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Algoma Central / VIA Rail / Agawa Canyon Prototype railroading Algoma Central
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Super User 1,071 posts Kirk W kirkifer Super User 1,071 posts
Kirk W kirkifer

Well,

It seems that my wife loves me very much! She says we can go ride the Agawa Canyon train this summer. There are mixed reviews about the train ride but generally, people seem to think it is worth it.

At one point, VIA ran a route from Sault Ste. Marie up through the Canyon and beyond. It was like an 8 hour trip into the interior. It was just transportation and had no real tourist component to it. Anyway, many people recommended this trip with a hotel stay at the destination city before returning the next day. I had heard that VIA suspended this route and I can not seem to find it on their website, but I figured someone on here could tell me for sure? Maybe, you could also let me know which trip is better?

What other interesting things (we're doing the bridge, the locks, and the shipwreck museum, and probably the falls state park) do we need to consider when we go?

 
Kirk Wakefield
Avon, Indiana
 

 
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Photo Bud Frequent poster 992 posts
Photo Bud

FYI

According to the Wikipedia Entry, "Sault Ste. Marie is also served by Sault Ste. Marie Airport and Sault Transit Services. The city is no longer connected by passenger rail to any other major cities, but is part of the Algoma Central Railway network, which runs north from the city to the small town of Hearst. In 2006 the city's Member of Parliament, Tony Martin, called for passenger rail service to be reinstated between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury."

Bud (aka John), The Old Curmudgeon

Fan of Northern Pacific and the Rock Island
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Chris VanderHeide cv_acr Super User 2,354 posts
Chris VanderHeide cv_acr

VIA

VIA never ran into or out of Sault Ste. Marie in any capacity.

Passenger service on the Canadian Pacific between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie was cancelled before CP handed their passenger services over to VIA Rail.

Passenger service on the Algoma Central Railway always remained under the ACR and was never transferred to VIA. Regular passenger service over the full line between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst, ON operated until 2015 when it was suspended. The tourist Agawa Canyon Tour Train still operates in the summer (May to Oct) but is strictly a day trip to the Canyon and back.

Chris van der Heide

My Algoma Central Modelling Blog

Canadian Freight Car Gallery

CPR Sudbury Division (Waterloo Region Model Railway Club)
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Michael SD90 Regular poster 164 posts
Michael SD90

Worth the trip

I went about 30 years  ago, on the day trip to the Agawa Canyon and back, it was lots of fun! I got to ride back in the locomotive, (A GP38-2 #204 I think) amazing for a 16 year old! There was a short hike at the Canyon, amazing  view!

 

Michael 

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
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ACR_Forever Prolific poster 1,366 posts
ACR_Forever

Mike

Any pictures of equipment, facilities, etc. you'd like to share?  Or are they already on the web somewhere?  We're always looking for more documentary evidence of this fallen flag.

Blair

Modeling the ACR in 1980
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janreimers Active Member 69 posts
janreimers

Would you like ride an RDC

Another option in the area is and VIA rail SUdbury to White River route: https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains/regional-trains/sudbury-white-river

 

One of the last remaining RDC runs in Canada ... or anywhere?
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Michael SD90 Regular poster 164 posts
Michael SD90

yes

I do have pictures, but they aren't in digital format, I'd have scan them and post them somehow.

 

Michael 

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
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ACR_Forever Prolific poster 1,366 posts
ACR_Forever

Ok.

I'll contact you offline.

Blair
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