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Hello all, I haven't been on here in a while. I've been swamped at home and at work. However, my mom and I took a trip to Canada in October. We flew to Toronto, spent a few days in Toronto and Niagara Falls, then took the Canadian to Vancouver, and spent a few days in Vancouver. I have lot of pictures up on my site: http://paul.internetforall.com/thumbnails.php?album=15
The VIA pictures start on page 3. This was our first VIA trip, and my first time to Canada.
The entire trip was wonderful! The Canadian was running with a "shoulder" consist, with 2 lounge/activity cars, and 2 diners, instead of 1 of each in the winter, or 3 of each in the summer, in addition to the Park car. So, we had a total of 4 domes on the train!
We only had about 100 people on the train at any given time. There were only about 40 people per first-class section. There was plenty of room in the dining cars, and plenty of dome car space. The crew said that because of the US/CDN $ exchange rate reversing, VIA, and tourism in general, has been hit hard.
The VIA trip was wonderful! All the crew was attentive and pleasurable. The crew seemed to be selected for their positions based on their personalities and qualities. The attendants in the lounge/activity cars were very sociable and pleasurable. Likewise, the dining car staff was attentive and efficient. The sleeping car staff was very responsive, and if they were on break, the Service Manager would attend to the cars.
The lounge/activity cars had an attendant who would sell souvenirs, serve drinks, play movies and music, and coordinate activities throughout the day. In the morning, there was a continental breakfast in addition to the full breakfast in the dining car, and in the afternoon, there were snacks. Fresh fruit, coffee, tea and hot chocolate were always available. What I really enjoyed seeing was that the lounge/activity attendant would make rounds through the car asking if they could get something for you. If you ordered a drink, they would bring it to you. What really surprised me was when I ordered a "pop" when I was in the Park car. The attendant asked me if I wanted a glass with ice, so I said sure. He gave me a GLASS glass! I can't remember the last time I've had a real glass of...well, anything, on Amtrak, much less something from the cafe car.
The food was excellent. No "Simplified Dining" here! Dinners were 4 course, with soup, salad, main dish, and dessert, along with all the silverware for a 4 course meal!
We met several CN freights along the way, making us up to 2 hours late in some places, but we made up the time and were a few minutes early into Vancouver.
I have much more to say, but I'll let the pictures do the talking-after all, a picture is worth a thousand words!
Posts: 286 | From: Knee deep in the retention tank | Registered: Jan 2006
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Thank you for the wonderful trip report and pix, Paul.
Like Frank, I hope to do this some time soon too (though I'll take the Maple Leaf up to Toronto!).
BTW, when I train it in Canada, I have a CD I made that I listen to, which I call "O Canada." It's not as good as some of my others, but it does have the National Anthem. (Also Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"!)
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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You've really got my mind going on this one. I need to find a nice northbound repositioning cruise from Los Angeles or San Diego to Vancouver and then head east on the Canadian. I know there has been discussion here about the preferred direction of travel. Anybody have thoughts on that?
And then, Sojourner, perhaps the Maple Leaf at the other end!
Frank in clear and warm SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Having taken The Canadian dozens of times, I would recommend eastbound for first time travellers as you are more likely to have daylight in the rockies (especially true in Winter.) Westbound, if you are running late, may give you some spectacular scenery in the Fraser River Valley, if you are on time you will likely miss it.
Excellent report with some fine photography. I am leaving next week for Vancouver for my annual run on The Canadian. This being the darkest time of year, I will miss some of the best scenery, however, I have been over this route so many times, I am just concerned with the transportation aspects of the trip (such as making it to Vancouver to connect to Seattle). This is the season for washouts and derailments,so I am hoping I won't be stranded somewhere or forced onto a bus.
Posts: 524 | From: Toronto Ont. Canada | Registered: Mar 2001
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Thank you! I never get bored with seeing pictures of the Canadian. Also yout photography captured some wonderful scenic panaromas. Yes, the Canadian is a class act! I would prefer it over the Grand Luxe. It's just right for me....not "over the top". Someday I'll travel on it again.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote:Originally posted by sojourner: Thank you for the wonderful trip report and pix, Paul.
Like Frank, I hope to do this some time soon too (though I'll take the Maple Leaf up to Toronto!).
BTW, when I train it in Canada, I have a CD I made that I listen to, which I call "O Canada." It's not as good as some of my others, but it does have the National Anthem. (Also Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"!)
Does your CD include Gordon Lightfoot's classic 'Canadian Railroad Trilogy'? Just hearing that song and I'm working up imaginary itineraries for the Chaluer and Canadian.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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A trip on the Canadian is definitely in my plans - maybe next spring. And thanks for the eastbound trip. I could use AGR points to get to Seattle & visit relatives in Rochester NY before heading home on the LSL. Sounds like a great trip, already!
-------------------- My new "default" station (EKH) has no baggage service or QuikTrak machine, but the parking is free! And the NY Central RR Museum is just across the tracks (but not open at Amtrak train times. . ..) Posts: 337 | From: Goshen, IN | Registered: Jun 2006
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Scott Joplin's "MAPLE LEAF RAG" was inspired by the Maple Leaf tavern in Sedalia, Mo. As far as I know there was no Canadian connection.
Posts: 37 | From: LAKEWOOD, OHIO | Registered: Jan 2006
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Oh, no, Bill! I guess I should have investigated that more, because I always had the sneaking suspicion it might have nothing to do with Canada, but it really livened up the CD so nicely that I never went out of my way to check up on Joplin's inspiration.
This reminds me: I had always been under the impression that the "Jackson" in the Johnny Cash/June Carter Cash song was Jackson, MS, but after visiting Nashville, I'm wondering if it's not Jackson, TN?
And years ago, being from the East, I thought Creedence Clearwater's "Lodi" was the one in NJ, but now that I'm the cross-country traveler that I am, I figure it must be Lodi, CA, since CCR were from Oakland (which, years ago, I also never figured, not with John Fogerty's faux Louisiana pronunciations of things!)
David, my O, Canada! CD does have Lightfoot's "Canadian RR Trilogy." The CD overall is actually not one of my better efforts, musicwise, though--in terms of my place-theme CDs, the Georgia CD, the California CD, the New Orleans/Bayou CD, the Texas CD, and probably even the New York CD are far better. OTOH, it does have a few good songs, not just the Lightfoot but Ian & Sylvia's "Four Strong Winds," " Bill Staines doing "The Black Fly" (a great song!!!), I forget who (maybe Ian & Sylvia again, maybe Tommy Makem) doing "Farewell to Nova Scotia," and a couple of very good Quebecois songs about areas of Quebec or Acadie. You can see with all the folky stuff why a lively number like "Maple Leaf Rag" would work out so well for a change of pace--so, for now, I think I'll keep it there. I really like my thematic CDs to cut across different genres (although I usually don't have a lot of instrumental tracks, not as much fun for the theme).
Sorry to get so off topic, but listening to CDs while traveling Amtrak & looking at the sights is one of my favorite things to do.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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That's a pretty nice thing to do; I played my John Denver songs while going through Colorado on the CZ and the Beach Boys while on the (then) San Diegan.
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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What a great idea, Ms. Sojourner!!! Having "regional" CD's with songs about the areas you travel through. That sounds great!!!!!
By the way, yes it was Ian & Sylvia who sang "Nova Scotia Farewell" -- one of my favorite Ian & Sylvia songs (the other favorite has to be "Four Strong Winds")
"I have three brothers and they are at rest; Their arms are folded on their chests; But a poor simple sailor just like me; Shall be tossed and driven on the deep blue sea" (that's from "Nova Scotia Farewell" for all you "Ian & Sylvia-challenged" railfans!!)
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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The music is great fun. I have CDs for Morning, Night, Rivers, Mountains, and so on, as well. I also enjoy reading mysteries set in the area I am visiting, or just visited, or have recently visited. This works esp well with smaller places where you really get a handle on them and then can keep reading about where you were. After I returned form Key West, I read mysteries set there (3 pretty good authors have written them) to the exclusion of anything else for a few months (I really liked Key West).
I was disappointed there were not a lot of good books set in Victoria, BC, but I did discover the excellent William Deverell and L R Wright, who set books in the general area, Deverell setting several in Vancouver.
Since my return to Boston I started reading the Spenser books, which for some reason I never read before. But I wasn't in Boston long enough to really get a feel for it. I hope to return (when I visit Augusta Maine too).
I have both Ian & Sylvia and Tommy Makem doing "Farewell to Nova Scotia" on CDs I own (that is Makem's title), so I can't remember which one I put on my "O, Canada," CD. It might have been Makem because I used Ian & Sylvia's "Four Strong Winds" and maybe another song of theirs as well. Here is a URL for a site with all the lyrics, some kind of Tommy Makem website: http://www.makem.com/discography/recordings/lyricpage/farewelltonovascotia.html
I do btw have the Canadian national anthem at the end of the CD, too. Whenever I hear it, I think of Carla in Cheers.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Sojourner, I love reading mysteries too. If you haven't read Charlotte MacLeod's series which takes place in Boston try them . I love her writing style. Unfortunately she died a few years ago. When you get to Maine try.. J.S. Borthwick if you haven't already.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Hey Ms. Sojourner! -- were your "Key West" novels by any chance written by Carl Hiaasen? He writes some GREAT "Florida" stories, and there are funny parts to them as well as his usual "political graft and corruption" angles.
There is another guy who writes lots of "Key West" type novels, that all us Parrotheads know, but I forgot his name! You probably have some of his books too!!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Train Lady, Thanks for the tips, I've never read either & will try them.
Rich, the Key West novels I read were not by Hiassen, though I have read some of his stuff, including nonfiction. He's a scream! I didn't know he set any books in Key West, though. The Key West book I liked best was Scavenger Reef by Laurence Shames, also liked Killer in Paradise, Night and Day, and Blue Moon by John Leslie and Tropical Depression by Shames. Shames is more comical, more like Hiassen; Leslie, more "noir." The third author I read was a Tom Corcoran, whose books I liked less than the other two (though still readable); don't remember them well, but I have a vague memory he was a friend of Buffett's or something, with a Buffett recommendation quoted on the cover? Or maybe a screenwriter or songwriter? Anyway, I have this vague recollection of some sort kind of affiliation.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Several of the Rail-Lists are reporting that VIA will be changing the Canadian's schedule to a 4 nights journey beginning in Dec 2008. No diner will be served the first night due to the late departure but will probably be well compensated for by a Bon Voyage Champagne Reception.
Train #1 Lv. Toronto Tue, Thur, Sat, 9:00pm Av. Vancouver Sat, Mon, Wed, 9:30am
Train #2 Lv. Vancouver Tue, Fri, Sun, 8:30pm Ar. Toronto Sat, Tue, Thur. 9:30am
Posts: 239 | Registered: Feb 2004
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I must wonder if AM63-CBN-VIA98-TWO-VIA1 will be a good connection. There is 90min "on paper" but reality?
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote:Originally posted by CN 6060 Fan: Several of the Rail-Lists are reporting that VIA will be changing the Canadian's schedule to a 4 nights journey beginning in Dec 2008. No diner will be served the first night due to the late departure but will probably be well compensated for by a Bon Voyage Champagne Reception.
Train #1 Lv. Toronto Tue, Thur, Sat, 9:00pm Av. Vancouver Sat, Mon, Wed, 9:30am
Train #2 Lv. Vancouver Tue, Fri, Sun, 8:30pm Ar. Toronto Sat, Tue, Thur. 9:30am
How would this impact arrival and departure times at Winnipeg and Jasper, likely the Canadian's two most important intermediate stops? What about Edmonton?
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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The attached was sent to me by a friend who saw it on a Canadian rail forum.
Major schedule change for trains 1 & 2 effective December 8, 2008. Basically this restores the four nights out pattern originally offered by the CNR's secondary transcontinental service the CONTINENTAL (and by VIA in the 1980s). Train 1 Lv Toronto Tue, Thur, Sat 900PM (No dinner served) Ar. Winnipeg Thur, Sat, Mon 630AM
(Unclear if meals will be served during this long layover. During the 1980s VIA offered an off-train tour of Winnipeg during a similar long layover and also offered day rooms at a near-by hotel--but that was before showers on the train).
In it's covering letter VIA candidly admits this is intended to improve on-time performance (CNR gets many hours of padding), but it has some positives. Especially eastbound there will be more daylight running in the Rockies. Saskatoon gains respectable evening times both ways and connections are restored at Toronto to Montreal.
Posts: 524 | From: Toronto Ont. Canada | Registered: Mar 2001
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There may be more advantages to the evening departures at each end - ability to connect to the Canadian from incoming trains from Ottawa/Montreal and the Pacific Coach from Victoria without having to spend a night in Toronto or Vancouver. )I'm not sure about the Amtrak Cascades' schedule). In fact, if one is so inclined, one might make a coast-to-coast (Ocean-Corridor-Canadian) trip without overnighting in any city. The only real downside I can see is the loss of lunch and dinner upon starting the journry I think fine dining is part of the experience. And in mid-summer there will still be several hours of daylight. But this may be offset by decent restaurants near the stations.
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Nice pictures! I just finished looking at all of them. Next I'll have to take a look at the Sunset Limited pictures...
Posts: 144 | Registered: Sep 2005
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Paul - Great report - thanks for all the pics. We are planning on going across Canada in the near future. Steve in so az
Posts: 21 | From: Tucson, Az , usa | Registered: Aug 2004
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Excellent report and discussion! I have a couple songs to add to your O Canada CD: "Orangedale Whistle" which is about a station on the line that was served by VIA's Bras d'Or train; "Moody Manitoba Morning" by the Bells whose biggest hit was "Stay Awhile", and "Alberta Bound" by Gordon Lightfoot. The last 2 are perfect while riding the Canadian. I first heard "Orangedale Whistle" and "Farewell to Nova Scotia" on the Bras d'Or as Nova Scotia Tourism had college students serve as tour guides and one of them sang in the downstairs part of the "Park" car. A perfect place for those tunes! I'm counting down to my late June trip on the Ocean as well as a couple VIA corridor trains. I will have a report on Train Web.
Posts: 561 | Registered: Jul 2003
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Not really a "train song," but Lightfoot's "Whispers of the North" may also be a good one to listen to while traveling across northern Ontario on the Canadian
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Another good non-rail song is "I Just Gotta Stop" by Gino Vanelli as it starts "When I think about those nights in Montreal". That evokes memories!
Posts: 561 | Registered: Jul 2003
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