Part two of a three-part series about a local resident who hosts day trips by train to small communities in the outlying areas of Prince George.
Prince George’s Train Lady, Linda Campbell, hosts train trips to remote communities in the outlying areas mostly along the East Line rail geared for those who wish to step back in time for a moment or two.
Campbell first got the idea of hosting the train trips when she attended a talk at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum and heard historian Ray Olson chat about life on the East Line in days gone by.
Olson is the author of three local history books, including Ghost Towns of the East Line, From Liabo to Loos and Hutton: A Historical Retrospective.
“Ray’s passion, interest and willingness to share has just been so important to me wanting to do something as well,” Campbell said.
“He and I got to be friends and he’s just opened up a whole new world out there. It’s fun to be able to do the train trips with him. You learn one thing and you want to learn more.”
Hearing about the contribution people made in the outlying communities surrounding Prince George made an impact on Campbell, she added.
“Ray often talks about the fact that more people lived on the East Line than in Prince George back in its heyday and I find that amazing,” Campbell said.
“There was such a life out there. The contribution the people in those communities made is part of the history of the area and I thought that was really interesting. So I tootled out there and then I thought a train trip out would be fun.”
People just don’t talk about trains anymore, she noted.
“So many people don’t even know that Via Rail still exists, even though their name is written on the Prince George station. So I thought it would be fun to take a train trip with my grandkids. So about six or seven years ago we went on a trip to Sinclair Mills and my husband picked us up and brought us back to Prince George. And it was fun.”
Talking about the trip with Campbell’s coworkers led to an Ecole Franco-Nord class trip.
“And the lovely people at Sinclair Mills opened up their community hall and shared a bit about their life and history and we had goodies and the kids had a wonderful time.”
When people hear about Campbell’s train trips they usually share that they’ve either never been on a train or had only been on a train as a child, she added.
“And that’s my experience,” Campbell said. “I had gone across Canada with my mum.”
And the train trips now?
“It’s all about going back in time, exploring, learning and chuckling with the great people you meet on the trip and out in the communities and the views people see along the way are not what most people see because the tracks usually go right along the rivers and lakes where the roads don’t,” Campbell said.
Cory Antrim of Antrim Charters provides the shuttle that brings people back to Prince George.
“Between Cory, Ray and I we are kind of a team,” Campbell said.
“And isn’t this how it always works? One thing leading to another? The trips are historical and pure enjoyment just because of the experience of being on a train. And I say historical because Ray often comes along and speaks about what we’re seeing and what we’re not seeing anymore along the way and then he speaks at the community hall where we stop.”
Campbell said she finds these adventures very fulfilling.
“And it always makes me happy to meet new people,” Campbell said.
Before each trip, Campbell creates a little group on Messenger for those going on the trip. Everyone shares information and Campbell will share old photos and stories about the communities they will be going through and visiting.
The Train Lady also hosts special niche trips geared for some of her favourite people, her grandchildren Sam and Sarah who were six and three when they started their train adventures together.
The Grammy Train trips were the brainchild of Campbell and her dear friend Carol Bajkov who has sadly passed away. Bajkov might be best remembered as a dedicated longtime volunteer with the Festival of Trees.
“When you’re retired like me, I find it important to have activities,” Campbell said.
“I like meeting new people so I just kind of thought I could do this for seniors and that’s primarily what I do.”
The Grammy Train most recently took a trip to the Sturgeon Centre in Vanderhoof. That train goes both ways, Campbell noted, so no shuttle back is required.
Campbell’s interest in trains goes back to her earliest memories.
Campbell’s family moved to Prince George from Prince Rupert immediately after she was born.
“Dad worked at the railway as a telegraph officer, I think they called him in those days,” Campbell said.
“There was a repeater station right by the train station. We lived on Quebec Street. Once upon a time in the 1950s there were three little train houses there that they rented out to employees and that was where my life was until I was about 13 years old and then we moved away.”
Living right on Quebec Street offered some unique features to the families.
“We always heard the sound of the trains, including the clickety clacking that trains don’t do now but it was just our life being around trains,” Campbell said.
“I guess it’s just in my blood, but I didn’t really know that until a few years ago and that’s pretty special.”
Visit the Train Lady at www.facebook.com/TrainLady.
