family
"APST Limited" (C) Excursions
APST Limited Special excursions are the result of passenger requests for an excursion that combined live theatre with all of the elements of a typical Country Dinner excursion. These trips combine all of the most popular events and entertainment that Alberta Prairie offers throughout the season and are the only excursions on which a train robbery is almost a certainty. Most Limits are pulled by a steam-powered locomotive and include live theatre, buffet meal with a choice of beef, chicken, or shrimp scampi, complementary wine, on board entertainment, one complementary drink ticket and preferred seating. Alberta Prairie is delighted to have the outstanding Calgary theatre company Shadow Productions produce and present an original musical comedy for our "Limited" excursions. These specials have proven to be very popular with our clients.
This year's performance is "Cheated
Hearts"
is an original work written, produced and performed by Shadow Productions.
It’s
set in the late 1960s, when a third-rate country star (who never really was)
finds a little detour on his concert itinerary. He arrives in this hall to find
a local band (the Hill Billies) as back up, and to discover a past he didn’t
know he had.
It includes some Johnny Cash, Hank Williams & Patsy Cline music with a couple of novelty & gospel pieces added in for good measure.
2:00 p.m. - Passengers arrive and train available for boarding
2:30 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.
A company of professional actors out of Calgary are hired to present the live theatre performance at the Big Valley Hall. As trains pulls out of Stettler, these actors begin to introduce themselves and set up a scenario.
- 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.
4:05 p.m. - Train arrives at Big Valley
- Passengers are met by the good people of Big Valley and are directed to community hall for supper and the play.
The performance of an original work written specially for audiences here at Alberta Prairie, takes place immediately following supper. These plays are generally great fun with lots of music, comedy and plenty of audience interaction. The action takes place on a raised stage at one end of the hall.
- Menu consists of a full home cooked country meal including roast hip of beef, chicken, shrimp scampi, vegetables, salads, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, dessert and beverages.
- Following supper and the conclusion of the performance at the hall, passengers are encouraged to explore Big Valley and visit its many interesting attractions.
- During your stop at this typical rural Alberta town, passengers will have approximately one hour 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.
7:00 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.
- On-board public address system keeps passengers abreast of features along route, history of the area and things to see and do at destinations.
8:25 p.m. - Train arrives at Stettler station
