Immerse yourself in the sights, smells and sounds of early 20th-century train travel when you take a ride on the Alberni Pacific “Steam” Railway. Interact with crew dressed in period costume and watch through the window as the train weaves through the forests and plains of Vancouver Island. You may even experience a reenactment of a train robbery.
Book your ticket at the old Canada Pacific Railway Station. This station dates back to 1912.Climb aboard the 1929 Baldwin steam train and wait for the engine to fire up and the conductor to blow his whistle. The 35-minute journey out to the McLean Mill National Historic Site runs through the city and then out into the forest. Guides in period costume will point out landmarks of interest and will answer any questions you may have.
Spend some time at the McLean Sawmill looking around the old museum. The steam-powered sawmill has been restored and functions just as it would have in the days of the early loggers. Learn about the logging industry on Vancouver Island and what would have happened to the wood once it left the mill.
The train will then take you back to Alberni. Keep your eye out as you head back through the forest as you may find the train is ambushed by a staged robbery. Actors in costume will hold up the train highlighting the fact that this was a real concern for early train travellers.
The Alberni Pacific “Steam” Railway station is located on western side of Alberni. If you intend to spend time in the Mill as well as taking the train ride it can work out cheaper to buy a combined ticket. Train schedules vary throughout the year so be sure to check locally.
