C8 - Sunday, September 9, 1984 - North Shore News

OKANAGAN Ex-
press train with its
tail-end observation
platform serves up
the British Columbia
countryside with an
Orient Express at-
mosphere inside.
This fall’s trip will
be just in time for
the Vernon wine fes-
tival.

> a
Pacific !
Jan. 25-Feb. 19/85 :
i anagan
OKANAGAN Express train — a collection of
~ 1920s and 30s vintage coaches pulled by modern
— diesels — is heading for the Okanagan again this
year. This time the train will be part of events at the
fall Okanagan Wine Festival at Vernon, B.C.
In fact, for those
Mary Leevers Careers in Travel when leaves Vancouver Oc.
26 fascinating days We can open the door to tober 5, the festival begins
visiting Australia and the exciting world of travel once the train 1s underway.
All inclusive price: DAY & EVENING COURSES The Express travels to Ver-
$3 995.00 in non via Kamloops, Westwold
_ TRAVEL COUNSELLING and Armstrong, arriving
Renshaw TOUR ESCORTING around 7:30 p.m. to
. SALES & MARKETING discharge a good portion of
Travel Service COMPUTER TERMINAL its passengers before pro-
Suite ne treTewer ‘ TRAVEL ceeding to Kelowna for the
TOO West Georgia Street “TRAINING CENTRE night.
Vancouver, B.C. V7Y 168 Ste 2-1583 Pemberton Ave On October 6 a three-to-
(664) 669-2016 North Vancouver 986-2221 four-hour excursion out of
Vernon is planned with lunch
aboard the train, and the
train again spends the night
at Kelowna before leaving for
the coast the next day.
This is the third outing for
the train owned by the Na-

Suite 210
om
2)

986-6222 Liteive

925-1212

PRIME TRAVEL

1760 Marine Orive. West Van

“xpress ric

tional Railway Historical
Society’s Vancouver chapter.
Special excursions between
Vancouver and Penticton
took place during the past
two Victoria Day weekends.
The fall trip has been
organized by Mission Hill

Vineyards and Pacific
Western Airlines.
The train is a kind of

second-cousin to British Col-
umbia Railway’s Royal Hud-
son. While the latter features
relatively modern coaches
pulled by a reconstructed
steam engine, the Okanagan
express coaches have been
refurbished to resemble their
original condition. By leasing
modern diésels the NRHS
members have cut the horren-
dous costs of maintaining a
steam engine but have
preserved a nostalgic appeal
in the coaches.

Styled with Europe’s fam-
ed Orient Express in mind,
the NRHS train boasts
natural wood interiors, brass
lamps, silver and damask
linen dinner service and a
brass rail tail-end observation
car complete with
nickelodeon.

But the train is not solely
for the nostalgia lover As

Hollyburn Plaza

Member of NITA

every rail traveller knows, a
train seat is one of the best
vantage points for seeing the
country at a leisurely pace.
Here you are away from the
traffic snarls, have freedom
of movement, and are at eye-
level with rivers, forests and
meadowlands.

With opening windows at
every seat, passengers aboard
the Okanagan Express have
no trouble enjoying and
recording British Columbia’s
magnificent secenery.

Yet while the Royal Hud-
son’s summer schedule bet-
ween North Vancouver and
Squamish up the coast is
established as a major tourist
attraction.

But Terry Fergusson, an
NRHS member and Express
promoter, says the society's
train is On its way to becom-
ing an major tourism and
promotional vehicle. He says
the first two excursions show-
ed there was a market for a
first-class vintage train trip in
Western Canada.

**We had no trouble at all
attracting people from as far
away as Europe — with
limited advertising — or sell-
ing off the first-class sec-
tions,’’ says Fergusson.
**Also the day trips for local
people sold out.”’

Liquor service aboard the
last trip was catered by Mis-
sion Hill Vineyards as a test
run to determine how suc-

" Photo submitted

S again

cessful a fall trip might be
The October trip is also dub-
bed the Mission Hill
Okanagan Wine Festival Ex-
press because of the involve-
ment of this major Okanaga
wine and cider producer.
This is why the wine festival
begins as soon as the train
leaves Canadian National’s
Vancouver station.

Whether it’s a nostalgic
event, a non-stop party or
simply a great way to see the
land, passengers on previous
trips agreed it was an event
not to be missed. Some called
it the trip of a lifetime.

The cost of a special train
excursion is significant and
this is reflected in the $400
return club class ticket. With
144-seat capacity, club class
has dining car service, the
tail-end observation platform
and nickelodeon, lounge area
and entertainment, while the
140-seat coach section has
buffet meal service with
entertainment for $265
return.

Travellers have the option
of a one-way) flight) on
P.W.A. with one-way club
ticket for $325 or one-way
coach for $240. Club and
coach tickets for the secon
dary Kelowna- Vernon.
Kelowna excursion are $50
and $35 respectively, with the

See page C9

HORST KOEHLER
TRAVEL SERVICES INC.
AND DAVID SKILLAN
Present an Evening in
Kenya & South Africa

Jom us for an informative evening on these

fascinating Oestinations

(This Presseriter lier: well
TOE)

cover taghhiygnts of gue Tour bab

5 Maar

ROBSON SQUARE MEDIA CENTRE
Mon., Sept. 10, 1984 7:30 p.m.

Admission $2.50 p.p.
Refreshments will be served

for more information call

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683-7771