2014 marks twenty-five years of travel from Stettler to Big Valley for Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions. Pictured is the company’s 1920 Baldwin No. 41 steam engine, which is 62 feet long and weighs 244,000 pounds.
Visitors from around the world make their way to Alberta to experience a memorable piece of the prairie’s past.
Alberta Prairie Railway excursions celebrates twenty-five years in business this year, and has also been working to support the Big Valley 100th anniversary celebrations over the August long weekend.
General Manager Bob Willis said the company will be taking part in Saturday’s Centennial parade.
They will be hosting a breakfast on Sunday, have made a financial donation to the centennial, and are co-sponsoring the Sunday performances of wild west shows by The Guns of the Golden West.
Alberta Prairie Railway provides visitors to the area with a rail trip experience from Stettler to Big Valley and return, using one of the company’s genuine, restored steam or diesel locomotives that date from the days when the railways were the main movers of goods and people across Canada.
The engines they use include a 1920 Baldwin steam engine and a 1944 Montreal steam locomotive.
Willis said there is one train a day because the trips, which include a meal and entertainment, usually last five to six hours.
He said the rail excursions draw both local visitors and visitors from around the world.
