Canadian Train Number 1

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Now on the Canadian 1 train to Vancouver, stopping over at Jasper. Sitting in our big seats getting ready for 3 nights on the train, it's 10pm at night and we are in Toronto Union Station. We're excited but tired at the same time. Three night trying to sleep on the train and only 9 stops and then we are off.

Quite a daunting trip, but is said to be one of the best railway journeys of all times.

Well it's now 3:30am, train still going along. Would not say it is going to be the best night sleep, or in fact best three nights sleep I'm going to have in my life. So glad I have brought my own pillow.

With no WiFi on-board it means it's going to be a long trip, which is good as getting away from the Internet for a while will cleanse the mind.

Okay it's now been 27 hours on board the train, we've found the sky view carriage, perfect view for viewing out of the windows and to the sky.

Since we've been able to view out of the window this morning, about 7am, the view has been, trees, snow, frozen lakes, trees, snow, lakes, more trees and still more trees. Don't get me wrong it is very beautiful, but I can be reading my book and every time I look up it's the same view.

Enjoyed a meal in the dinning carriage, quite nice and not too expensive. CN $15.

Just passed a sign saying 750 miles to Toronto an it has been some 20 hours since we left Toronto. Still not even half way. They laid on two videos, I watched part of Star Dust just to pass the time away.

Another night to sleep on the train, I did find out that we are stopping at Winnipeg for 4 hours giving us time to visit a market or take a trip on the tour bus. That'll be at 8am tomorrow morning, so off to sleep now, nite.

Arrived at Winnipeg at 6am, everyone stayed on which confused me greatly. At 8am an announcement, welcome to Winnipeg.

We got off the train, after having a shower, and wondered around Winnipeg for a while, with the temperature being around -17c it was pretty cold.

Back in the train again. The landscape has changed, more like open fields dotted with trees. Each time else cross a rail road crossing, the road just goes in on straight line as far as the eye can see. The sun is low in the sky, and the train is at full speed once again. Next stop Jasper tomorrow, after changing the clocks another hour backwards.

For the first two day my GPS has not been working, and since leaving Winnipeg it has come back to life, why is that?

I've finally worked out why we keep stopping for all the goods trains, two reasons,

1) they are just so long, 100 carriages, and they just would fit in the sidings

2) they are earning so much money than us, and for them to stop moving would cost them a whole lot more.

Arriving in to Edmonton on Friday morning at 6:30am, the city just shone as a bright orange ball in the distance due to its size.

With only 6 hours left on the train, and what is, so I have read and been told the most spectular views on the whole trip, entering the Canadian Rockies. So I'm making sure I'm going to be full awake and ready for all to be seen.

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