The writer and historian Rick Antonson, joined by his grandson Riley Antonson, discusses his new memoir Train Beyond the Mountains: Journeys on the Rocky Mountaineer (Greystone, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Train Beyond the Mountains: Journeys on the Rocky Mountaineer by Rick Antonson (Greystone, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Train Beyond the Mountains

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

One of the delightful books of the season is the latest from Rick Antonson. The travel writer and historian has written other books about his travels, but there’s nothing quite as special and captivating as his book about a train journey with his grandson, Riley. The book is called Train Beyond the Mountains: Journeys on The Rocky Mountaineer. In it, Rick recounts a journey from Banff along the route travelled by the Rocky Mountaineer to the west coast, here in Vancouver, and up through Jasper, Alberta back to Banff. We get a sense of the geography of this part of Canada, and the topography of these mountains, the trestles and tunnels through Alberta and British Columbia that also symbolise a lot of history of this country and generations of peoples along the way. The book also illustrates the relationship between a grandfather and his grandson, as they navigate not just this journey but a passing moment in a growing child’s life. Rick and Riley join me now. I’ll ask them what the trip was like, what they both got out of it, and whether a journey like this is recommended for a ten-year-old child. Both Rick and Riley are older now, as it’s been about four years since they took this trip, so it’ll be good to reflect on how each viewed the experience then as now. Rick Antonson is the former president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver, now Destination Vancouver. He served as chair of the board for Destinations International, and vice chair of the Pacific Asia Travel Association. He was vice-president of Rocky Mountaineer during its start up years, and I’ll ask him what it was like then as this brand was starting out, and about the vision of its founder Peter Armstrong. The website for more is at www.rickantonson.com. This new book is published by Greystone. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Rick Antonson; Mr. Antonson, good morning. And please welcome to the program as well Riley Antonson; Mr. Antonson, good morning.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (37.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS