Alberta Prairie Railway

Alberta Prairie runs excursions out of Stettler over surviving branch line through grain country, usually hauled by a 1920 Baldwin steam locomotive, with vintage coaches and a meal at the destination town. The trips lean into theatre: costumed staff, live music in the cars, and a staged robbery in which riders on horseback intercept the train and board it, which is corny and which children remember for years. The line runs to Big Valley, a town whose railway history includes a roundhouse ruin and a blue church on the hill. Special trips run through the year, including autumn colour and Christmas services.

History

The excursion railway began running in 1990 between Stettler and Big Valley. Its star is No. 41, a 2-8-0 steam locomotive built by Baldwin in 1920, sometimes joined by the Canadian National 4-8-2 No. 6060; on other days diesels take the trains. Until the end of the 1999 season it also ran the 97 kilometres to Coronation, a line since abandoned (Wikipedia, Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions).

What's there

• The 1920 steam locomotive - a Baldwin engine hauling the excursion.
• The staged robbery - riders on horseback boarding the moving train.
• Big Valley - the destination town with roundhouse ruins and a hilltop church.
• The prairie branch line - grain elevators and open country from the coach window.

When to go

May to October for the main season, with themed trips through the year; Christmas services sell out early. Trips take most of a day including the meal stop.

Things to know

Tickets must be booked and popular dates sell out. The trip is slow and long, several hours in total. Steam operation depends on the locomotive being serviceable; diesel substitutes on some dates.

Nearby

Stettler is the base; Drumheller lies south.