Rocky Mountaineer

Organisation of Rocky Mountaineer is very efficient. The train wasn't full so I was able to spread my self out over both sides of the carriage and Ieuan had a seat to himself as well. How lucky was that. Although we were travelling 3 rd class we were very well looked after. The food on the 1st day was cold buffet but was all very tasty. We had endless non alcoholic drinks and snacks. Our crew man was very good at telling us the history or geology of the places were passing and he had radio links with the driver who passed on information when wild life was spotted up ahead. We were able to get cameras ready but as we were about 15 carriages back, sometimes the wildlife had disappeared before we reached it. Got one photo of a bear coming out of the water though. May need to blow it up a bit! The 1st part of the journey just getting out of Vancouver took nearly 2 hours. The passenger train always has to wait for freight trains to go first and as the track is single line apart from passing places, we got held up on a number of occasions. Our maximum speed seemed to be about 35mph as well. There was also a number of spectacular viewing sights where the train slowed to almost nothing as each carriage had the opportunity to take photos. Unfortunately the route that the train track took was also the route for the electricity posts and lines so most shots have got lines through them. There was also the trees. Ok if the camera worked in time to get the photo between trees. Several photos have had to be deleted due to fuzzy trees in the foreground. Due to several delays when freight trains had to pass - some as long as 150 carriages - we arrived in Kamloops nearly 2 hours late. By this time we had met some Australian girls and another Aus lady travelling on her own so we had a meal in the hotel with them. 6.30 start again on day 2.a tired bleary-eyed group of people met once again on board the bus to take us to the train. The hotel that we 3rd class people were in was by the river on the outskirts of the town but it had the best view of all the places we have stayed in so far. Chan, our carriage host met us with a cheery smile as we boarded to start day 2. We had a number of different nationalities on board. There were 4 Indian men in front of us who were all business partners on a travelling trip. Unfortunately they did not have headphones for their music which droned on for long parts of the journey added to which they often decoded to sing-along as well. Further back there was a number of Australians. One couple with their 14 year old son were from Perth. The son must have been bored to tears. There was a few Germans, someone from Scotland and even a few Canadians. Conversations were limited to who you happened to be standing next to on the outdoor viewing platforms. Day 1 had been about rivers, trees and lakes. Day was only slightly different in that there was now more mountains and a few waterfalls. We were promised some more wildlife and a few bears were spotted - one in the distance coming out of the river. Managed to get a photo of him. We were told that there would likely be more wildlife once we reached the Banff National Park but we had so many delays with line repairs, red lights to allow freight through and a stop for a part to be replaced on one of the engines, that it was running 4 hours late and therefore dark by the time we did the last part of our journey. We were lucky as we're staying in Banff? Those going on to Calgary had to get off in Banff and then travel by coach to Calgary. They would not have reached their hotels before the early hours of the morning. We at least got to Heidi's B&B by 11- tired and wobbly after being on a train for 2 days. This trip had been recommended by so many people but I think our experience was marred by the number of unfortunate delays. Heidi's B&B is OK! We have got a tiny kitchen, tiny shower room and not much bigger bedroom - it takes the bed which is walled in at top and left hand side and half of the bottom. The other side has room for a small bedside cabinet .