Battle River Train Excursions

Battle River Train Excursions offers a premier heritage rail experience in East-Central Alberta, operating as a unique partnership between the Battle River Railway (a farmer-owned cooperative) and the Friends of the Battle River Railway (a non-profit volunteer society). Based in Forestburg, the excursion utilizes a beautifully restored 1950s-era Pullman passenger car—often supplemented by an open-air boxcar and a rustic caboose—to transport guests through the scenic Battle River Valley. These day-long journeys are famous for their themed itineraries that showcase rural Alberta hospitality, such as the “Sip n’ Ride” to the Detention Brewery in Rosalind, the “Historic Heisler Hotel Excursion” featuring locally made Heisler sausage, and the high-stakes “Murder on the Battle River Express.”  Unlike many seasonal railroads, the passenger car is equipped with heating, allowing the society to host excursions nearly year-round, including festive holiday runs like “Santa Daze.” A typical 2026 trip might depart from Kelsey, Forestburg, or Alliance, lasting approximately six hours and including locally sourced meals, live entertainment, and stops at quirky prairie landmarks like Canada’s largest baseball glove. Because the line remains a functional freight shortline used for moving grain, riders get a genuine look at a “working” railroad while enjoying a slow-paced, nostalgic trip that travels “diagonally” through landscapes inaccessible by modern highways.