About the Royal Canadian Pacific
Built between 1916 and 1931, the Royal Canadian Pacific's unique carriages have been elegantly restored in a classic style that allows you to fully relax in ultimate comfort. Finished in Circassian oakfrom Russia with Bird's Eye maple inlay and complimented by scalloped lamp fixtures, brass radiators and Turkish drapes, each car maintains the ambience of the classic era of luxury rail travel while providing our guests with the latest in conveniences.
Travelling in luxury, guests can enjoy the privacy of their own room, complete with private ensuite bathroom. Each guest room affords acomfortable nights sleep, a wonderful scenic view, closet, luggage storage and a safe for personal belongings. Our friendly and attentive service attendants cater to our guest's every need, ensuring their comfort and enjoyment while onboard.
RCP's locomotives
Royal Canadian Pacific (RCP) draws from its own special pool of diesel-electric locomotives restored to the company's classic 1950s-1960s tuscan-and-gray livery. All three locomotives were built by General Motors (GM) at their Diesel Division plant in London, Ont. Two are 1,750-h.p. vintage 1950s transcontinental passenger locomotives that have been upgraded to current standards but maintain the look and livery of the 1950s, right down to the famous Canadian Pacific beaver crest on the nose of locomotive No. 1401. The third locomotive, No. 3084, is a more modern 2,000-h.p. general purpose GM diesel with Canadian Pacific Railway's equally classic maroon-and-gray-with-yellow stripes livery of the 1960s.
Mount Stephen
CPR's Angus Shops craftsmen in Montreal built the Mount Stephen in just eight weeks at a mere cost of $72,522 Cdn in 1926. The car is named after CPR's first president (1881-1888), Sir George Stephen, later Baron Mount Stephen. Built to serve as the directors' "day car" for daytime business use, the car has an extended lounge and meeting/dining area but no sleeping accommodations except for crew. The Mount Stephen hosted many world-renowned people, including British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (former King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson), Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip), Princess Margaret, and Bill Gates.
Royal Wentworth
The Wentworth was named after the president and chairman of the CPR in 1926, when it was built. It became royal when it served as part of the "Royal Train" in 1939. The Royal Wentworth came out of CPR's Angus Shops in Montreal in 1926 as the Wentworth, at a cost of $73,536 Cdn. The name, Wentworth, came from CPR's then chairman and president, Edward Wentworth Beatty. A prestigious golf course and curling club, located in the Montreal suburb of Côte-St-Luc, was also given the CPR chief executive's middle name. The Wentworth's moment in history came in 1939 when the car was remodelled and repainted in royal blue, dark blue and aluminum livery as Car No. 5 of Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's Royal Train. The car was occupied by a number of dignitaries; including Canada's then prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King. In honour of the 60th anniversary of its Royal Train service, the car was renamed Royal Wentworth in 1999.
Van Horne
Van Horne was the great railway builder who managed the construction of the CPR rail lines from northern Ontario through to the west coast. He later became president and chairman of the railway. Ordered on February 7, 1927, this 84-foot (25.6-m) business car was built in less than 14 weeks by CPR craftsmen in the company's Angus Shops in Montreal. The total 1927 price tag for this 102-ton (92-tonne) car came to $73,031.21 Cdn. The Van Horne is named after William Cornelius Van Horne, CPR's famous American-born, railway-building general manager, who later rose to the ranks of vice-president and president before becoming CPR's first chairman. The Van Horne hosted gatherings of celebrities, politicians, lords and ladies, and company directors. In October 1931, its blue tapestry and mahogany surroundings conveyed then prime minister, Richard B. Bennett, from Ottawa to Pointe-Claire, Quebec. And in September, 1996, one year before Britain's lease on Hong Kong reverted control to China, its first governor under Chinese rule and former shipping magnate, Tung Chee Hwa, traveled aboard the Van Horne from Calgary to Lake Louise, Alberta.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881 or 502-454-0277
www.irtsociety.com
