At our last meeting on 7th June, we started our Rail journey in the Canadian Rockies - going west from Calgary to Field. Bill has been there 4 times from 1960. He considers Rogers Pass as probably the most beautiful place that he has visited – however, these days the area is completely overwhelmed by tourists.
Bill told the story of Nicholas Morant - the long time photographer of the Canadian Pacific Railway – for whom Morant’s Curve on the Bow river is named. He had his own sleeping carriage, which was placed in any siding he requested. He could spend a week awaiting the desired light for a special photo. In 1960, these sleeping carriages were available for general hire and could be placed into any desired siding. Bill told some stories on the difficulty of building the Railway through this very mountainous area and how Kicking Horse River got its name. The Surveyor - James Hector was badly injured when kicked by his horse. This area contains the famous Spiral Tunnels.
The DVD shown was The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway which runs along the Colorado/New Mexico border. It is the most beautiful trip – done twice by Bill and also visited by our course member – Jan Andrews.
Note - There won’t be a class in July – Bill will be away on holiday! Around that time he should be riding Queensland’s “Gulflander”.
Next course day is Tuesday 2nd August – we will travel further into the Canadian Rockies from Field to Revelstoke. The DVD to be shown is about another famous Tourist Railway in Colorado The Durango and Silverton.
Bill told the story of Nicholas Morant - the long time photographer of the Canadian Pacific Railway – for whom Morant’s Curve on the Bow river is named. He had his own sleeping carriage, which was placed in any siding he requested. He could spend a week awaiting the desired light for a special photo. In 1960, these sleeping carriages were available for general hire and could be placed into any desired siding. Bill told some stories on the difficulty of building the Railway through this very mountainous area and how Kicking Horse River got its name. The Surveyor - James Hector was badly injured when kicked by his horse. This area contains the famous Spiral Tunnels.
The DVD shown was The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway which runs along the Colorado/New Mexico border. It is the most beautiful trip – done twice by Bill and also visited by our course member – Jan Andrews.
Note - There won’t be a class in July – Bill will be away on holiday! Around that time he should be riding Queensland’s “Gulflander”.
Next course day is Tuesday 2nd August – we will travel further into the Canadian Rockies from Field to Revelstoke. The DVD to be shown is about another famous Tourist Railway in Colorado The Durango and Silverton.
