Topic:  “Seeing Canada by Train”

John Senn introduced Dr. Hugh Gayler, our club member, who filled in as guest speaker. Hugh, who retired from Brock University in the field of urban planning in 2010, is an avid rail travel enthusiast and offered a PowerPoint presentation of his trans-Canada rail journey.

Hugh pointed out that the Canadian Pacific Railway was the first to complete a route from Toronto to Vancouver in 1885 followed by Canadian National Railway in 1914.

He said that VIA Rail took over passenger rail transport in 1977. The Rocky Mountaineer, which caters to the tourist industry and runs between Vancouver and Banff, began operation in 1990.

Hugh said that there has never been a true trans- Hugh Gayler describes his continental rail journey across Canada by rail. service in Canada as the eastern part of the country is served by separate rail lines.

Talking about his own experience travelling from Vancouver to Toronto, a trip which started on a Tuesday and ended on Saturday, Hugh provided pictures of scenery along the way. He pointed out that, because the train travels at night, you see different mountain ranges depending which direction you are going. He said the trip can vary depending on the time of year and the weather.