A friend and I are planning a trip to British Columbia in June, primarily to photograph trains in the Fraser River Canyon. We would appreciate any tips on access to good photo sites, reasonably priced lodging in the area and other things in the area of interest to railfans. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Not sure if steam is your thing, but CP will be running the 2816 through the canyon at least twice for the BC 150th anniversary train. Schedule will be released in the next few months. Also, the Kamloops Heritage Railway will be running their CN 2-8-0 (2141) on small excursion through the summer, and if you’re willing to swing down to Summerland you can take a dip in Lake Okanagan and catch a ride on what remains of the Kettle Valley Railway, pulled by ex-CP 2-8-0 3716.
I have never been a fan of the lower Canyon, from Hope to North Bend/Boston Bar, where crews change. The photo angles are tight, with a lot of rock and trees in the way. Things open up the further north you go. In the past I’ve stayed in Lytton, where CN and CP leave the Fraser and follow the Thompson River east. Up around Spences Bridge it is wide open, but there are not many trees you can get into your shots. About 3 miles east of Lytton is CP’s Gladwin, from where there is a great view of CN’s Cape Horn tunnels.