24 March

After a good night’s sleep (though I had to arise once and visit down the corridor, rather than lift the bed) I was up before 6, had a shower, dressed and then went up to the observation car. About 6, the sun had not yet risen (we’re travelling east, so time is going backward for us) but there were still three other people up there.
The ride through the night was very smooth. In the observation car it’s not quite so smooth, but I need to ask whether we have welded rail and wooden sleepers.
Breakfast went smoothly and leisurely, from 6:30 to 7:30, and then it was up to the observation car. Breakfast was spent with a woman from London, Ontario, returning home after helping her daughter with the birth of her second child (on Vancouver Island). The crowd had already gathered in the observation car and there was a good view of … snow! We had passed through Blue River during breakfast and are scheduled to leave Jasper at 12:30 and then start lunch. A relaxing life in first class on the train.
Morning was spent chatting to others and then we arrived at Jasper. This was a chance to get off and have a walk around, and many of the passengers departed the train here. Jasper is a snow town and is a protected area, but I didn’t see the local wildlife wandering the streets. One interesting thing was I saw a location map within the station and the “you are here” indicator was in two different positions. There is a picture of it. I also got some postcards and stamps, so there will be some written material sent home from Canada. There will also have to be a parcel as I collecting a few things – but it won’t be anywhere near the size of the ones from the U.S.
Back on the train it was time for lunch only a few minutes after we left. Here I sat with the lady returning form Vancouver Island and a new couple, returning from Jasper to Winnipeg.
After a slow lunch (I got revved on by the catering staff) it was time to leave. I asked the supervisor about the track (welded) and the sleepers (a mixture of concrete and wood) and bearing wear (didn’t know). Then it was off to the observation car. We had seen bighorn sheep during lunch but I hadn’t been quick enough with the camera. We sat on a siding waiting for the west-bound version of the Canadian (#1) to pass by.
The train consists of two locomotives, a baggage car, two cars of seating (coach or situps), a café, games, and observation car, the dining car, three sleeper cars and the first-class lounge and observation car. There are two attendants for the sleepers, three other attendants (lounge, café and situps) and four working in the dining car. Each sleeper car has a shower, toilet and different sleeping accommodation (some of which have included toilets, but not all). The situp cars have toilets but no showers.
In the afternoon the time passed gently and it was a case of watching the scenery and snoozing. We did have some drama, where a young Japanese tourist had got off the train at a stop and missed catching it before it left. When the staff at the station realised, they put him in a taxi and sent him ahead. At the station they sent him to, the west-bound train came in first and so he caught that and was headed back to Vancouver (from whence he had come).
Evening was a leisurely affair with Gerard and Maree from Toronto. After tea we sat and chatted and I showed them some pictures of Australia and sights I had seen in the US. By 9:45 all headed off to bed and I went slowly to sleep as the world rolled by.