Immersed in grandeur

Revel in elegance at the Trains Deluxe Canadian Museum of Rail Travel

train car interior

Opulence is all around in these restored train cars.—Photo by Tanya Laing Gahr

by Glynis Fediuk

A visit to Cranbrook isn’t complete without a stop at the Trains Deluxe Canadian Museum of Rail Travel. Guided tours showcase, through tens of thousands of square feet of restored exotic wood panels with inlay, how first-class travellers rode along CPR transcontinental and international lines.

“These trains are unique, being displayed in complete sets, some over a city block in length,” said Garry Anderson, the museum’s executive director. “They are really deluxe ‘hotels on wheels’ that are unparalleled.”

Features such as the breathtaking stained glass domes in the Soo-Spokane Train or the dining facilities in the Argyle car will make visitors appreciate the lifestyle associated with early rail travel. From the cars-of-state, which carried only the most important passengers, to the extraordinary cars from the Edwardian era, there is a wonderful mix of beauty and history.

Another fascinating sight in the museum is its recreation of the Royal Alexandra Hall. Using pieces from the original 1906 Royal Alexandra Café in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the room adds another dimension of authenticity to the surroundings.

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