Agawa Canyon Tour Train?

R

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Mar 22, 2006
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I'll turn 50 in less than two years :eek::confused::eek: and my wife recently suggested that, to celebrate this, she and I should take a fall trip on the Agawa Canyon Train. Fall is my favourite season and my birthday's in the fall, so what better way to spend it than on a train up north!

We've been thinking of doing for several years, but it's always a matter of not enough time and money.

So, as I ponder this, I thought I'd check to see if any other Gauge folks have been on this train before and what they thought of it.

Thanks!

Rob
 
I took this train when I was about 6...

I just remember a long train of silver passenger cars, 4-5 geeps up front, lots of waterfalls, and a canyon that seemed endlessly deep...

But those are memories of a 6-year-old!

Kevin
 
Take two trips in Northern Ontario. Take the VIA train from Sudbury to White River - a 3-day trip in two Budd cars. Cost is about $100 return plus hotels plus meals. You can move up into the cab of the Budd car and get a bird's eye view of the track, the scenery, the meets. A railfan's dream come true.

Then take the bus (or car) to the Soo and do the Agawa Canyon Tour. Fall colours, beautiful Northern Ontario scenery all the way.

I highly recommend it.
 
nachoman said:
I took this train when I was about 6...
I just remember a long train of silver passenger cars, 4-5 geeps up front, lots of waterfalls, and a canyon that seemed endlessly deep...
But those are memories of a 6-year-old!
Kevin
Click to expand...

Thanks, sounds good and your description seems to match that of the website. But when you're 6, everything seems big! Cheers, Rob
 
railwaybob said:
Take two trips in Northern Ontario. Take the VIA train from Sudbury to White River - a 3-day trip in two Budd cars. Cost is about $100 return plus hotels plus meals. You can move up into the cab of the Budd car and get a bird's eye view of the track, the scenery, the meets. A railfan's dream come true.
Then take the bus (or car) to the Soo and do the Agawa Canyon Tour. Fall colours, beautiful Northern Ontario scenery all the way.
I highly recommend it.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Bob -- you're really convincing me to go! Maybe we should go this year instead? Both trips sound great. Rob
 
Rob: we went many years ago and enjoyed it. All the train stuff has changed since then, but the scenery is still the same.
The schedule shows a 2-hour layover in Canyon. Not quite long enough, but what can you do?
There's another train they run -- all the way to Hearst. That's a full day trip, and another day to come back.
 
60103 said:
Rob: we went many years ago and enjoyed it. All the train stuff has changed since then, but the scenery is still the same.
The schedule shows a 2-hour layover in Canyon. Not quite long enough, but what can you do?
There's another train they run -- all the way to Hearst. That's a full day trip, and another day to come back.
Click to expand...

Thanks, David. BTW, how long is the actual Agawa trip? Guess I could look this up as well! ... It appears that it takes a day to get there from The Soo and basically a day to return. It also seems as if they use CN power (see Agawa Canyon Tour Trains - Algoma Central Railway) Rob
 
Rob: Algoma Central is now a CN property.
The latest Trackside Guide (I picked up my copy on Thursday) shows the tour train leaving the Soo at 0800 and arriving Canyon at 1145. Return trip at 1345, arriving Soo 1730. This all the same day.
The Hearst trip is the one that will take 2 days.
 
60103 said:
Rob: Algoma Central is now a CN property.
The latest Trackside Guide (I picked up my copy on Thursday) shows the tour train leaving the Soo at 0800 and arriving Canyon at 1145. Return trip at 1345, arriving Soo 1730. This all the same day.
The Hearst trip is the one that will take 2 days.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this is helpful. Thanks for clarifying the trip. Maybe I'll get a Trackside Guide soon! Rob
 
Well, we're looking into this a bit more. Seems like it's only $85 per person to travel from The Soo to the Canyon and back again the same day. I just received several brochures in the mail.

We're now looking into accommodation and I realize that all the usual hotel chains, etc. are at The Soo. Just curious as to where other folks stayed, what they recommend, and (especially) if there are any good Bed & Breakfasts there. My wife & I often prefer B&Bs over hotel chains.

Thanks!

Rob
 
We stayed at an interesting campground north of SSM, on the Trans-Canada, just past where it crosses the AC tracks. Not sure if it's still there.
I think there was a hotel just beside the loading point, but this was back around 1980.
 
Rob Ontario, I went on the canyon tour back in 88 It was a very cool trip, want to go back again and do the trip that goes to Hearst and back. will scan some photos of the train parked at the park in the canyon like was already mentioned it is a very scenic trip lots of water falls and lakes and a cool flag stop station building part way to the park.:wave::thumb::cool:
 
CSXect said:
Rob Ontario, I went on the canyon tour back in 88 It was a very cool trip, want to go back again and do the trip that goes to Hearst and back. will scan some photos of the train parked at the park in the canyon like was already mentioned it is a very scenic trip lots of water falls and lakes and a cool flag stop station building part way to the park.:wave::thumb::cool:
Click to expand...

Thanks, this sounds great! I look forward to those pics. Right now, we're thinking of just taking the trip to the Canyon & back as that doesn't cost a lot and you can fit it in for one day. Sounds like an awesome area to explore. Cheers, Rob
 
here are the pics
 

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Thanks!! Nice colour scheme on those diesels -- reminds me a little of CP's 1950s scheme, which is one of my favourites. I think the railroad has since been bought by CN and so they now mainly run CN freight locos on the tour. I look forward to going next year -- if you're going to turn 50, you might as well have fun and rides trains! Thanks again, Rob
 
Unfortunately you won't see any engines in AC paint anymore. The AC was absorbed by the Wisconsin Central in 1995, and all their engines became WC engines. Now CN owns the WC and by extension the AC. I was up in 2004 and mostly saw CN engines (including a GMD1 doing yard duties). A WC SD45 made a showing on the freight train from the US.

There's a Quality Inn directly across the street from the station, I think there was a second one almost beside it as well. A Holiday Inn is also nearby the station and shopping mall.

There's also a shortline railroad, the Huron Central, which runs between Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury, over the former CPR branch line. It's one freight/day each direction but I don't know the schedule.
 
Thanks for the updated info, knew the CN had aquired them but did not know the livery was gone:nope: The most awsome part is when the train crosses the high bridge that is on top of a big dam:shock: especialy when you are at the front or the last car you can see the whole train as it goes thru the curved bridge.:cool:
 
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