Alberta Prairie Railway

BOU AVENUE
Alberta Prairie Railway

On 5 October 2019, Zosia Zgolak treated Grace Bou, Teresa Kosmala and me to a tour on the Alberta Prairie Railway which runs from the town of Stettler to Big Valley and back. We started the day with a leisurely drive which included a lengthy stop in the town of Rosebud followed by a brief one in Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park. Arriving at the station in Stettler, we were greeted by some interesting costumed characters before boarding the train for the 1.5-hour ride to Big Valley. During the ride, we had an opportunity to wander throughout the train to check out the various cars including one with open air windows to allow unobstructed views of the countryside and one with a bar (the whole train is licensed for liquor consumption) and live entertainment. Just before reaching Big Valley, the train was stopped by a band of robbers on horseback who collected money from all the passengers (given voluntarily with proceeds going to a charity). The robbers were eventually chased off by train staff after a fierce gun battle, and the train resumed its progress to Big Valley.

At Big Valley, we disembarked and proceeded to a nearby dining hall where we enjoyed a buffet-style turkey dinner. With our stomachs full, we then rode a carriage which took us on a short tour of the town including a fascinating stop at a historic blue-painted church. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to visit some of the other quaint points of interest in Big Valley before we had to get back on board our train for the return trip to Stettler. Although there was no train robbery on the way back, we were thoroughly entertained in our car by a singing and guitar-playing cowboy.

Arriving safely in Stettler, we disembarked the train for good and settled in for a long but uneventful drive back to Calgary.

	Grace, Sonny and Teresa relax on a bench outside Rosebud Opera House. Photo courtesy of Grace Bou
	Sonny and Teresa are greeted by one of the friendly denizens of Rosebud. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	At Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, Sonny, Grace and Teresa stand on the west bank of Red Deer River. Photo courtesy of Grace Bou
	Sonny, Teresa and Grace are greeted by the train conductor at the station in Stettler. Photo courtesy of Grace Bou
	Sonny and Grace are ready to have their train tickets punched. Photo courtesy of Grace Bou
	Teresa and Zosia enjoy watching the prairies roll by from a train car with open air windows.
	While listening to some live music in the bar car, Sonny and Teresa enjoy some refreshing beverages. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Train robbers collect money from passengers. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	One of the train robbers is shot dead while trying to get away. Photo courtesy of Grace Bou
	In a dining hall in Big Valley, Grace and Zosia enjoy a delicious turkey dinner. Photo courtesy of Grace Bou
	Grace, Sonny and Teresa visit historic St. Edmund's Church in Big Valley. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia finds a snowman sitting in a vintage car at McAlister Motors Garage.
	On the way back to Stettler, Teresa feels a cool breeze as she sticks her head out the train's window. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	A singing cowboy performs right behind Teresa. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak