On a train from Vancouver to Toronto, there is plenty for a passenger to gaze upon.

Passing through Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Jasper, Alta., the route makes its way across much of the country and its varied terrain.

Passengers on one of the recent VIA Rail trips had something extra to enjoy if they turned their heads away from the window.

Yukon artist Kim Beggs spent four days this month singing for her supper, so to speak, as part of VIA Rail Canada's Entertainer Onboard program.

In exchange for the trip and a first-class berth (a private single bed), Beggs performed twice a day and told stories about the North to anyone interested in listening.

Beggs says she first heard about the program last year after she was invited to be the open act for a friend's CD release party in downtown Toronto.

"I thought I wasn't going to go all that way just for one show, and then this opportunity came up,” she told the Star this week from Toronto.

VIA Rail's Entertainer Onboard program has been up and running for about five years. It offers passengers a chance to hear music from around the country.

"It's about showcasing Canadian talent and showcasing the canadian experience,” says VIA Rail spokesperson Jacques Gagnon.

Beggs boarded the train in Vancouver last Friday and arrived in Toronto on Tuesday, in time for that concert downtown.

She spent her time on the train telling stories about the Yukon between songs.

She brought along copies of Jim Robb's book, The Colourful Five Per Cent, as well as Yukon calendars and magazines for the audience to peruse.

"I think everyone really appreciated it,” she said.

But performing on a train brought with it its own set of challenges.

"The train wobbles a bit, so you have to keep your balance,” she said.

"You can't really stand with just your feet on the ground and an acoustic guitar and expect to stay standing up. You have to sit or lean.”

Then there was the noise.

"You have to be in touch with your ‘loud voice' because you're competing with all the noise of the train,” she said about her all-acoustic performances.

"You basically have to belt it out.”

Her busy schedule, which included performing on the train as well as at the station in Jasper, meant the experience was far from a vacation.

"It's not a holiday you get out of the deal; it's basically eat, sleep, sing,” she said.

Still, it was an experience she would recommend to any artist interested in applying.

Beggs plans to make a similar trip back west in early February. This time. she will bring along a friend.

Teamed with Natalie Edelson, the duo known together as the Blue Warblers will be travelling from Toronto to Edmonton.

From there, the pair will get to see even more of the country when they begin a stint as part of the national program Home Routes.

The Blue Warblers will travel through western Canada performing at house concerts along the way.

Their first stop will be in Prince George, B.C.