One group that benefitted from the creation of Amtrak was the Alaska Railroad and its passengers. Amtrak didn’t buy much equipment from the Union Pacific, so UP sold many of its cars to the Alaska Railroad for use on its … Continue reading
The front of this brochure advertises the Jasper-routed Canadian. Unusually for this series of brochures, the back is divided into three panels advertising the Skeena to Prince Rupert (with an overnight stay in Prince George aimed at allowing passengers to … Continue reading
Here’s another VIA brochure that is not laid out in a panel format. It is focused on Eastern trains, but apparently that mainly meant the Ocean from Montreal to Halifax. Except for the Chaleur, most of VIA’s other eastern trains … Continue reading
Like the Alaska Railroad, many Canadian trains will–on advance notice–stop anywhere, not just at designated stations. This brochure advertises that the trains will carry bicycles, skis, and canoes and drop people off in an “area that may be so isolated … Continue reading
Unfolded to 16″-by-22″, one side of this brochure has fourteen color photos of Jasper, the Rockies, the Fraser River, and Vancouver, plus a small simplified map of the VIA system. The other side has detailed maps and an along-the-way guide … Continue reading
For $75 in 1983 (about $185 in today’s money), two people could stay at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel, enjoy the hotel’s “world famous farm breakfast” (no longer available), and have a rental car for a day in scenic Hood … Continue reading
In 1982, Amtrak still offered a rail pass, but the price had gone up from $165 for 14 days and $275 for 30 days in 1976 to $350 for 14 days and $440 for 30 in 1982. Moreover, this See … Continue reading
This brochure describes four-, seven-, nine-, and fourteen-day tours to Alaska. The tours use a combination of jet, ferry, and bus travel plus one goes on the White Pass & Yukon and another on the Alaska Railroad. None of the … Continue reading
In 1980, $82 (double occupancy; almost $250 in today’s money) would buy you a ride on the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles or San Francisco (via bus to Oakland) to San Luis Obispo, an afternoon tour of Mission San Luis … Continue reading
Although this brochure prominently mentions Amtrak, and advises potential customers to “See Amtrak or your travel agent,” the tour was actually organized by a private company called Grand National Tours. Notice that the cover illustration shows the Great Northern Empire … Continue reading
