Alberta tourist railroads you must visit include adventurous excursions, a historic village in Calgary, and everything in between. From the Tourist Trains Guidebook, here are the tourist railroads, museums, and historic sites you must visit across this Canadian province.
Alberta Tourist Railroads and Museums
Calgary
Heritage Park Historical Village – 1900 Heritage Drive SW, Calgary
With the Rocky Mountains serving as the backdrop, Heritage Park recreates village life in the Canadian West at the turn of the 20th Century. On the railroad side is a roundhouse that’s home to about 30 pieces of equipment. The nearby station serves as a boarding location for steam-powered train rides around the campus.
Canadian Rockies
VIA Jasper-Prince Rupert Route – 607 Connaught Drive, Jasper
Of all the services VIA Rail Canada provides, the route between Jasper, Alberta, and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, is one of the most scenic on the western side of the country. This 2-day trip traverses 725 miles of the Rocky Mountains from Jasper National Park to the Pacific coast. An overnight stay is included in Prince George, B.C. Visit VIA’s website for the current schedule.
Central Prairies
Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions – 4611-47 Street, Stettler
This railroad was once part of the Canadian Northern Railway, hauling wheat as the primary commodity. Today, the railroad preserves the history of the grain business with steam- and diesel-powered excursions. The train passes through forests and fields before arriving in Big Valley, where the ruins of a roundhouse and a restored depot are located. Along the way, passengers will enjoy a buffet meal, live entrainment, and possibly a train robbery (don’t worry – it’s for charity!) while on board.
Historic Plains
Aspen Crossing – 1Km W # 24 Mossleigh
Sometimes you don’t need dramatic, rugged terrain to showcase the railroad’s importance in the history books. On the Aspen Crossing, the excursion train takes you on a 28-mile, 3-hour round trip through the prairie while passing by historic grain elevators. This is where the lore of railroading and agriculture is presented along the journey. These excursions usually operate the regular excursion, while the railroad also includes themed train rides year-round.
Other Alberta railroad sites to consider
During your visit to Alberta, consider also visiting these railroad sites:
- Alberta Railway Museum – Edmonton
- Edmonton Radial Railway – Edmonton
- Fort Edmonton Park – Edmonton
- Galt Historic Railway Park – Stirling
- Royal Canadian Pacific – Calgary
Learn more about tourist railroads in North America.
