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[Anonymous]

Anybody been on VIA's Canadian lately? What's the consist these days? Still the classic Budd equipment from CP and CN? About 4 years ago I was told they were getting ready to replace all of it.

Would love to take the family to Vancouver in a double bedroom--costs over 2 grand per person, though, round trip. I think that includes meals in the diner though. Man, that's a lot of dough. . .but maybe the finest train left on the continent.

If anybody has been on this train lately please share your experiences.

[coborn35]

I do know they are talking about pulling the Canadian.

[Anonymous]

I can't remember what the current consist is of the Canadian currently is, but I do know that they are still using the Corrugated Budd Cars in the HEP-2 colour scheme, pulled by F40PH locomotives. The replacement cars you're hearing about are the Renaissance series which are still in renovation and hovering in limbo due to VIA's link to an unconnected government scandal. The Renaissance fleet are designed colour-wise to be pulled by the new P42DC locomotives, of which VIA currenlty has 21 in operation mostly along the Windsor to Quebec City cooridor... but these trains are mosly pulling the older Bombardier LRC cars.

You can check out www.viarail.com for some of their details, and it might even have an update on their Renaissance fleet.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

I do know they are talking about pulling the Canadian.

Uh-oh, I'd better scrape up the dough and act fast.

What shape is the old equipment in? Rattles and squeaks, or still pretty smooth after 60 years of service?

I did spend about 45 minutes on VIA's website, but it's not very easy to find your way around there and what I did find wasn't all that helpul (kind of like Amtrak's site!)

[Grinandbearit]

The Canadian consist is still all ex-CPR stainless except for some rebuilt Hep-1 stainless coaches from various sources and maybe an ex-UP baggage. The stainless steel cars used on the corridor are refered to as Hep-2 and are equipped with interiors similar to the LRC cars.
Although the cars of the Canadian are well cared for they are becoming a little "tired" and could do with a complete refurbishment.
The Canadian is still powered by as many as 3 F40s. Summer consists run as high as 30 cars. No Genesis here.
The Renaissance cars are in service on the corridor between Montreal and Quebec City and also on the Ocean between Montreal and Halifax.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the details. I love old Budd equipment, but just was wondering how it was holding up. Those things must have logged over a million miles of service by now, literally. If the ride is a little rough now, or they squeak and rattle some, I might hold out until they start cycling in some new equipment (talked with a VIA phone rep. today, he wasn't aware of any plans to can the train, but maybe he just didn't know). Interestingly, he quoted a lower fare than was on the website. Basically I could take my family off-season round trip on the entire run in a double bedroom for a little over $5K American. Still steep, but more tempting.

Anybody actually been on the train lately? How's the dining car?

It looks to me like this is still the finest train on the continent, at least if you like the good old-fashioned amenities and aren't too worried about speed. I guess there's some private companies offering "cruise" trains with some pretty nice equipment, too, but no regularly scheduled runs. I gave up on overnight Amtrak trips years ago, too many sour experiences. Ah, to have been born 50 years earlier.

[BR60103]

One of our magazines publishes sample consists of the Canadian.
The equipment was refurbished about 25 years ago and is due for another go. They have added a few cars that were built for American RRs.
General consist is 2-3 locos, baggage car, 2 coaches, dome/diner, sleepers mixed with diners and domes, dome-observation.
Coach passengers eat in the snack bar of their dome car. Sleeper passengers use a diner, not sure about the snack bars in that section of the train.
Usual sleepers on the Canadian are the Manor cars, but Chateau cars are added for heavy traffic. (Chateaux have duplex roomettes.)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BR60103


The equipment was refurbished about 25 years ago and is due for another go.

Wow, that's a long time to go. I remember riding the Rio Grande Zephyr in 1982, when that well-maintained Budd equipment from the CZ was about 30 years old, and it definitely was showing its age.

You been on the Canadian yourself?

[BNSF4ever]

Scroll down on my August-September 2005 trip report:

http://www.on-track-on-line.com/trips/trip-2005-08-20-husing.shtml

You'll get the consist of #1 that I rode from Toronto to Vancouver.

[BR60103]

My trip on the Canadian was to the NMRA convention in Calgary. That was before the refurbishment.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSF4ever

Scroll down on my August-September 2005 trip report:

http://www.on-track-on-line.com/trips/trip-2005-08-20-husing.shtml

You'll get the consist of #1 that I rode from Toronto to Vancouver.

Thanks--that was helpful. I must say based on your review I'm having second thoughts about spending that kind of dough.

Your Amtrak stories brought back painful memories from my younger days as an ardent train-lover. I had some great train rides as a kid but took some real punishment from Amtrak--the surly crews are the hardest thing to take, but the general mediocrity in all areas is disheartening. Not to say I haven't enjoyed a few longer Amtrak trips, and I still enjoy taking day trips on Amtrak, but I gave up the overnighters many years ago. Especially when I got to ride the Southern Crescent, the Rio Grande Zephyr, and the Adirondack--those were real trains by proud professionals people--like this conductor waiting to help folks aboard the Zephyr at Glenwood Springs:



Where's the wealthy entreprenuer willing to launch a crack passenger service and show Americans just how great trains can be? I tell you, if I had some money and/or investors, that's exactly what I'd do.

[jkeaton]

"Where's the wealthy entreprenuer willing to launch a crack passenger service and show Americans just how great trains can be? I tell you, if I had some money and/or investors, that's exactly what I'd do."

Isn't that what the American Orient Express is all about?

With regards to the Budd equipment on the Canadian, it was refurbished in the early 1990s - not sure how that is "25 years ago". If you're looking for a lower cost, shorter alternative to the Canadian for a family "train cruise", then VIA offers two other trains you should investigate.

The "Chaleur" also runs with refurbished classic Budd equipment between Montreal and Gaspe, Quebec, three times a week - the train goes out from Montreal one evening, arrives in Gaspe, turns around and comes right back, if you don't fancy spending time in Gaspe itself. No Rocky Mountains, but some spectacular scenery where the rail line runs along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This is a shorter train, typically only a coach or two, dome-lounge (serving as the food service car), and sleeper or two. In the busy season (Christmas, sometimes in the summer) it can get a Park sleeper-dome-lounge car on the tail end.

VIA's "Ocean" between Montreal and Halifax is also a good possibility, if you book carefully - the Ocean runs six days a week, using three sets of equipment, one of which is still a classic Budd set - including forward dome-lounge, full diner and Park sleeper-lounge-dome on the tail end. If you're booking, you can tell which day is which train set by the accommodations on offer - the Budd set has upper and lower berths, roomettes, bedrooms and drawing rooms, while the Renaissance sets have only double bedrooms and deluxe double bedrooms.

Both these trains are pulled by F40PH-2s. Since they're only one night each, they're cheaper than the Canadian.

Jim
Ottawa