CANADIAN PASSENGER RAILROADS - Let's talk! BYOB ........

[siberianmo]

Now, this is the type of interaction I had hoped for! Let's keep it going - remembering of course that we are talking about CANADIAN PASSENGER RAILROADS. From there, who knows where the conversations may go?!

I'm not a great fan of those tourist trains - although if they are the only one's who can get you from point A to B, well then - I'd spring for the big bucks. Unless and until VIA Rail gets out of the cross-Canada business, I'll be a "frequent rail rider" with them.

Comparisons are great when it comes to passenger trains, whether of today or the past. For me and what I have been able to ascertain, there just are no valid comparisons to what Canadian Pacific managed to put together some 50 years ago with their "Canadian." What a great trip. From all the photo's I've seen and books I've read, about the only criticism I've come up with is that they didn't run enough dome cars. Every now and then you'd see two (aside from the Park Car, of course) - but mainly just one about 4 cars back from the loco's. That seems to be the practice today - having traveled that route on two round trips (Toronto - Vancouver) in spring and winter.

About the REAL "Polar Express" - VIA Rail's "Hudson Bay" to Churchill is a trip that I have wanted to take for years. From what I have been told, this is the type of trip that will quickly determine one's love for trains! Mine runs deep - so one of these days ......... hopefully soon!

By the way, any of you Canadian rail fans ever had the opportunity of traveling aboard the Turbo Trains?

[tatans]

Thanks for the info. now I know who is running the Rocky Mounaineer in Canada, it's those guys from Denver(not to be confused with the C.P.R.)

[Anonymous]

I rode coach on the VIA "Canadian" from Vancouver to Toronto in May 2000. Drank lots of water (and some of the other stuff, too) so I'd stay awake during the day to see the scenery and sleep better at night. It was four hours late getting into Toronto but the King Street trolley to my motel was still running.

[morseman]

If you are interested in the Canadian "Rocky Mountaineer"
Go to coloradorailcar.com A good description of new
equipment the Mountaineer is purchasing.

If only the CP Rail & later Via had promoted their
trains properly they could have made a good investment
on their money as Rocky Mountaineer is doing.

[tatans]

"Royal Canadian Pacific" does a loop to Revelstoke south to Crow's Nest pass and east back to Calgary, 5 days for $5500.00, or take a one day trip to Field B.C. for $750.00 (u.s.) (they do feed you) These trips are not for the peasants.

[Anonymous]

I should've been more detailed. Was talking about the Royal Canadian Pacific article in February TRAINS. Operated by the railroad itself. In the grand railroad tradition.
http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/RCP/default.htm

The VIA website shows a train, The Hudson Bay, between Winnipeg and Churchill (Hudson Bay).
http://www.viarail.ca/trains/en_trai_prai_wich.html

[tatans]

Yes there still is a train to Churchill on the Hudson Bay, From Winnipeg to Churchill, VIA runs it , It's 1700 km. (1000 miles), there are sleepers & dining available, and it will stop anywhere along the line if you want to get off and go hunting, The "Canadian" travels on CN lines which is a bit farther north (not much) than C.P.R. lines (remember, over 80% of all Canadians live within 200 miles of the U.S. border) so you are a long, long way from the North. Through the Rockies in places the CN & CP parallel each in the river canyons, usually on opposite sides of the river---quite a site ! ! Train travel in Canada is expensive.

[martin.knoepfel]

There used to be a passenger-train to the Hudson Bay. Is it still running?

[daveklepper]

The Canadian is the nearest thing running to recreating the old California Zephyr experience, and as the TRAINS article indicated, the obs-lounge-sleeper car is the same design.

[siberianmo]

Modelcar: Good one - but, where's the "beef"? Nothing about Canadian Passenger railroads!!

[Modelcar]

....BYOB: Be Your Own Boss.....

[siberianmo]

For dehusman: BYOB - the definition is in the mind of the beholder! Budd Light would be just fine, though. Actually, I'm a Coors Light kinda guy - but then again, I really enjoy O'Keefe's Ale of Nova Scotia, and then there's ...........

For athelney: That trip in 1970 must have ben a treat. My model railroad is modeled after our experiences while traveling with VIA Rail. We have family and friends in Halifax, so the "Ocean" is our preferred method of travel. In fact, we rode one of the last "Atlantic" consists en route Halifax from Montreal via Maine.

Thanx for the interest and keep it going!

[athelney]

Yes the VIA - "Canadian " is alive & well including it's all stainless Budd consist - It is quite the sight - especially in the summer when a full consist and 3 loco's are in use . this is the 'real' thing- a regular scheduled train and not a tour - although the Rocky Mountaineer is also a great sight for passenger fans.
I rode the CP Canadian back in the 1970's - Toronto to Vancouver - and partly because of it's great route & equipment - being able to see Canada from the ground - caused me to emigrate from the UK.

[dehusman]

BYOB?

Bring Your Own Budd?

Dave H.

[siberianmo]

First response to our first question!

Let me clarify a bit, though: The Canadian Pacific "Canadian" featured in the Spring 2005 issue of "Classic Trains" was not a "tour train." That train - the "Canadian" was a regularly scheduled train crossing most of the North American continent.

Today, VIA Rail operates its version of the "Canadian," which has much of the same equipment (other than loco's) as did the CP. The VIA Rail "Canadian" runs on Canadian National trackage, whereas the CP ran on its own - so they are mostly different routes. The cars are the Budd stainless steel beauties of days gone by - EXCEPT - those days still remain in Canadian passenger operations!

Now to the question: Yes - my wife and I have taken the round trip between Toronto and Vancouver on two different occassions. One time in May and the other departing Toronto on New Year's Eve. Both trips were absolutely memorable with the scenery as outstanding as anyone could want - well, perhaps not just anyone! For us - we were very pleased with the four 3 day/3 night segments and plan to repeat the journey in the not to distant future. Check out www.viarail.ca for first hand info about their trains and of course, the "Canadian." By the way, those cross-Canada trains only have departures three days per week in each direction - and are usually full, especially if you want a bedroom and moreso in the spring and summer.

Sorry about my expounding on the word, "tours," but when it comes to regularly scheduled passenger operations - there is a difference.

For those wanting to tour the Canadian Rockies - check out the "Rocky Mountaineer" site - they are tour operators and charge the prices that go with it. I'll take VIA Rail any day, any time - "real" trains with "real" crews and very "real " passengers.

I haven't seen the statistics for 2004 VIA Rail ridership, but when I do - I'll post them here.

Hopefully someone who travels the "corridor" can respond more accurately to your inquiry.

Thanx for your question!

[Anonymous]

I would love to take the CP tour train that MWH wrote about recently in TRAINS. Has anyone else out there taken any of these tours?

Is VIA ridership strong and growing? Corridor and LD trains?

[siberianmo]

There are lots of pleasures in life, some we can speak about in public and some better saved for another time and place! I love passenger trains.

For me, talking about passenger trains and the railroading that goes with it, capativates my interests. Of course, riding them is the next best thing to ....... well, use your imagination.

For the past 15 years, I have become a fan of Canadian railroading, and in particular VIA Rail and the now defunct, BC Rail passenger operations.

Are there sufficient numbers of "us" out there who can make this topic an ongoing thing? Hope so ..........

The groundrules are pretty simple:

Share your thoughts about Canadian passenger railroading - past and present. Let's not bash one another because of differences in opinion and of course, nationalities. Above all - keep politics out of our discussions.

FOR NEWCOMERS: May I suggest that you browse the pages from start to finish? You may find something that will enhance what you are about to post, plus you'll find out "where we've been."


Ladies and Gentlemen, let's talk Canadian passenger trains!