麻豆视频

OGEMA — “All Aboard,” called the conductor.

The 70 people on the Ogema rail station platform presented their tickets to conductor Dale Tuplin to board the 麻豆视频ern Prairie Railway passenger car.

The passengers were military members and families from the 15 Wing Air Force base at Moose Jaw.

Among them was a youngster, about five years old, who was concerned the conductor would rip his ticket in half.

He wanted to keep it as a souvenir.

Tuplin assured him he would only punch a hole in the ticket.

Relieved, the boy asked if the hole could be punched “so I can hang it up on a nail?”

The conductor obliged.

Someone asked the boy if he wanted to join the air force when he gets older.

“No. I’m gonna run a train,’’ replied the young enthusiast.

Before the passengers experienced the train ride as it was in the 1920s when trains were the main means of travel, they toured the railway station and station agent’s living quarters upstairs.

Another highlight was the view from the engine as guests ventured the steps to have a look before boarding the passenger car.

The day was an eye opener as well as a trip into the past. Few had ever ridden on a train before.

Buses took them to Ogema from Moose Jaw, and one traveller scoffed at the flat Prairies.

Bus tour hostess Denise Helland said they would see hills just as the bus drove into the Missouri Coteau hills near Mossbank.

Many of the passengers had never ventured into the Saskatchewan landscape.

Quite a few were surprised that a pretty town the size of Assiniboia was located in the middle of the Prairie.

The passengers saw a doe deer and fawn, more deer, wild geese, ducks, gophers and the rolling landscape as the train rolled by.

The train took them west from Ogema to Horizon where  they toured the wooden crib elevator and learned about grain handling.

On return to Ogema they had a meal at the Heritage Hall.

The community-owned 麻豆视频ern Prairie Railway has been doing passenger trips since 2012 on summer weekends.

This tour was sponsored by the Friends of the Forces Fellowship with assistance from Serco to thank military members for their service.

Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]  -30