ALBERTA PRAIRIE CONTINUES TO EXCITE AFTER TWENTY-NINE YEARS
Badge of Awesome Communities invites you to share your favourite things to see and do in cool destinations around the world. We caught up with the folks from Alberta Prairie Railway — one of our featured attractions from the Calgary, Alberta area — to learn about what they have to offer.
What makes Alberta Prairie Railway awesome?
Alberta Prairie Railway: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be travelling by train and have your journey abruptly halted by mounted gunmen? Well that is exactly what is likely to happen if you motor out from Calgary or Edmonton and board Alberta Prairie’s excursion train at Stettler.
Round-trip excursions are on board a vintage train, powered by a 1920 steam locomotive or second generation diesel-electric locomotive from the 1950s. Passengers experience the scenery, history, wildlife of the Prairies. All trips depart from Stettler and travel to Big Valley, a village of some 350 people, 35.6 Km (21.4 mi) south. Tours vary in length from 5-6 hours and include professional on-board entertainment, live on-going commentary on-route, a rural Alberta community unchanged from the 1920s, train robbery and an Alberta roast beef or other buffet style community hall meal.
Trains include a children’s play area, concession and bar areas, open-air observation coach, and various styles of enclosed passenger coaches with opening windows. Both the train and destination community are handicap accessible.
In 2017, total ridership on board Alberta Prairie trains topped 28,234 guests. Included in this number were guests from 31 countries other than Canada. Within Canada visitors were from every province and territory.
International visitors represent slightly more that 10 per cent of all the visitors to the train at Stettler. The most of these came the United States (53 different parties), England (40), Germany and The Netherlands (16 each) and Australia (13 parties). The most unusual places from around the world that Alberta Prairie guests can from in 2017 were Jordon, Greece, Nicaragua, and Lithuania.
Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions started back in 1990 as little more than an idea and has grown to become one of Alberta and Canada’s top tourist attractions. For last 29 years people from all over the world, across Canada, and around Alberta have come to Stettler to board the train for a unique Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions experience. When asked what continues to draw the people General Manager Bob Willis said, “I really don’t know but it could be that we are having so much fun that our guests can’t help but have a great time.”
Sunday, September 11, 2011, Alberta Prairie Railway marked the tenth anniversary of the 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York City by a minute of silence and a sustained whistle on No. 41 steam-locomotive.
At precisely 11 a.m. Sunday passengers on board Alberta Prairie’s excursion train were asked to doff their hats and to join the staff and crew in silence to remember those who died in the 9-11 attack. Following the minute of silence, slowly, over the next minute, the sound of steam-locomotive No. 41’s whistle began to build to a full crescendo. The train and its 386 passengers then departed for Sunday’s excursion to Big Valley and return.
Location: 47 Ave and 47 St in Stettler. Admission: For a typical Country Dinner (A) Excursions – Adults $110, Youths $75, Children $45.00, 3 & under free. Fares do vary depending on what is being offered on any given day. Call for rates on specials event and APST Limited excursions. Phone: (403) 742-2811. Fax: (403) 742-2844. E-mail: info@absteamtrain.com. Web site: http://www.absteamtrain.com