Terrace Review —

Wednesday, July 18, 1990 B11.

d-fashioned ways of getting around

Stories and photos by Nancy Orr

Each run could be the last

Is the great Canadian Dream,
the passenger train, destined to
fade into history? If that might
happen, it seemed imperative
that we should make one more
nostalgic journey by train.

We would go to Edmonton.
We had always travelled by car,
bus or air but this time we would
‘‘ride the rails’’. There were
many surprises in store for us
demonstrating how long it had
been since we had been on a
train.

The first surprise, of course,
was in trying to get information.
You don’t just go down to the
local station. You don’t even
talk to Winnipeg anymore. You
are asking for information
about your local train from New
Brunswick! It was pleasant to
know that they. appeared to
know where we are in Terrace,
and we were pleased to know
that they were still with us.

The next real surprise was the
tingle of excitment that I felt
when it was time to swing up the
steps onto the platform, a thrill
that I had not experienced since
I was a child setting off on my
first journey.

A further surprise was in the
comfort of train travel. I had
forgotten how relaxing, leisurely

and enjoyable a journey by train

could be.

From the first step, someone
else takes hold of your bag and
sees to its delivery, someone else
(the porter) takes care of you,
hands you into the train, settles
you.into your seat, stows your
extras around you and generally
makes sure you are comfortable.
Someone else can worry about
the driving and the traffic and
road conditions and where to
stop.

It is a forgotten world, just.to
sit back and relax in reclining
seats, with plenty of room and
wide windows for a panoramic
view. Best of all, is the ability to
get up and stretch, to move
around, to stroll through the
train and discover the snack bar,

the lounge car, the observation
car on top of the train with its
unobstructed view on all sides.
We roamed at will.

This day we had left Terrace
on time at 1:00 p.m. Almost im-
mediately, we were seeing the
historic Kitselas Canyon from a
different side of the Skeena, and
Usk and all the seldom-seen set-
tlements on the north side of the
river. There was the magnificent
vista of the Seven Sisters before
we crossed over the River at
Skeena Crossing and a whole
new view of country and of
Rocher de Boule Mountain.
There were brief stops at Kit-
wanga and Hazelton before we
arrived under the shadow of
Hudson’s Bay Mountain at
Smithers. We had time there to
get off for an hour or so to ex-
plore the picturesque main street
with its alpine theme.

In the evening, we went to our
prearranged sitting in the tiny
dining car to a simple menu (two
main offerings) served by the
same crew in a different role. It
was an opportunity to meet
fellow passengers and exchange
backgrounds and experiences.

The same camaraderie extend-
ed to the parlor car (or is that the
club car) where people talked or
played cards. Beverages and
snacks were served as we con-
tinued on through the Lake
country and the farms of the in-
terior. People waved, especially
children, as they watched us
glide by, and the whistle sound-
ed for the crossings.

Late in the evening, we wound
our way, slowly, very slowly, in-
to Prince George, a long slow
curve from the north into the
station. It was 11:15 p.m. This
was the main destination or
boarding point of many
passengers.

As we left Prince George and
crossed the mighty Fraser River
to begin our journey towards the
Rockies, it was too dark to see

the scenery.

I decided to try my luck at
lowering: the bed in my
Roomette.

I found all the right levers —
but where do you stand when the
bunk comes down to fill the
room?

The miniature facilities and
the little cubbyholes to squirrel.
away belongings were intrigu-
ing. The bed was cosy: sleep
came swiftly and peacefully.

Surely the greatest difference
in train travel between now and
in earlier days, has to be in the
stopping and starting!

Can anyone forget the bang,
crash, shudder, jerk, and the
shuddering back and forth in the
old days? Especially just as you
hovered on the edge of sleep.

Now it is smooth, smooth,
smooth — just a whisper, a
sense of change in movement —
incredible.

The bonus on our journey to
Edmonton was part of a day in

the tourist town of Jasper with

its interesting shops and holiday
atmosphere. We joined the train
from Vancouver at 5:45 p.m.
and continued through the
eastern Rockies into the
Foothills and finally the Prairies
of Alberta, thankful for the long
northern days of summer that let
us feast on the view. At last,
traffic and buildings increased
and we were entering Edmon-
ton. We began the long slow
glide through the outskirts of the
city, over and under the multi-
lane highways that sweep across
that open flat country.

But eventually we drew to a
stop as the tall buildings of the
downtown city appeared. We
disembarked on the windy cold
platform for a dash to the
underground passage and to the
welcome of friends and family in
the station, firmly telling
ourselves that trains would be
our favorite means of transpor-
tation in the future.

This 1928 Model A Ford can occassionally be seen roaming the streets of Terrace at a sedate
pace, piloted by owners Bob and Arleen Johnson. For both the Johnsons and observers, it recalls
a less hurried era.

With passenger train service in the , Northwest endangered by
each passing federal budget, each departure could be the last
opportunity to experience this most relaxed method of getting

places.

Cruising at 25 mph
brings back those
happy memories

The rain may have dampened
the numbers of the spectators on
Canada Day this year but not
the enthusiasm of the antique
car owners of Terrace. A holi-
day for them is an opportunity
to drive their favorite vehicles
and-to show them to their fans.

A Mafia staff car? In Ter-
race? That’s what it says on the
license plate of a 1928 Model A
Ford sitting proudly on display
in the parking lot near the band-
shell.

Bob and Arleen Johnsen
point to the date stamped on the
engine of their car, 8-8-28, as
they show off the genuine
leather seats, the base paint, the
luggage rack, the running board,
the wheels and all the original
features on their car.

The Johnsons bought the car
in 1972 from an estate in Saskat-
chewan, which was selling it on
behalf of the original owner.
They have found it easy to main-
tain. Parts and replacements are
not difficult to obtain; Bob finds
all he needs in Edmonton.

“Tt will soon be cheaper to
run this old car than a new
one,”’ said Bob, “‘I just bought a
new muffler that runs from the
front to the back of the car. And
it only cost $45.1”

The Johnsons enjoy their car
and drive it whenever possible
around town. They don’t like to
go over 40 mph and usually

cruise at 25.

“‘We get a few impatient horn
blowers,” said Arlene, . ‘but
mostly people really enjoy seeing
it and the horns are happy. It
brings back memories of happy
days to so many people.”

Deryl and Heather Gurnsey
brought their 1930 Chevrolet
Stake Bed delivery truck in Van-
couver about six months ago
and drove it home. .

‘‘We just bought a new bat-
tery, filled it up with gas and oil
and away we went,”’ said Dery].
“A little bumpy riding but lots
of fun,’’ .

He has a2 bit of work to do, the
windows need to be replaced and
the inside of the doors and some
cleaning up and finishing and a
little tuning-up on the engine
because it was sitting unused so
long. ““We were told that it used
to belong to the Rutland Sand
and Gravel company in
Kelowna,’ said the proud owner.

Fred Kuemper’s 1955 Ford
Customline stands gleaming
even in the rain, reflecting the
pride and joy that the owner has
in his vintage car.

Fred bought the car about 10
years ago: in Saskatchewan and
drives back there every year init. .
It gets about 18 miles to the .
gallon, he says.