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Jonathan Hayward / the canadian press archives The Grey Cup Train, and the Cup itself, will be rolling into Manitoba on Wednesday. It will be in Winnipeg Friday and Saturday. (CP)

Manitoba football fans will want to catch this train.

No, not to escape the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' 3-10 season but to celebrate the Canadian Football League's 100th Grey Cup anniversary and to get a close-up view of the championship trophy.

The Grey Cup is travelling across Canada on a special Via Rail train, making 100 stops before the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto on Nov. 25. The train includes several cars filled with CFL team memorabilia, 18 Grey Cup rings and a replica of a CFL team's locker-room with stalls belonging to various players around the league.

The Grey Cup Train Tour will be in Manitoba Wednesday through Friday at Minnedosa, Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg. Fans will get a chance to see the Grey Cup, meet some Bombers players and board the train to check out the displays. Admission is free.

"The Train Tour overall is a great opportunity to showcase the Canadian Football League and showcase to each (tour stop) the history and tradition of everybody's team. It's an exceptional exhibit that's been put together," said Jerry Maslowsky, the Bombers vice-president of marketing. "With the Grey Cup (trophy) being here, fans can come out and relive some great moments of Bomber history."

Early Wednesday, the train will be in Minnedosa. Later that day and early Thursday it will be in Portage la Prairie. It will be in Winnipeg on Friday and Saturday.

The train will be at Union Station at The Forks from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday, where fans can tour it, attend a fundraising barbecue for the Keeping Abreast Foundation and meet Bombers players, alumni and mascots.

"It really is a must-see for families to come out and experience, they're going to have a great time seeing it," Maslowsky said. "Young and old, there's something for everybody."

Trains are part of the Grey Cup's most historic fan celebrations. For example, Stampeders fans rode a train from Calgary to Toronto for the 1948 Grey Cup and ended up eating a pancake breakfast at City Hall.

"Going back to the (Grey Cup) roots of being on a train and carrying the heritage and legacy throughout Canada and culminating in the 100th Grey Cup is certainly a great spectacle," Maslowsky said.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPAshleyPrest

Manitoba Train Tour Schedule

-- free admission

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3

11 a.m.-3 p.m.: At Minnedosa, Main Street North & 2nd Avenue NE -- Fans can view and tour the 100th Grey Cup Train.

5-7 p.m.: At Portage la Prairie Rona store -- Blue Bombers Jason Vega and Bryant Turner on hand to meet fans and sign autographs.

THURSDAY, OCT. 4

11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m: At Portage la Prairie, South Side of Centennial Arena -- Fans can view and tour the 100th Grey Cup Train.

FRIDAY, OCT. 5

3:30 - 5 p.m.: Royal Canadian Mint

Grey Cup viewing -- Blue Bombers Henoc Muamba and Kito Poblah will meet fans and sign autographs.

7-9 p.m.: Winnipeg South Rona

Grey Cup viewing -- Blue Bombers Chad Simpson, Will Ford and mascots Buzz and Boomer will meet fans and sign autographs.

8 p.m. - 2 a.m.: Blue Bomber Alumni Grey Cup 100 Bash, Stereo Nightclub, Canad Inns Windsor Park. Ages 18-and-over, tickets $20 at the door or at the Bomber Store -- Grey Cup viewing, Blue Bomber Alumni, mascots, Blue Bomber Cheer Team, jersey auction.

SATURDAY, OCT. 6

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Union Station at The Forks -- Fans can view and tour the 100th Grey Cup Train, BBQ with proceeds to Keeping Abreast Foundation, Bomber players and alumni, mascots, Blue Bomber Cheer Team.

'It really is a must-see for families to come out and experience, they're going to have a great time seeing it. Young and old, there's something for everybody'

-- Jerry Maslowsky, Bombers vice-president of marketing

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 2, 2012 D3