Travel & Places
Heritage Park Launches Vintage Train Ride Experience
History lovers can now enjoy a new train tour departing from Calgary’s Heritage Park, offering a ride through time with vintage cars and storytelling guides.
By Ava Desjardins | 2025-10-04 04:27
Calgary’s Heritage Park has added a new attraction to its beloved lineup: a vintage train ride that takes passengers on a narrated journey through time. Launched this past weekend, the ride features fully restored railcars from the early 20th century and a coal-fired steam locomotive that chugs along a scenic route circling the historical village grounds.
The new experience, dubbed 'Tracks Through Time,' was created to deepen public engagement with Alberta’s railway heritage. The 30-minute loop is accompanied by live narration, offering historical context about the railway’s role in Western Canada’s expansion, immigration, and economy during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Passengers board at the newly refurbished Midnapore Station, where costumed interpreters greet visitors in period attire. The interior of the cars includes wooden benches, brass fittings, and detailed signage that replicates what passengers would have seen a century ago. For many riders, the authenticity of the train itself is as much a highlight as the landscape it passes.
As the train slowly circles the park, it passes through recreated townscapes, farmland, and even a functioning roundhouse that maintains the park’s rail fleet. Volunteers and engineers onboard provide demonstrations of braking systems, steam control, and signaling, giving rail enthusiasts a hands-on perspective they won’t find elsewhere.
“We really wanted to make this more than just a ride,” says program coordinator Jenna Howell. “It’s a moving classroom, a way to make Alberta’s rail history come alive in a way that feels immersive and accessible to all ages.” The initiative also ties in with local curriculum, making it an educational outing for school groups.
Feedback from visitors during the opening weekend was overwhelmingly positive. Many guests expressed nostalgia for Canada’s rail history and shared family stories of ancestors who worked on or traveled the trains during Canada’s early development. For children, the sights and sounds of the whistle and wheels proved thrilling.
The train runs on weekends from spring through early fall and will expand to daily operation during the summer holidays. Heritage Park is offering bundled tickets that include the ride along with access to its full array of historical exhibits, including the Gasoline Alley Museum and the recreated First Nations Encampment.
The launch of the train experience comes as part of Heritage Park’s broader revitalization plan, which includes expanded programming, updated exhibits, and community events designed to bring Alberta’s diverse past to life. Organizers say the train is a cornerstone of this renewed vision.
Tickets for 'Tracks Through Time' can be booked online or at the park entrance. With limited seating per departure and growing interest from local tour operators, visitors are encouraged to plan ahead. Heritage Park continues to be one of Calgary’s most dynamic attractions—now with a new ride that’s making history all over again.