The Train is Ready and Raring to Roll ......April 16th, 2018

This was truly an exciting day for everyone at our hotel because this morning, our group was boarding our motor coach for the 10 minute ride to the train at Vancouver Station. Little did we know there would be such a celebration awaiting us at the station because this was the first journey into the Canadian Rockies for 2018 (and the 29th anniversary for the Rocky Mountaineer) doing this.  The station had a bit of a look and feel of New Years Eve.

Having never done anything like this, we were not aware of the traditions that evolved over the years. The company had just about every employee on hand for this 2018 inaugural. The employees all lined the tracks with their umbrellas (a cool steady rain) to wave to all the passengers as we left the station. One sense you pick up on is simply how happy all of the employees at Rocky Mountaineer are. Our coach for day 1 was absolutely incredible. All the seats were on the upper deck of the coach and the downstairs was for dining only.

Each coach is rather self contained with restrooms, kitchen, chefs, bar, etc. We were hardly rolling down the rails and it was time for our group to go downstairs for breakfast. The dining room was set up as booths for 4 and the menus had plenty of choices. Eggs Benedict was a no brainer for me. After Breakfast we headed back up stairs where the scenery started changing from city to farmland to mountains and rivers. Every turn on the train has something new to reveal. We were headed to Kamloops today and would travel 285 miles to get there. While the train ride lasted 10 hours, it honestly felt like 2 or 3 hours. It seems like the food, snacks, drinks, etc. just keep coming. It was fun to go outside between the train cars for pictures, etc.