Village Squire, 1976-06, Page 22The famous Polar Bear Express, running from Cochrane to Moosonee on James Bay is one of
North america's last great adventure train rides.
Going by train...getting there is half the fun
BY CLAUDE LEMIEUX
A train trip may not be as fast as a plane, as convenient as a
car or as economical as a bus, but for sheer romance it can't
be topped.
Whether you travel in a streamlined coach swept along by
an almost soundless diesel, or chub behind a huffing and
puffing steam locomotive, there is an . indescribable aura
about a train journey that sets it apart.
Train excursions are available this summer in most
Canadian provinces, some by diesel, others by steam
locomotive. Two of the most interesting diesel train trips'head
north. One goes to Churchill on Hudson Bay in Manitoba, the
other to Moosonee, near James Bay in Ontario. The former is
a six-day trip, with accommodation on board, the latter a
same -day -return excursion.
Three popular steam excursions aboard old-style coaches
are the North Vancouver-Squamish excursion behind a giant
Royal Hudson locomotive; a tour of the coal -mining district
around Glace Bay, Nova Scotia; and the scenic ride to
Wakefield, Quebec from Ottawa.
20, VILLAGE SQUIRE/JUNE 1976
THE EXPLORERS' TOUR
The six-day Winnipeg -Churchill Explorers' Tour is a
complete vacation package, but the city of Winnipeg has so
much to offer some "explorer" may want to linger following
their visit to the sub -Arctic.
CN, the Canadian National Railway, promises to pamper
the traveller during this unique vacation..
The excursion train leaves Winnipeg every Sunday
'afternoon from June 27 to Sept 12. Package price ranges
from $369 to 5431 per person.
Regular CN accommodations, from upper berth to drawing
room, are offered on the train and tour fare includes all meals
on and off the train, cafe -lounge car privileges, sightseeing
trips, hotel room at Flin Flon and gratuities.
The tour starts late Sunday afternoon. The first overnight
ride goes to Thompson, a modern city that stands on what,
only 15 years ago, was forest atop the fabulous ore deposit
now mined by the International Nickel Company of Canada.
The train reaches Churchill on Hudson Bay Tuesday
morning. A tour bus will take you to see the historic port, and