One man's vision, rolling
The tours are the realization of a longtime vision of Gary Southgate, whose passion for trains and railway history began during his childhood. Over the years, Gary began collecting and purchasing vintage railway cars — and the result now carries passengers out of Eastend, in Saskatchewan's far south-west, on the freight line of Great Western Railway, whose collaboration makes the trips possible.
This is not a big-company production. It is a small-town scenic railway built the way so many of Canada's best heritage lines were built: because somebody local refused to let the railway just be something that passes through.
The run to Ravenscrag
Departing from Eastend, the approximately three-hour round trip to Ravenscrag takes passengers through rolling prairie, rugged coulees and the beautiful Frenchman River Valley. This is coulee country — the flat horizon breaks open into folded, eroded valleys that you simply do not see from the highway.
The journey includes two scenic stops for photos and sightseeing, and the line reaches, in the operator's words, areas and views rarely seen from the road. Complimentary water and a light snack are provided on board.
What it costs
2026 fares were $150 + GST for adults, $75 + GST for children 6–14, and free for children 5 and under. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required — there is no online booking; you reserve by phone at (306) 295-7406. The 2027 schedule had not been posted when this guide was written; the operator's page, hosted by the Town of Eastend, is where dates will appear.
Practical notes
- Reserve ahead by phone — (306) 295-7406; seating is limited and reservations are required
- About three hours round trip, with two scenic stops — bring a camera and a layer for the coulee wind
- Water and a light snack are included on board
- Fares (2026): $150 adult, $75 children 6–14, 5 and under free, plus GST
- Check the Town of Eastend page for the current season's dates before making the drive
- Keep a camera in hand for the whole trip, not just at the windows: the Ravenscrag run makes two scenic stops for photos and sightseeing, at views the operator notes are rarely seen from the road.
- Complimentary water and a light snack are provided onboard. You may bring a small bag with your own non-alcoholic drinks and snacks — but leave chocolate, nuts and sunflower seeds behind; none of the three is permitted onboard.
- Treat the cars themselves as part of the attraction: the tours run in vintage railway cars collected over years by founder Gary Southgate, and the operator frames the ride as a working railway museum — history experienced from a seat, not viewed in a display case.
Where to base yourself
Eastend itself is the base — a small town in Saskatchewan's south-west, in dinosaur country (the T.rex Discovery Centre is here, built around Scotty, the world's most massive T. rex, found nearby). The Cypress Hills are an easy pairing, and Shaunavon and Maple Creek are the nearest service towns. This is remote, beautiful country: fuel up, book a room, and make a weekend of it.