Tuesday, 20/08/1996
We began our Rocky Mountaineer trip across the Canadian Rockies. Had to leave Hotel Vancouver at 6:30 am.
The hotel had urns of tea and coffee on each floor by the elevators.  At the Pacific Central train station the Rocky Mountaineer personnel were highly efficient, taking care of our baggage and directing us to our coach.

Pacific Central station Silver Leaf car Gold Leaf car Three Bridges

We boarded at 7:30 am and were served mimosas almost immediately.
Scott and Dean were our car attendants.  As we left Vancouver, breakfast was served.
Scrambled eggs with chives, sausage, home fries, choice of croissant, muffin or danish, tea or coffee.
Having booked the Silver Leaf service, we got hot meals and were seated in a car that had a glass roof
and large windows.  The first ten miles of track is owned by different companies so each time the train
came to a different section of track we had to pause and get permission to proceed.
Because of that requirement we moved very slowly out of Vancouver. 
This is one of the reasons we recommend taking this trip from west to east. 
The first miles of this trip got tedious; we wouldn't want to have that at the end of the two-day trip.
One other thing to note is freight trains have the right-of-way.

Passenger Train Fertile farm lands. Forest and Foothills Freight Train

According to Dean, millions of years ago the ocean extended to Saskatchewan,
then the Cascades formed volcanically, creating an inland sea.
The water receded and the Rockies were formed by shifts in the tectonic plates.
The climate in BC ranges from temperate rain forest (Vancouver)
to semi-arid desert (Kamloops) to Arctic. 

Forest-covered mountains Yellow-clad rapid runners Fraser River Hell's Gate
Skuzzy Creek water falls. A view of the train Fraser River
Post Card View
Cisco Crossings arch bridge Cisco Crossings 2nd bridge View from bridge View from bridge

For lunch we had cream of mushroom soup, choice of cold chicken breast with Dijon sauce or salmon with dill sauce, either white chocolate cheesecake or chocolate pate, red or white wine, coffee or tea. Again, tasty food.  All along the trip we were told jokes and informational tidbits-bits by Dean and Scott.  The scenery on this trip is so incredible it's not to be believed.   We saw deer along the route and even a bald eagle chasing an osprey at one of the lakes.

Cisco Crossings area Fraser River runs two tone.

As we pulled into Kamloops for a overnight stay Scott told us this joke to impress upon all of us the importance of being on time in the morning,  "What's the difference between a tourist and a hichhiker? 
About 30 seconds if you miss the train."           No one said the jokes were good.

Kamloops Lake The Selkirks.
Mount Rundle. Bow River Valley.
Looking North from Sulphur Mountain Another view from Sulphur Mountain at Banff.
Calgary

As I scan in more photos, I will post more pages for this trip.