DAY-11 Rocky Mountaineer: Jasper to Kamloops

Day-11: Sunday, September 13, 2015

Starting Location: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, AB
Interim Location: En-route aboard the Rocky Mountaineer

Ending Location: Sandman Signature Hotel, Kamloops, BC

We were up before 6 AM and ready to go by 7, today we would have breakfast on the train. After much concern over timing of bag collection and people collection from the night before, everything worked as planned; the bags were collected at 7 and we were all in the hotel lobby before our driver arrived at 7:30. This morning there were many people hanging out in the lobby area much like ourselves ready for the Rocky Mountaineer train experience.




Our driver delivered us and our bags to the Jasper station by 7:45 and soon thereafter our train passed through the station toward a switching track from which it was backed into the station for easy passenger access. Around 8 AM the Station Manager and the Train Manager or in airline terms Purser welcomed us to the Rocky Mountaineer and conducted the ceremonial blowing of the train whistle followed by the crowd yelling "All Aboard".

By 8:10 we were aboard and seated in what may have been the best seats in the house. Our assigned seats in Dome Car J-03 were #1-8 which we assumed would be at the front of the car but not so, they were the very last seats on the train so for us we not only had side and overhead views we had the rear way view as well. Our car also had an outside deck situated on the entry and dining level beneath our seating compartment.

For our car of about 70 people we have four train attendants and a supervisor so the passenger to staff ratio is somewhat better than on an airplane, well actually a lot better, as these folks actually seem to appreciate their customers.

We departed on time, rolling away from the Jasper Station at 0816 for what is advertised as a 9-10 hour ride to Kamloops, British Columbia.

Simply put, the Gold Leaf Service of the Rocky Mountaineer is about as good as it gets. The rail car is well appointed with upper deck dome seating for all and a lower deck private dining area serviced by a small galley run by 2-3 chefs preparing meals to order.

Around 8:30 AM our group moved to the dining area for breakfast, drinks to order and a menu of 6 selections including fruit, omelets, eggs Benedict, pancakes and did I mention the BACON! One of our car hostesses, Lisa caught the hint about bacon and served up a special order of BACON. While dining the view through the extra large windows is stunning. As for the pancakes, they might have actually served maple syrup.

After breakfast we returned to the upper deck or often the open deck and watched the scenery stream by. There were mountains, water falls, canyons, rivers and wildlife as well. The upper deck staff led by Miguel and Hayley were forever providing hot towels, hot and cold drinks and snacks whenever desired. The train crew was alert to special vistas and animal sightings and often let us know from the front cars of the train what to expect as our last car passed.

Around 1:30 it was time for lunch, where we were offered soups and a variety of entrees including fish, pork loin, beef short ribs and a vegetarian dish of some sort. In addition to the food this service provides "unlimited refills" not of just water, coffee and soda but wines, beers and cocktails of choice.

During the latter part of the day we passed from the mountains to the valleys and onto the high plains where ranching and farming are prevalent. The scenery had changed but the grandeur was still all around us.

We arrived into Kamloops, BC at about 4 PM (a record run according to our host Miguel) and were given our hotel room keys before we disembarked. We were escorted to a bus for a 2-minute bus ride to our hotel, the Sandman Signature Hotel adjacent to the station (we could have walked the distance in two minutes it was so close). As advertised our bags were in our rooms having been driven by truck/van from Jasper to the hotel while we were on the train. With keys in hand and bags having already been delivered we didn't even need to stop at the desk for check-in. The Sandman exceeded our expectations as we had been told that the accommodations would be "adequate"; I'll take that "adequate" any night.

As it was Sunday, football games were on our agenda. We went into the Shark Sports Bar adjacent to hotel for the U.S. Open tennis finals and football. As for Sheila and I it was an important Fantasy Football night but we were ready. We didn't eat much, but did have several drinks until returning to our rooms for the final minutes of the Cowboys vs. Giants game and the Jason Witten reception for the game winning TD (and possibly the wining points for my Fantasy Football team).

As we had shifted an hour from Jasper it seemed like sleep came early but accounting for the shift it was not much different than nights before.