About 125kms south east of Prince George in British Columbia, Canada, at Mile Post 69.5 on VIA Rail’s ‘Skeena’ railway line is the town of Penny. It is on the remote northern side of the Fraser River at the end of the Upper Fraser Road so access is limited. Once a bustling sawmill settlement, its population in now only 5½!

So what makes Penny famous? It is the only remaining town in Canada that the mail is delivered by train. The tiny Post Office is right next to the rail line. Most of the mail is for stamp collectors. The train runs 3 times a week and mail is collected on the way to Prince George and dropped off on the return trip to Jasper. Train passengers can hand the Conductor postcards to be posted during the short stop at Penny.

I travelled on the ‘Skeena’ from Jasper to Prince Rupert and stopped at Penny on 4th July 2012. The scenery is spectacular and the train slows at selected scenic spots and when wild life is sighted. About an hour out of Jasper, many passengers headed for the rear dome car to catch a glimpse of Mt.Robson, Canada’s highest peak. If you want to get from the Canadian Rockies to the Inside Passage and Alaska I recommend the 2-day trip on the ‘Skeena’.

David Mallen
19th August 2012

Penny Post Office, British Columbia, Canada

Penny postmark

Skeena train and Mt. Robson

Penny Map