Saturday, May 13 - The day starts at BC Rail’s North Vancouver station around 0730 for check in, followed by a tour of the North Vancouver steam shop where Royal Hudson #2860 and 2-8-0 #3716 are maintained and kept steaming. Following the tour, we board our chartered Budd car and head for Squamish at 0900. A couple of photo stops are planned along the way at Horseshoe Bay and Furry Creek (we don’t usually charter on this section), with arrival at Squamish station planned for 1230. Walk across to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park for lunch, tour and a free afternoon and evening in the delightful commumty.

Sunday, May 14 - We travel from Squamish to Williams Lake, running ahead of the regular Caribou Prospector train with time again for photo stops along the way at some of the scenic highlights on this fabulous stretch of railway.

Monday, May 15 - On to Prince George, as we depart Williams Lake in the morning, stop at Quesnel for a visit to the excellent Quesnel District Museum and continue to an early afternoon arrival in the Central British Columbia city. Lunch and the afternoon is spent at the Prince George Railway Museum, then a free evening in the city.

Tuesday, May 16 - Into the Back Country - we head north from Prince George and into the wilderness, with some options ahead. Just how "back country" do you want to get? Logging camp bunkhouse or small town experience? Arriving at Fort St. James at 1115, we will now head out the Takla sub into the wilderness with overnight planned for the Lovell area in the logging camp bunkhouse. These are the only accommodations available here, offering a working and basic accommodation experience in the backwoods environment (imagine a logging camp dinner). Those who wish something a little more traditional can stay at Fort St. James and enjoy the small town with a special tour of the historic Hudson Bay Company Fort on Stuart Lake. This is back country wilderness at its best, with wildlife and adventure far away from civilization.

Wednesday, May 17 - Departing Lovell, our Budd car makes its way back to Fort St. James and those who stayed here rejoin us, then its off to Tumbler Ridge as our next destination. We travel through Odell Junction and out the electrified coal line to the "instant town" that was built specifically for the northeast coal project. This is another new community for us to overnight in, a beautiful and modern small town nestled in the mountains.

Thursday, May 18 - The town of Tumbler Ridge will put on a special program to start our day, then we depart around 1000 and head for Dawson Creek. This is a day of fabulous mountains as we descend from Tumbler then head up over Pine Pass. A stop is made at Chetwynd to service our train, then we head over to grain country and the Mile 0 community at the start of the Alaska Highway.

Friday, May 19 - Our morning is in Dawson Creek, with visits to the Mile 0 marker, the excellent museum in the former Northern Alberta Railway depot, and the art gallery in the old grain elevator. Truly a morning to remember before we "hit the rails" again, and head for Fort St. John with several great photo stops along the way.

Saturday, May 20 - Back to Prince George, as we head south now from Fort St. John over across the Peace River, through Chetwynd, over Pine Pass and on to Prince George. Once again, there are photo stops at special points along the way and scenery that is spectacular and changing all the way.

Sunday, May 21 - We join with the Cariboo Prospector and head for North Vancouver, our return from the Back Country is complete.

This is a unique variation of our northern itinerary that allows us to visit and overnight in some new communities, especially out the Takla Sub towards Dease Lake. The schedule allows for lots of stops along the way, and anticipates great wildlife viewing as is common for springtime in the north. This tour, as with all our tours, includes all transfers and transportation, overnights off the train each night, and most meals. It is offered in only one version, rail all the way, and is an excellent way to visit some places you have never been before. All Aboard!!!