Vintage Trains Chug Along Vancouver Island
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A new vintage railway is taking passengers on 2 1/2-hour excursions north from Victoria, Canada, to Malahat Mountain and back. The 40-mile round trip through the suburbs and woodlands of southern Vancouver Island crosses two 300-foot-high trestles and includes views of the Pacific’s Finlayson Arm, a spokeswoman said.
The Pacific Wilderness Railway uses a mix of restored 1930s cars without air-conditioning and 1950s cars with air, pulled by diesel-electric engines. There’s a snack bar on board, at extra cost, for coach passengers; for first-class passengers, wine, beer, champagne and appetizers are included. Adult round-trip coach fares are about $21 to $25, depending on the type of car. First class is $58. Trains leave three times a day.
There are optional packages with lunch ($72) or dinner ($109) at the Aerie Resort on Malahat, rated five stars by Mobil (its highest rating) and four diamonds by AAA (its second highest rating). Telephone (800) 267-0610, Internet https://www.pacificwildernessrailway.com.
A train-bus tour adds city sightseeing ($42 coach, $78 first class), booked through Gray Line of Victoria, tel. (250) 388-6539.
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