Departure was carded for 0830, but no train was in sight until 0835 when the consist backed into the station. We had 4069 on the point, power car Shalalth, three 'Hudson' coaches, concession car Horseshoe Bay, and open car Mount Garibaldi. This was a little more than we expected, and everyone climbed aboard, many heading immediately to the open car which quickly filled on this warm sunny morning. We were on our way with two blasts of the horns at 0850, and headed the familiar route through West Vancouver and along Howe Sound to Squamish. The ride was delightful, but it was the train that caught this writer's fancy.

I hadn't ridden on our open car since its restoration, and here we had it'not only on the train (as it is on the regular train now five days a week), and not only on a perfectly matched consist headed by the FP7A, but on the tail end of a train headed by the FP7A'where it can really be appreciated. The sights, the sounds, the track disappearing behind us'everything was perfect!

We paused briefly at Squamish, then headed towards Whistler. This was the part I had been waiting for, as we left the valley behind and started the 2.5% climb. Our single unit was hauling six passenger cars, but that didn't seem a problem as she handily lugged up the hill at less than full throttle, and several times started the train on the hill without difficulty. A highlight was an added photo runby at the Cheakamus Canyon bridge (see photo, page 20). All went well until McGuire'we were behind time due the late departure and runby, but tracking along well. Here we met a southbound freight and were then delayed over 30 minutes as the switch and signal would not clear. The passengers were definitely getting restless. Finally on our way again, we arrived into Whistler at 1335 (as opposed to the published 1200). Three charter coaches were there to take us to town'our departure time was set back to 1530.

With only 1 1/2 hours of actual time in Whistler, most were rushed to get lunch and have a few minutes to see the village, but we were back on time for 1530 at the buses only to be informed that the train was now delayed as it hadn't been turned yet. The operations plan had been to turn the entire train, however, to avoid switching in North Vancouver they had brought the extra cars by just splitting the regular consist at the open car. Now the train was too long for the new wye at Wedge. Finally, they decided to turn just the locomotive and the train pulled into Whistler station for us at 1615. (See photo below)

We departed at 1625 for North Vancouver, and the trip back was an absolute delight as the engineer rolled her steadily along. Downhill, but now the open car was right behind the engine and the full sounds could be enjoyed. Into Squamish, we rolled at track speed on the straightaway near 50 mph, the speed and wind that went with it creating recollections of the Dominion in years past as the air horns sounded their warnings for the crossings. We rolled right through Squamish, had one rolling meet with a freight at Brunswick, and continued right to North Vancouver, arriving 2000k. Although late by about an hour, not a complaint was heard from any of the passengers. A great day of railroading with the incredible scenery of the west coast mountains, accompanied by perfect weather and a classic consist. What more could one ask?