The Royal York and Chateau Champlain....CP Trains not the Hotels

[Miningman]

 

 

 

[ghCBNS]

The Royal York and Chateau Champlain…..the CP Trains….not the CP Hotels!!

In October 1965....the Pool Agreement between CN and CP ended. Since the 1930’s passenger train schedules and equipment between Toronto & Montreal, Toronto & Ottawa and Montreal & Quebec City had been pooled and tickets were honoured by either railway. (Note Montreal – Ottawa trains had not been part of the pool agreement)

Now the railways were free to pursue their own objectives.

The pro-passenger CN launched their new Rapido: 4 hr/59 min for the 335 miles between Toronto and Montreal.

CP took on this competition with their new Stainless Steel and Domes....The Royal York w/b to Toronto and Chateau Champlain e/b to Montreal….named for the CP Hotels in the respective cities.

Consists of the new CP trains included Budd Stainless Steel Coaches, Dining Car, Skyline Dome Coffee Shop and Park Car Dome Observation. There were also Parlour Cars converted from the Stainless Steel Coaches. The coach seats were removed and replaced with 40 Parlour Chairs; Large loose chairs facing into the centre of the car rather than the fixed swivel type.

The trains ran on CP’s Belleville and Winchester Subdivisions via Trenton and Smiths Falls…..taking 5 hrs/45 min for the 340 miles. But the faster CN Rapidos and lower fares were just too much……so after less than 3 months the new Royal York and Chateau Champlain were gone……ending all CP passenger service between Toronto and Montreal.

At that time CN did not operate any passenger trains between Toronto and Ottawa. This was exclusive CP territory and with the end of the pool agreement....service was drastically reduced to a single RDC ‘Dayliner’ run each way between Toronto and Ottawa (via Peterborough) and an RDC from Ottawa connecting with the Royal York/Chateau Champlain at Smiths Falls. Particularly missed were the overnight trains between Toronto and Ottawa.

Now with the Royal York and Chateau Champlain gone…..CP also ended all passenger services between Ottawa and Toronto.

With the Board of Transport Commissioners blessing....CN now had to somehow hammer together an Ottawa to Toronto route. They had an old freight only Canadian Northern route between Ottawa – Smiths Falls – Napanee and the new CN daytime trains started using the Ottawa – Smiths Falls segment in mid January 1966. At Smith Falls, CP granted running-rights so CN could continue on down to Brockville to connect with Montreal - Toronto corridor trains. This is essentially the same route VIA’s Ottawa – Toronto trains still use today.

CN’s new Ottawa – Toronto overnight train started in mid February 1966 but it didn’t run via Brockville. Upon reaching Smiths Falls ….it stayed on the old Canadian Northern route to a jct with the Kingston Sub at Napanee... then continued onto Toronto.

CN and CP also went their separate ways between Montreal and Quebec City. CP basically maintained their previous schedules but CN now had their recently launched (1964) Champlain (using the ex Reading Railroad Crusader equipment) on a fast 3hr/10min schedule.