May 25, 2007 | Tips from Us >
Kamloops, Historic & Heritage Sites
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The Armstrong Explorer runs from just outside of Kamloops at Campbell Creek to Armstrong in the north Okanagan. This 9 hour trip travels through some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen. Old bridges, a tunnel, along Monte lake, farm land, lots of wildlife and you can see it all from open air cars! The heritage train is pulled by a 1912 steam locomotive # 2141 called the Spirit of Kamloops. A group of volunteers spent over 80,000 hours restoring it to like-new condition. They use old VIA coaches painted in the CN passenger colours. everyone has a seat reserved inside with washrooms and a giftshop and then is allowed to visit the open air cars. Some people ride the entire trip there!
Free non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, fruit, etc. along the way and lunch is on your own for 2 hours in Armstrong. The train pulls up right downtown and everyone fans out to have lunch, sightsee and shop.
There is a high level of service onboard and many volunteers who can give an insight into the restoration project and railroading in general.
Highly recommended and it sold out all trips for the past two years so you need to book well in advance. They operate 4 trips in the spring and 4 in the fall.