Rail Travel and Tours
All aboard! Whether you are commuting, sightseeing or simply a train buff, riding the rails in Victoria and on Vancouver Island is steeped in history and adventure. Since 1884, when coal baron Robert Dunsmuir began construction of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway (E & N), travelling by train has maintained a sense of romance reminiscent of the era. As you settle into your seat, a conductor punches your ticket and the whistle blows. The wheels begin to turn, clambering on the tracks below, as you pull away from the station and toward adventure.
On Vancouver Island, rail travel is still available on the E & N Railway between Victoria and Courtenay.
From Victoria, wind your way over the Malahat Mountains, pass through a tunnel bored out of the rock of the mountain, cross two 300-foot-high trestles and experience spectacular mountain, water and forest views. On a clear day, you can see majestic Mount Baker in Washington State. Viewing wildlife along the way is also a possibility.
Victoria and Vancouver Island are also home to model railway enthusiasts. Put on your striped engineer’s cap and overalls and ride a live steam train or admire intricate dioramas at the Island’s largest model railway show. The history of the railway on the Island and in Canada is reflected as miniature trains move through realistic scenery, complete with cities, farms and people.
Please see the Tourism Victoria member businesses offering Rail Travel and Tours. For a complete listing of all Tourism Victoria businesses, please visit our Business Directory.
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