Revelstoke British Columbia - It took some time before Revelstoke Canadian Pacific (CP) crews got used to having camera crews around.
 
The crews were filmed as part of Discovery Canada's latest docu-series, Rocky Mountain Railroad, which showcases the daily challenges of keeping passenger and freight trains rolling through the icy mountain wilderness during the winter months.
 
CP Road Master Chad Deschamps said crews found the first week of filming awkward and made doing their jobs challenging.
 
"The positiveness though, they worked extra safe, and they always made sure the camera crews were not at risk as they would include the camera crews in on their job briefings," said Deschamps.
 
Prior to filming, Discovery Canada met with Deschamps and CP Director of Track Charles Girard to discuss site locations.
 
They included the trip from Field to Revelstoke while crews worked on snow and avalanche issues, and the trip from Revelstoke to Kamloops covering high water, rock slides, and washouts during spring runoff.
 
As filming went on, Deschamps said most of the local maintenance of way workers from Revelstoke were filmed, as well as some engineers and conductors.
 
The eight-part series not only showcases the challenges, but also provides a glimpse into the culture of being a railway worker.
 
Railway crews put in long hours, working away from home in all types of weather.
 
Deschamps said it's the men and women who put in long hours who are the backbone of CP.
 
He said he hopes viewers watching will see what it takes to get just one train across Canada.
 
A clip from the trailer for the series shows Deschamps telling a crew member, "If you get injured, I have to live with that for the rest of my life."
 
He said crews mentor one another to make sure they work safe.
 
"When the work crews have worked together for so long, it's more like a family because they spend so much time together, and they take safety serious," he said.
 
Deschamps would know.
 
He is on his 26th year with CP.
 
He started off in the engineering department and worked in two other departments, but said engineering has always interested him.
 
Growing up, Deschamps watched his dad working for CP and decided that was the job he wanted.
 
He even had a chance to work alongside his father before he retired.
 
Deschamps is currently Road Master in Revelstoke, where it is his and his assistants' job to ensure the tracks from Ross Peak to Sicamous are patrolled on a daily basis to make sure they are safe for operations.
 
Episodes of Rocky Mountain Railroad airs on Discovery Canada 5 Mar 2018 but Revelstoke CP crews got to attend a private viewing of the series.
 
CP spokesperson Jeremy Berry helped to arrange a premiere of the series at Roxy Theatre for employees and family this past January.
 
"After seeing the episode they choose for the premiere, we all felt the series hit home, and the representation was very descriptive and accurate of our daily challenges and regular work we perform daily for safe operations of trains," said Deschamps.
 
Melissa Jameson.