Kettle Valley Steam Railway

It Was a Robbery

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway runs The Great Train Robbery on the historic Okanagan Kettle Valley Railroad. During this scenic train ride, you head out on a 16km  ride where you can enjoy the gorgeous vistas of the area with the Okanagan lake in the distance. 

As the train approaches the station upon returning, the Garnett Valley Gang approaches the moving stream train by horseback and enacts a robbery. Hollering from horseback with gun fire, they then board the train rob that patrons of their change. A gun point robbery of change for charity.  All stolen loot goes to local charities.

rifles, six-shooters and .38 calibre blanks

The Garnett Valley Gang

The Garnett Valley Gang pulls their rifles and six-shooters, loaded with .38-calibre Winchester blanks and puts on a great show where all ages aboard the train enjoyed the entertainment.

Since 1996, the Garnett Valley Gang started offering paying tourists an immersive, turn-of-the-last-century train experience. Which involves a journey on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway’s Spirit of Summerland, a 110-year-old shining black steam train, and a dramatic “robbery” pulled off by gang members on horseback who gallop to capture the train. Once they’ve halted it, they relieve willing travellers of money that is then donated to Okanagan charities.

The Garnett Valley Gang has collected more than $200,000 for charities. Not only is this entertaining and for a good cause, but it’s also a history lesson for the area as well because you are onboard the only preserved section of this historic railway.

If you don’t want to be involved in a robbery, you can still enjoy just the scenic route as well and it is well worth the price of admission just to feast your eyes on the beautiful vistas of the lush orchards and vineyards to a breathtaking view of Okanagan Lake from the Trout Creek Trestle Bridge 238 ft. above the canyon floor. The sight and sound of the restored 1912 Steam Locomotive brings you back to an era, a journey through time in a vintage passenger coach or in the open air car.

It’s really a marvel to experience and such a special thing that the Kettle Valley Steam Railway has preserved and shared this history and heritage of the Kettle Valley Rail Line, reconnecting guests to the story from a bygone era of Canadian History

_{Please note that I have not received these products for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my opinion.  There may be links that are affiliate links but at the time of posting this review, I have not received any monetary kickbacks.}