Looking for a fun family activity? Consider making the drive to Ogema, home of the Southern Prairie Railway.
The popular train has returned for its eighth season.
“We had a really good turnout last Saturday; we had the kid’s fun train in the morning and that was sold out,” said Carol Peterson, board chair of the Ogema Heritage Railway Association. “Quite a few of the robbery trains are sold out as well.”
There are several different types of train experiences, although Peterson says the robbery and kid’s fun trains prove to be the most popular. During the robbery train riders on horseback will approach and board the train. They will then “rob” the train. The kid’s train includes face painting and balloon animals, fun activities, along with lunch and cake.
There is also the settler’s supper train, which includes a meal with “all the prairie fixings, like beef, baked potatoes, different salads, and homemade pies and homemade cowboy biscuits.”
Other options include the heritage train, along with the prairie pitchfork fondue train, which includes a meal.
There is also the rum runner train.
“It’s like a roaring 20s one and quite a few people dress up in the flapper dresses and the guys dress up as gangsters. We have an Italian supper and you get robbed on the way out to supper by Bonnie and Clyde type people.”
All of the “stolen” goods taken during the robbery and rum runner train rides are donated to STARS Air Ambulance and the Saskatchewan Cancer Society.
New this year is the Christmas in September train.
“I thought I would try Christmas in September,” said Peterson. “You can wear your favourite Christmas sweater and get your pictures taken with Santa so you can use that for your Christmas card.”
Of course, the train would not operate without a team of dedicated volunteers.
“We have a board of six people. Every once in a while we have a little something that needs to be done, like this past weekend the flowers gardens needed to be done so people volunteered to clean them out and plant the flowers. It works out good. If we need restoration on some of the equipment then people will come out for that, too,” said Peterson.
“Usually, if you put a call out someone will come to help.”
Southern Prairie Railway has become a very important part of the community.
“There are different things that have started up because of the train. We have Candy’s Catering — she has a food truck now and she does the catering for the pitchfork fondue train and for the settler’s supper. We have a lady who started a bed and breakfast and we have another lady who set up an ice cream shop here in town. It all spins off,” said Peterson.
“The existing businesses get people going by too and they will stop by and get a coffee, or pop, or a meal.”
While in Ogema you may want to stop by the regional park, which Peterson says has a great playground. Don’t forget: if you show your train ticket stubs you get free admission to Ogema’s Deep South Pioneer Museum.
To purchase tickets, visit www.southernprairierailway.ca. Simply choose your train ride and select your number of tickets. Prices vary depending on the ride you are choosing. You can also purchase tickets at the train station, providing seats are available.
The Ogema Heritage Railway Association is a registered charity, so any donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt. You can keep the train going by adding a donation when purchasing your tickets online.
Ogema is located approximately 150 km southeast of Moose Jaw. The train operates from now until September 28.
