Caption: Celebrating Canada's Sesquicentennial Canada Day ... trackside and part of the Rails & Tales Canada150 Steam Excursion / Program put on by the Alberta Prairie Railway. Canada Day 2017 started off at 7:00 a.m. sharp with a double header steam excursion (APST 41 & ARM 1392) from Stettler to Big Valley and return (12:00). Guests were treated to champagne and orange juice on the train enroute and a full buffet style pancake breakfast upon arrival in Big Valley. Both steamers were decked out in flags and colours to celebrate this special day and year. APST 41, with flags a flying and under full steam, was the sole motive power for Canada Day Special #2 excursion (3:15) to Big Valley. No. 41 is a 1920 Baldwin Consolidation 2-8-0 62 feet in length and weighing 244,000 pounds. The balance of the afternoon was spent at Big Valley enjoying the interesting historic displays, exhibits (yes even 'G' scale model train locomotives) and, of course, the impressive train station/museum. The day/evening was capped off with a barbequed steak and a cool 'Canadian'. Patriotic and memorial experience or what! Now bring on 2018!
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