When I lived in Canada (Toronto) in the 1990s I took Via Rail across Canada in the winter and it was so incredibly memorable. I remember seeing the Aurora Borealis and the beauty of the country. If I hadn't already been in love with Canada, that train trip would've done it. Thank you for bringing back so many happy memories for me with this one.
Would love to know if there is any specifics in planning that allowed you to see the Aurora Borealis? That would be part of my goal in planning a trip like this. It sounds amazing!
I'm a New Zealander but my wife is Canadian Born (Nova Scotia) We're visiting Canada in August/September to see relatives. She is not a train buff but I am and I'm booked in the Canadian to Vancouver while she flies. Your video has helped convince me to do it. And actually I have travelled on the longest in the world. The Trans-Siberian from Vladivostok to Moscow in 2005. I did it in two sections first to Irkutsk (3 days) to visit lake Baikal, then to Moscow (4 more days) Not luxurious at all but great fun. Apart from Putin Russians are fun loving even if there's a language barrier. One day it'll all come right for Russia and that journey is spectacular especially in the East.
I've dreamed of the transsiberian train for decades, including a layover to explore Irkukst and Lake Baikal. Here's hoping for peace ✌️ in the world. Till then, the Canadian rail looks like an interesting alternative.
I'm an engineer for CN rail and I run trains on the tracks between Wainwright, AB to Saskatoon, SK plus Saskatoon to Melville, SK. I recognized every b-roll spot you had in that part of this video, Saskatchewan is actually really beautiful, I agree!
I work for Virtual Railfan and we have a camera in Revelstoke, I can't wait till we get more locations in Canada! If you ever come by, wave at the camera mounted at the Revelstoke Railway Museum (make sure you let a Moderator in the chat area know you are there)!
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As a British Columbian who has driven coast to coast I find Saskatchewan scenery pretty boring (I know some people like prairies, just not my bag). Guess I'm not much for prairies. There is so much beauty across this country, but I think the Rockies beats everything. I always know once I hit the Rockies when I've been away that I am close to home. I live on Vancouver Island which has incredible natural beauty.
Gotta love VIA Rail! I'm German as well and I just had my first ride ever with them yesterday. Their employees are so friendly, organized, calm and generous. It doesn't matter for me that it's not the most "on time service" because the German train isn't as well, but this is pretty much the only similarity between those two. "Love the way" is probably the best slogan they could have come up with. Really looking forward to my next trip with them!
The "Bullet" (fast) Train in Germany last Winter was incredibly late, but boy it was a great ride once we got on it. I miss riding on trains as I did much of it in my childhood. The confusion at the train station at Frankfurt though!! Oh my!
Hey Michael, since you have had a German with you, I recommend you check out Germany next. You are always welcome to visit Germany. There wont be such great food on the trains and dome cars only on historic trains, however, the landscape and the cities and villages make up for it. Also keep up the great work and your positive vibe. Greetings from Germany. :)
I'm so glad of these videos right now. I just got back from an overseas trip to find that my contract at work was not renewed, so now I'm looking for a new job and living vicariously through your amazing travel videos. Thanks for providing a great distraction and inspiration to keep going while I'm looking for jobs.
Watched most of your videos over the past weeks in the UK. Done so well and authentic, I feel like I’m there too ! Lost our little girl a few months ago but you have helped us to find another purpose and connect. Taking every day as it comes. Such brilliant videos from you. Thanks
A great alternative to flying! I rode on The Canadian back in 1959, when it was CP (going through Calgary); and again in 2017, using the more northerly CN route. The food was excellent and the dome car (one of four) was my go-to perch. The train was about 24 cars long, so it provided a great view of the cars snaking around the curves when in the rear dome. The only downer was having to wait 30 to 45 minutes for the higher-priority freight train to pass. I hope videos like this encourage more train travel! Note: CP denotes Canadian Pacific and CN denotes Canadian National. Now it's just VIA Rail.
i absolutely love this video. the fact that you didn't know each other well, but you sorta bonded. just so fantastic. and, all the great experiences on and off the train are inspiring
As a German I was not surprised by that at all. We often need some time to really be comfortable around new people, but when we get, we can be pretty open towards them.
To add to my comment I just posted -- we came over from Germany . . . in June of 1965 and been on the West Coast (Vancouver Island) ever since. I never get tired of this beautiful place we call home.
Kia Ora from the Kiwis on the train with you. The video looks great and reminds me of the great time we had travelling across the countryside and getting to know the other travellers. It was good to get to know both you and Seb, and to enjoy the surreptitious drinks of the final night with newly made friends. Keep up the good work, and we will be watching from afar.
Hi ! I really enjoyed your video. Best I've seen so far. I made this trip in 1968, 55 years ago ! Then, Via Rail didn't exist but the train was very like yours. It went from Montreal then to Vancouver. I stopped off in Jasper, camped out in the Rockies for a while. It was cold ! Then took off for Calgary, through the mountains. Amazing scenery. Saw some friends there, took another bus back to Edmonton, rejoined the train to Vancouver. A very memorable trip. Too old to go anywhere now. Thanks for the revived memories.
You shouls try the amtrak berkshire flyer. Its the ACTUAL least ridden train with about 1000 a year. Its a seasonal train available friday-sunday during june-october
I'd LOVE to take this trip! Seems absolutely amazing to take a train across the enormous Canada with all it's landscapes, mountains, prairies, farmlands and everything❤❤❤🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
It really only goes part way. There is a lot more than just Vancouver to Toronto. I'm from the West Coast. I have driven all across the country right to the Maritimes.
What a fun, good-natured and enjoyable experience traveling with you guys across Canada. I can't believe I haven't watched you before. I'm in from here on, my friend.
Travelling cross-continent by train is on my bucket list. I won’t care if it’s Via Rail in Canada or Amtrak in the USA. Either way, it would be amazing. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
This was an exceptionally nice train. It's a risk taking a 4-day train trip with someone you met only three times, so I'm glad it worked out well. On long train trips meals are the highlight of any day and these looked great. And as you said, "There's always room for ice cream."
Completely unrelated to this vid, but I just watched through your entire narrowboat series, after just narrow boating yesterday, and it was great! Looking forward to this vid!
Mike..You impressed me how welcoming you made, "Seb" feel, hope I got his name correct, and how friendly you are, as you showed him our beautiful country. Much respect Mike and hopefully one day our paths will cross during our travels. My wife and I love watching your videos/channel and we also love to travel by car, train, planes, and by boat! My wife and I are off on a May 24 road trip tomorrow morning to watch Icebergs.
I've travelled this route more than 25 years ago right after college, although not nonstop. Without the luxury of a sleeper car. I got off the train in Jasper and Edmonoton and then on to Toronto. And yes those delays add up. Still a great experience and fond memories.
Did this trip in 2011 with a friend and this story mimics ours. After the Rockies, it was days of breakfast, “is it still flat?”, nap, lunch, “is it still flat?”, nap, dinner, beer, bed… repeat😂
I think I'd start in Toronto and end on a high note (BC). I'm from the West Coast (Vancouver Island) and have driven Coast to coast. BC beauty can't be beat. Prairies are boring scenery (in my opinion).
We actually have dome cars in Germany. They were built in the 60es for the Rheingold TEE premium express train. When TEE services were discontinued they were sold to travel operators where they ran on charter trains. 5 were built, 3 are operational with heritage railways, one is preserved as a stationary exhibit in the National Railway Museum, the last one is used stationarily as a restaurant. Closest you will get in daily operation today is by our Swiss friends, standard single decker cars with windows up into the roof. Fun fact, also some of the Karlsruhe tram-trains have such panoramic cars with windows into the corners of the roof.
That's one thing that doesn't change, the rail from Vancouver to Toronto, is the great views of Jaspser, Rockies, the rolling parties, and finally Ontario!
I did this trip in 2006 or 7. Actually did Rocky Mountaineer to Jasper then transferred to ViaRail. LOOOOVED THE TRIP!! Mike, every time I watch someone else’s travel blog I am so grateful for your pacing, your photography, your relaxed but informative narration. Thanks for taking me with you. AJ
Another epic adventure Mike, and it was great to watch Seb's comfort level and awe evolve as he discovered Canada by train, or a portion anyways. Seb now needs to experience the 'Ocean' from Montreal to Halifax, just another day and a bit to complete the cross Canada trip. Always enjoy "being with you" on your journeys!
Loved this video. My son & I went coach from Vancouver to Montreal return at Christmastime in 1980. In Jasper, the doors were frozen with thick ice. Brought our sleeping bags. Great memories! ❤
I think I rode this train more then 50 years ago, as a small child. It was a very simple train then. we slept on the seats for at least 3 nights and brought our own food.
I did this in 2019 and will never forget it.I was travelling solo and at first i had booked a roomette but on second thaughts i changed that to the same room as yours and,although quite a bit expensive for me alone.I'm 6'8" so i would never have fitted into that little roomette.I must have gained some weight after all those magnificent meals.We were late,after waiting many hours for those 200+ car freight trains we arrived in Toronto 12 hours after scedule.Our train was also a lot longer than this one and it also had normal sitting cars in the front.
We did actually have some dome cars in Germany in the 60s and early 70s on the Rheingold express train. They were made so passengers could fully take in the narrow Rhine valley between Bonn and Mainz with all its castles and steep hills. Some of these cars still exist and one was even converted into a rentable business car.
Looks a lot like an "elephant ear". Between that and the poutine, you're probably over the recommended daily calorie limit.😂😂 That lamb on the first night's dinner plate sure looked good, too.
My goodness, 5 days on a Sleeper Train across Canada must be happy moment, willing to try like you have been guiding and that fine days moment coming to me pretty soon.
Great video. You two need to train around Germany now. As someone who has had Germany on his bucket list since taking 4 years of German in High School and still hasn't made it there, I'd love to see the German countryside from a trains view.
I can't imagine how seniors can walk as far to get to the amazing car similar to what you were in. "Let's Settle in for the next four days" ...Love that!!! My other half is semi handicapped. Something hex war born with. Not life style affected.
I'm from the Netherlands and I love trains. Yet I have only traveled by train within my own country. I should definitely go on some international/long distance trip like this some day.
This is just a bit of a fun fact about 1:42 but Germany did actually have dome cars for observation back in the day like those on the Canadian. But only 5 were built in total for a TransEuropeExpress train called the "Rheingold" in the 1960's inspired by the cars in the US and Canada. However all 5 cars are now under various different ownerships. Some are owned by heritage societies, and I know one is owned by a service who rents it out as a private car for conference meetings and parties. The closest thing to them today are a few carriages with tall panorama windows owned by the Swiss railways SBB. This is also a bit of a fun fact but the Rheingold dome cars after the Rheingold was discontinued were actually used on overnight trains in Sweden between Stockholm and the arctic circle in Narvik, Norway, the northernmost point of the European standard gauge rail system. But the coaches were built for the small mainland europe dimensions with height and width, meaning that even with the dome included they were only about as tall if not a little shorter than the other coaches on the train to the arctic.
Great video, I love seeing Canada by train. I need to do these trips one day. Thank you for introducing me to all these great places to see across Canada. I will definitely keep a list for future references. Thanks Mike!
I really enjoyed this vlog because I rode the Canadian from Jasper to Toronto in summer 2018, and our days and nights were the reverse of yours. I never saw the snow of course, mountains outside Jasper, Qu’apelle Valley, out any major cities (just Sioux Lookout, etc). I never wanted that ride to be over! The food, sunsets, views, and utter relaxation (and no cell signal) were unforgettable.
Nice to see this trip going the right direction as well so far every other video I could find was East to West. Helped me decide on my decision for my kids 18th year celebration trip in early 2025.
Your hostess that wanted to be on vlog was so cute! I always love your videos, they have such a great feel to them! Someday I want to take Amtrak from west to east, then this train east to west, Large part because of your videos!
Used to live in Jasper, Alberta for a few months and it was an awesome experience to see the wild animals such as Elk, Deer, Wolves, Mountain Goats, Black & Cinnamon Bears, and also Moose roaming into the town. What a lovely video you've posted of the Canadian Rockies and Via Rail.
Beaver Tails!!🎉 we had the same thing at the Central Washington State Fair. We called them Elephant Ears. They are the best, aren't they? Its so nice your German friend got to have one. We love our beaver tails! This is a great video. I never tire of traveling my favorite routes Thank you Michael!❤
A few years ago I took my daughter (she was9) on the train from Winnipeg to Edmonton, and we have such fun memories of that trip. We played cards, met loads of people, had a game of frisbee on the platform in Saskatoon with a group of people, spent two hours staring at a bridge near wainwright because we had to wait for another train, and sat in the dome car at midnight watching a storm.
I hadn't seen one of your videos for a while, but found this trip as delightful as your others! I especially loved the way your responded to your companion's question if you ever find it boring since you travel on trains a lot. Your timing in your response was perfect and I laughed out loud. Thank you so much Mike for continuing to share your train travel with those of us who dream about doing this sometime in the future. ❤
Another great video. I just watched Seb's, too. Food looks excellent. Amtrak needs to do a case study. Was this Seb's longest train trip? PS: You need to do an Orient Express video!
thanks for showing saskatchewan in your video, iv watched numerous videos of people traveling across canada by train and noone ever shows the beauty of the prairies. They only show ontario some of manitoba and of course alberta and b.c. it was nice to finally see my home province from a trains view the wide open prairies, grain elevators, and the living skies etc thankyou again
Best channel on RUclips! I always say it but it’s true!! You need your own travel show on TV too! Your ability to just be genuine and real and show us everything we want to see too, loved every second of this 🤩🙏💖🚊👏👏👏👏👏
Ohhh what a great vid downie 😊 . My mom is Canadian and its on my bucket list to do this journey . I visited Canada as a child and remember every single thing about it .. astonishingly beautiful country. X
They used a special ferry that the train could ride on and it would carry it over near Moncton New Brunswick and go on its way to Vancouver British Columbia@@jeremyhillaryboob4248
The essential thing that everyone should be thinking about right now is investing in non-government sources of income. Especially in light of the current global economic crisis. It is still a wonderful moment to invest in gold, silver, digital money, and stocks.
@marvelous1967In life, I will forever be grateful for health, wealth and a great professional (Mary Margaret Cartier) whose help has been great for my finances.
I've taken this train for it's last leg a few times, from Honrepayne ON, to Toronto which is about 16 hours long if I recall, and this brought back memories, thank you.
I did the trip exactly as you did, 5 years ago, before COVID. Thoroughly enjoyable; fantastic scenery; outstanding food and so much more. Glad to see that you enjoyed it as much as I did. A couple things that I view as negative: the reserved seats in the dome car for prestige passengers and no shower in room . But still, great experience; I would do it again in reverse!.
I will be taking this train from Winnipeg to Vancouver in August with a 3 day stop in Jasper. I was only able to book a lower berth and not a cabin, but meals and everything are still included. I am so excited! Thank you for this great video so I know what to expect.
"Try the gray stuff, it's delicious" and the beautiful 'REAL' dishes! We don't see this on AMTRAK I'm afraid, nowadays. The food looked very good, better than average as well! I appreciate you & your wonderful 'vlogs' of travel to somewhere with us along for the fun and educational experiences. Thank you, Michael.
I'd love to take this train someday, in a sleeper of course, but in the other direction. Having lived most of my life on the east coast, it's always a treat watching the scenery open up and get wilder and more mountainous as you make your way west. Plus, not to knock Toronto, but there aren't many nicer train destinations than Vancouver, BC, and a fitting end to an epic train trip. Everything on board this train seems incredible, the sleepers, the meals, the many lounges and dome cars, coffee always available, and the showers. Speaking of which, I wonder if it's feasible to go on several short runs on some of the longer stops, to work off all those great meals and break up the inevitable monotony. I'm guessing that any stop of 45 minutes or longer would work, even half an hour if you keep it short. Or brisk walks. This is one seriously long train trip and I can see how this would help pass the time and keep you from feeling guilty with all those meals! 😆
Thank you DownieLive for another enjoyable trip with beautiful landscapes, delicious food and lots of drinks. Vicariously, I enjoyed every minute of it. 😄
Did this trip Vancouver to Toronto in late July 2024 (days before the awful fires that devastated Jasper and surrounds). This video was the encouragement that made it happen. It was wonderful to see the beauty of Canada as we meandered across the nation while being looked after by the most wonderful staff. Even stopped in for a Beaver Tail in Jasper. Many thanks for being such a great catalyst!
We totally need to do a train trip sometime Mike
Sup Will! Nice seeing you here. Huge fan of your videos aswell and would indeed be fun to see a travel vlog with you and Mike sometime :)
Yes! It'd be a nice change of pace for you, I'm sure you're just exhausted of all those first class plane rides. 😉
Yes, please!
This will be my Super Bowl.
This collaboration NEEDS to happen!
When I lived in Canada (Toronto) in the 1990s I took Via Rail across Canada in the winter and it was so incredibly memorable. I remember seeing the Aurora Borealis and the beauty of the country. If I hadn't already been in love with Canada, that train trip would've done it. Thank you for bringing back so many happy memories for me with this one.
You saw the Aurora Borealis from the train?! Lucky!
@@DownieLive Yep! I spent most of my evenings up in the dome car with all of the lights off staring in awe at the dancing lights.
Sound so cool. In my 40 years in Toronto, we never used a train, only the car trips. Have to do it some day.
Would love to know if there is any specifics in planning that allowed you to see the Aurora Borealis? That would be part of my goal in planning a trip like this. It sounds amazing!
I Will do it too
I want to see the Aurora boreal
I'm a New Zealander but my wife is Canadian Born (Nova Scotia) We're visiting Canada in August/September to see relatives. She is not a train buff but I am and I'm booked in the Canadian to Vancouver while she flies. Your video has helped convince me to do it. And actually I have travelled on the longest in the world. The Trans-Siberian from Vladivostok to Moscow in 2005. I did it in two sections first to Irkutsk (3 days) to visit lake Baikal, then to Moscow (4 more days) Not luxurious at all but great fun. Apart from Putin Russians are fun loving even if there's a language barrier. One day it'll all come right for Russia and that journey is spectacular especially in the East.
greetings fellow kiwi.
I've dreamed of the transsiberian train for decades, including a layover to explore Irkukst and Lake Baikal. Here's hoping for peace ✌️ in the world. Till then, the Canadian rail looks like an interesting alternative.
Meeting someone and becoming friends is a good feeling.... no awkward silences, genuine smiles and the conversation just flows
I'm an engineer for CN rail and I run trains on the tracks between Wainwright, AB to Saskatoon, SK plus Saskatoon to Melville, SK. I recognized every b-roll spot you had in that part of this video, Saskatchewan is actually really beautiful, I agree!
Thank you for your service, in case no one else tells you that.
I work for Virtual Railfan and we have a camera in Revelstoke, I can't wait till we get more locations in Canada! If you ever come by, wave at the camera mounted at the Revelstoke Railway Museum (make sure you let a Moderator in the chat area know you are there)!
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As a British Columbian who has driven coast to coast I find Saskatchewan scenery pretty boring (I know some people like prairies, just not my bag). Guess I'm not much for prairies. There is so much beauty across this country, but I think the Rockies beats everything. I always know once I hit the Rockies when I've been away that I am close to home. I live on Vancouver Island which has incredible natural beauty.
Gotta love VIA Rail! I'm German as well and I just had my first ride ever with them yesterday. Their employees are so friendly, organized, calm and generous. It doesn't matter for me that it's not the most "on time service" because the German train isn't as well, but this is pretty much the only similarity between those two. "Love the way" is probably the best slogan they could have come up with. Really looking forward to my next trip with them!
The "Bullet" (fast) Train in Germany last Winter was incredibly late, but boy it was a great ride once we got on it. I miss riding on trains as I did much of it in my childhood. The confusion at the train station at Frankfurt though!! Oh my!
I’m amazed at how calm you are. I’d be afraid to explore in an hour long stone for fear I’d miss the train.
yeah walking a full block then ordering a drink while trying to set up numerous camera angles seems pretty difficult to do in just one hour
I would do it for the pastries but not sure I'd risk it for the oval lounge.😂
Same here.
Take 45 minutes then head back. 😅
@@sct4040 I'd still be freaking out though!!!
Hey Michael,
since you have had a German with you, I recommend you check out Germany next. You are always welcome to visit Germany. There wont be such great food on the trains and dome cars only on historic trains, however, the landscape and the cities and villages make up for it.
Also keep up the great work and your positive vibe.
Greetings from Germany. :)
You can book a seat at the panorama car from the EC Hamburg to Switzerland. It's a very nice view at the rhine valley between Bonn and Mainz ;)
Oktoberfest would be a great time of year.
My guy, you’ll never need to tell people you’re Canadian with that glorious hockey hair. We’ll always know.
that's exactly what I said 😂
There is a song called "I've Got An Ape-Drape" by The Vandals.
I think you'd appreciate it.
That’s some bad hair
I dunno I miss the short hair.
Could also be a bogan
I'm so glad of these videos right now. I just got back from an overseas trip to find that my contract at work was not renewed, so now I'm looking for a new job and living vicariously through your amazing travel videos. Thanks for providing a great distraction and inspiration to keep going while I'm looking for jobs.
I hope you find a job quickly and one that will be rewarding and pleasant .
Born in the USA, Lived all my life in the USA but I know I'm Canadian too because I love the Country!
Watched most of your videos over the past weeks in the UK. Done so well and authentic, I feel like I’m there too ! Lost our little girl a few months ago but you have helped us to find another purpose and connect. Taking every day as it comes. Such brilliant videos from you. Thanks
I am so very sorry Andy. Love sent to your family.
A great alternative to flying! I rode on The Canadian back in 1959, when it was CP (going through Calgary); and again in 2017, using the more northerly CN route. The food was excellent and the dome car (one of four) was my go-to perch. The train was about 24 cars long, so it provided a great view of the cars snaking around the curves when in the rear dome. The only downer was having to wait 30 to 45 minutes for the higher-priority freight train to pass. I hope videos like this encourage more train travel!
Note: CP denotes Canadian Pacific and CN denotes Canadian National. Now it's just VIA Rail.
i absolutely love this video. the fact that you didn't know each other well, but you sorta bonded. just so fantastic. and, all the great experiences on and off the train are inspiring
I've been wanting to take this exact trip for years! Already crossed the USA on Amtrak on every route.
I really like how you can see Seb becoming more comfortable as the days passd
If I had to be on a train for four days, I'd want to be traveling with Mike
Yes I saw this too. At the start he was awkward but by Day 2 at the end he felt more social, joking and stuff
As a German I was not surprised by that at all. We often need some time to really be comfortable around new people, but when we get, we can be pretty open towards them.
I rode the Canadian for my 16th birthday and being from Florida you run out of adjectives to describe how beautiful the Canadian Rockies are!
To add to my comment I just posted -- we came over from Germany . . . in June of 1965 and been on the West Coast (Vancouver Island) ever since. I never get tired of this beautiful place we call home.
Rocking the Canadian mullet dude!
Thanks Michael for taking us along on this train trip! This is something I've always wanted to do!
Kia Ora from the Kiwis on the train with you. The video looks great and reminds me of the great time we had travelling across the countryside and getting to know the other travellers. It was good to get to know both you and Seb, and to enjoy the surreptitious drinks of the final night with newly made friends. Keep up the good work, and we will be watching from afar.
Hi ! I really enjoyed your video. Best I've seen so far. I made this trip in 1968, 55 years ago ! Then, Via Rail didn't exist but the train was very like yours. It went from Montreal then to Vancouver. I stopped off in Jasper, camped out in the Rockies for a while. It was cold ! Then took off for Calgary, through the mountains. Amazing scenery. Saw some friends there, took another bus back to Edmonton, rejoined the train to Vancouver. A very memorable trip. Too old to go anywhere now. Thanks for the revived memories.
This was such a fun adventure! Seb is adorable and such a trooper. 😁
This train is at the top of my bucket list for sure. If I ever go to Canada, this is the first thing I’m doing.
prices are ridiculous its cheaper to fly
@@JeSuisHulktaking the train is better though. More scenic, and more eco friendly.
@@JeSuisHulk That's not the point of this trip.
@@iplayClarinetthewrongway Dunno if a four-day diesel-powered train journey is more environmentally friendly than a four-hour plane journey.
@@bahnspotterEU yes.
You shouls try the amtrak berkshire flyer. Its the ACTUAL least ridden train with about 1000 a year. Its a seasonal train available friday-sunday during june-october
Jp was one of my favourite supply teacher in school!! Such a nice person
I'd LOVE to take this trip! Seems absolutely amazing to take a train across the enormous Canada with all it's landscapes, mountains, prairies, farmlands and everything❤❤❤🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
It really only goes part way. There is a lot more than just Vancouver to Toronto. I'm from the West Coast. I have driven all across the country right to the Maritimes.
I love Canada and all things Canadian!❤❤😊😊
What a fun, good-natured and enjoyable experience traveling with you guys across Canada. I can't believe I haven't watched you before. I'm in from here on, my friend.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Trains trains trains. Grew up on them even before Amtrak. Thank you!!!!!!
Travelling cross-continent by train is on my bucket list. I won’t care if it’s Via Rail in Canada or Amtrak in the USA. Either way, it would be amazing. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
This was an exceptionally nice train. It's a risk taking a 4-day train trip with someone you met only three times, so I'm glad it worked out well. On long train trips meals are the highlight of any day and these looked great. And as you said, "There's always room for ice cream."
Yeah I thought at the end when he said "you may not believe this but we are early" I thought he was going to say they were still friends: haha.
hi john
saving money and making plans to celebrate age 75 next year on this train. Watching all your videos. You have inspired me! Thank you so much❤️
Completely unrelated to this vid, but I just watched through your entire narrowboat series, after just narrow boating yesterday, and it was great! Looking forward to this vid!
14:12 absolutely LOVE poutine
Mike..You impressed me how welcoming you made, "Seb" feel, hope I got his name correct, and how friendly you are, as you showed him our beautiful country. Much respect Mike and hopefully one day our paths will cross during our travels. My wife and I love watching your videos/channel and we also love to travel by car, train, planes, and by boat! My wife and I are off on a May 24 road trip tomorrow morning to watch Icebergs.
just booked my ticket for Vancouver - Toronto once i finish the rbc cycle event in September.
Enjoyed seeing all you experienced in 96hrs on Canadas longest train. Beautiful scenery, good food, great company, & new friends. Have a good week.
I've travelled this route more than 25 years ago right after college, although not nonstop. Without the luxury of a sleeper car. I got off the train in Jasper and Edmonoton and then on to Toronto. And yes those delays add up. Still a great experience and fond memories.
To travel such a distance, in 5 days/4 nights must be a magical experience. Thank you for sharing!
I enjoy how you and your friends make the trip fun .I took an Amtrak Chicago to Texas .,Chicago to Virginia and loved train travel.
Did this trip in 2011 with a friend and this story mimics ours. After the Rockies, it was days of breakfast, “is it still flat?”, nap, lunch, “is it still flat?”, nap, dinner, beer, bed… repeat😂
I think I'd start in Toronto and end on a high note (BC). I'm from the West Coast (Vancouver Island) and have driven Coast to coast. BC beauty can't be beat. Prairies are boring scenery (in my opinion).
A monumental experience - thank you so much Mike for taking us along!
We actually have dome cars in Germany. They were built in the 60es for the Rheingold TEE premium express train. When TEE services were discontinued they were sold to travel operators where they ran on charter trains. 5 were built, 3 are operational with heritage railways, one is preserved as a stationary exhibit in the National Railway Museum, the last one is used stationarily as a restaurant.
Closest you will get in daily operation today is by our Swiss friends, standard single decker cars with windows up into the roof. Fun fact, also some of the Karlsruhe tram-trains have such panoramic cars with windows into the corners of the roof.
That's one thing that doesn't change, the rail from Vancouver to Toronto, is the great views of Jaspser, Rockies, the rolling parties, and finally Ontario!
I did this trip in 2006 or 7. Actually did Rocky Mountaineer to Jasper then transferred to ViaRail. LOOOOVED THE TRIP!!
Mike, every time I watch someone else’s travel blog I am so grateful for your pacing, your photography, your relaxed but informative narration.
Thanks for taking me with you.
AJ
Another epic adventure Mike, and it was great to watch Seb's comfort level and awe evolve as he discovered Canada by train, or a portion anyways. Seb now needs to experience the 'Ocean' from Montreal to Halifax, just another day and a bit to complete the cross Canada trip. Always enjoy "being with you" on your journeys!
Loved this video. My son & I went coach from Vancouver to Montreal return at Christmastime in 1980. In Jasper, the doors were frozen with thick ice. Brought our sleeping bags. Great memories! ❤
I think I rode this train more then 50 years ago, as a small child. It was a very simple train then. we slept on the seats for at least 3 nights and brought our own food.
I did this in 2019 and will never forget it.I was travelling solo and at first i had booked a roomette but on second thaughts i changed that to the same room as yours and,although quite a bit expensive for me alone.I'm 6'8" so i would never have fitted into that little roomette.I must have gained some weight after all those magnificent meals.We were late,after waiting many hours for those 200+ car freight trains we arrived in Toronto 12 hours after scedule.Our train was also a lot longer than this one and it also had normal sitting cars in the front.
We did actually have some dome cars in Germany in the 60s and early 70s on the Rheingold express train. They were made so passengers could fully take in the narrow Rhine valley between Bonn and Mainz with all its castles and steep hills. Some of these cars still exist and one was even converted into a rentable business car.
I crossed Canada by train many, many years ago. Your video brought back many fond memories. Thanks for sharing that most amazing journey.
For those that haven’t had a beaver tail, it’s basically the best fried dough you’ve ever had 😂
I need to find a recipe for those! They look amazing.
Looks a lot like an "elephant ear". Between that and the poutine, you're probably over the recommended daily calorie limit.😂😂 That lamb on the first night's dinner plate sure looked good, too.
My goodness, 5 days on a Sleeper Train across Canada must be happy moment, willing to try like you have been guiding and that fine days moment coming to me pretty soon.
Great video. You two need to train around Germany now. As someone who has had Germany on his bucket list since taking 4 years of German in High School and still hasn't made it there, I'd love to see the German countryside from a trains view.
I can't imagine how seniors can walk as far to get to the amazing car similar to what you were in. "Let's Settle in for the next four days" ...Love that!!! My other half is semi handicapped. Something hex war born with. Not life style affected.
I'm from the Netherlands and I love trains. Yet I have only traveled by train within my own country. I should definitely go on some international/long distance trip like this some day.
Nice bro
You're ideally situated in the Netherlands for international travel - the rail starting point of my interail trips.
This is just a bit of a fun fact about 1:42 but Germany did actually have dome cars for observation back in the day like those on the Canadian. But only 5 were built in total for a TransEuropeExpress train called the "Rheingold" in the 1960's inspired by the cars in the US and Canada. However all 5 cars are now under various different ownerships. Some are owned by heritage societies, and I know one is owned by a service who rents it out as a private car for conference meetings and parties. The closest thing to them today are a few carriages with tall panorama windows owned by the Swiss railways SBB. This is also a bit of a fun fact but the Rheingold dome cars after the Rheingold was discontinued were actually used on overnight trains in Sweden between Stockholm and the arctic circle in Narvik, Norway, the northernmost point of the European standard gauge rail system. But the coaches were built for the small mainland europe dimensions with height and width, meaning that even with the dome included they were only about as tall if not a little shorter than the other coaches on the train to the arctic.
Another great train ride Mike. It’s now on my bucket list.😊
Great video, I love seeing Canada by train. I need to do these trips one day. Thank you for introducing me to all these great places to see across Canada. I will definitely keep a list for future references. Thanks Mike!
I really enjoyed this vlog because I rode the Canadian from Jasper to Toronto in summer 2018, and our days and nights were the reverse of yours. I never saw the snow of course, mountains outside Jasper, Qu’apelle Valley, out any major cities (just Sioux Lookout, etc). I never wanted that ride to be over! The food, sunsets, views, and utter relaxation (and no cell signal) were unforgettable.
Nice to see this trip going the right direction as well so far every other video I could find was East to West. Helped me decide on my decision for my kids 18th year celebration trip in early 2025.
Every time you see, downie life upload something know it’s going to be a good day
Why not explore the fast trains in Europe. I did my whole Italy trip by fast train. Very cheap if booked early. The views are magnificent.
This trip is literally part of my bucket list. Were the beds comfortable? Was it expensive?
Approx CAD 3000 if booking cabin for 1 at that period of year (April - May)
Very expensive!
Yeah when I do this trip (which I will eventually), I might just go with a simple Berth (approximately $800 USD [March 2024 if you book right now])
Your hostess that wanted to be on vlog was so cute! I always love your videos, they have such a great feel to them! Someday I want to take Amtrak from west to east, then this train east to west, Large part because of your videos!
This was an EPIC vlog and journey Downie! Thanks for taking us along the train was gorgeous!
Thank you for making this video, I have always wanted to take the train across Canada! Five days, four nights = perfect!
Been such a long time since your last upload. Worth the wait. Looking forward to more adventures and hopefully a network travel log... eventually.
It's been like 2 weeks
Used to live in Jasper, Alberta for a few months and it was an awesome experience to see the wild animals such as Elk, Deer, Wolves, Mountain Goats, Black & Cinnamon Bears, and also Moose roaming into the town. What a lovely video you've posted of the Canadian Rockies and Via Rail.
Why were you in Jasper?
@@KunalDebChandra Doing what?
Would be interesting to see a video focused on the crew. What their bunks look like, how they like working on overnight trains , etc.
Oh my goodness what a great trip👍👍thanks Mike for sharing another great adventure .🛤🛤😊
Beaver Tails!!🎉 we had the same thing at the Central Washington State Fair. We called them Elephant Ears. They are the best, aren't they? Its so nice your German friend got to have one. We love our beaver tails! This is a great video. I never tire of traveling my favorite routes Thank you Michael!❤
A few years ago I took my daughter (she was9) on the train from Winnipeg to Edmonton, and we have such fun memories of that trip. We played cards, met loads of people, had a game of frisbee on the platform in Saskatoon with a group of people, spent two hours staring at a bridge near wainwright because we had to wait for another train, and sat in the dome car at midnight watching a storm.
You really need to visit Switzerland for some train rides!!!
A country that's all about precision.
great trip, i have been across Canada a number of times on that train. So happy they restored the full service! ALL ABOARD!!!!!!
Really amazing Vlog and story!
We are based in Finland also doing vlogs to show the culture in here 🇫🇮💪🏻
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I hadn't seen one of your videos for a while, but found this trip as delightful as your others! I especially loved the way your responded to your companion's question if you ever find it boring since you travel on trains a lot. Your timing in your response was perfect and I laughed out loud. Thank you so much Mike for continuing to share your train travel with those of us who dream about doing this sometime in the future. ❤
Another great video. I just watched Seb's, too. Food looks excellent. Amtrak needs to do a case study. Was this Seb's longest train trip?
PS: You need to do an Orient Express video!
Here's wishing that Amtrak receives the care and funding it deserves. Their staff works so hard with the aging equipment they're given 😟
thanks for showing saskatchewan in your video, iv watched numerous videos of people traveling across canada by train and noone ever shows the beauty of the prairies. They only show ontario some of manitoba and of course alberta and b.c. it was nice to finally see my home province from a trains view the wide open prairies, grain elevators, and the living skies etc thankyou again
Best channel on RUclips! I always say it but it’s true!! You need your own travel show on TV too! Your ability to just be genuine and real and show us everything we want to see too, loved every second of this 🤩🙏💖🚊👏👏👏👏👏
I think I would like to travel across Canada than America.
PS love your suitcase.
Ohhh what a great vid downie 😊 . My mom is Canadian and its on my bucket list to do this journey . I visited Canada as a child and remember every single thing about it .. astonishingly beautiful country. X
Maybe I'm just weird, but 96 hours on a train sounds *amazing* to me.
When I was a kid the train left from St John's Newfoundland to Vancouver BC which was slightly over 5,000 km, now that was a train ride!
How did that work? Newfoundland being an island and all that.
They used a special ferry that the train could ride on and it would carry it over near Moncton New Brunswick and go on its way to Vancouver British Columbia@@jeremyhillaryboob4248
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Classic adventure!!! Beer, food and views; what an exciting journey.
I did this trip back in 2018 in economy class. It was such a great experience but I was still happy to sleep in a real bed again afterwards :D
How long are the beds in sleeper+? I'm 6'6" tall and 4 days sleeping in a 5'10" bunk would be torture.
DownieLive brings a type of Brendan Fraser wholesomeness to travel vlogs. Change my mind.
I've taken this train for it's last leg a few times, from Honrepayne ON, to Toronto which is about 16 hours long if I recall, and this brought back memories, thank you.
I did the trip exactly as you did, 5 years ago, before COVID. Thoroughly enjoyable; fantastic scenery; outstanding food and so much more. Glad to see that you enjoyed it as much as I did. A couple things that I view as negative: the reserved seats in the dome car for prestige passengers and no shower in room . But still, great experience; I would do it again in reverse!.
I will be taking this train from Winnipeg to Vancouver in August with a 3 day stop in Jasper. I was only able to book a lower berth and not a cabin, but meals and everything are still included. I am so excited! Thank you for this great video so I know what to expect.
"Try the gray stuff, it's delicious" and the beautiful 'REAL' dishes! We don't see this on AMTRAK I'm afraid, nowadays. The food looked very good, better than average as well! I appreciate you & your wonderful 'vlogs' of travel to somewhere with us along for the fun and educational experiences. Thank you, Michael.
I'd love to take this train someday, in a sleeper of course, but in the other direction. Having lived most of my life on the east coast, it's always a treat watching the scenery open up and get wilder and more mountainous as you make your way west. Plus, not to knock Toronto, but there aren't many nicer train destinations than Vancouver, BC, and a fitting end to an epic train trip. Everything on board this train seems incredible, the sleepers, the meals, the many lounges and dome cars, coffee always available, and the showers.
Speaking of which, I wonder if it's feasible to go on several short runs on some of the longer stops, to work off all those great meals and break up the inevitable monotony. I'm guessing that any stop of 45 minutes or longer would work, even half an hour if you keep it short. Or brisk walks. This is one seriously long train trip and I can see how this would help pass the time and keep you from feeling guilty with all those meals! 😆
Thank you DownieLive for another enjoyable trip with beautiful landscapes, delicious food and lots of drinks. Vicariously, I enjoyed every minute of it. 😄
Did this trip Vancouver to Toronto in late July 2024 (days before the awful fires that devastated Jasper and surrounds). This video was the encouragement that made it happen. It was wonderful to see the beauty of Canada as we meandered across the nation while being looked after by the most wonderful staff. Even stopped in for a Beaver Tail in Jasper. Many thanks for being such a great catalyst!
I’d love to celebrate your editor Mike. Whoever they are they’re really really good!
Great fun video in general as always!
I really appreciate it Nick!!! Thanks for watching
HI Dowie I am from England never been out of our country. Canda I always wanted to go to, one day I will do the views are very impresses
It's always awesome when you upload. Makes me feel like im on the train with you. Thank you for this awesome video 👍