RAILforum: "Park" Cars on Canadian

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Posted by dcfan (Member # 2311) on :

Are the Park Cars on Canadian dome and rear-observation?

Any links to images, floor plans, etc.?

Thanks.

Posted by pismobum (Member # 2628) on :

http://trainweb.org/web_lurker/CP

floor plans are the same as US road Budds (available on the home page)

Posted by sutton (Member # 1612) on :

The park car is domed. Has two separate lounge areas. Wonderful car!

Posted by David (Member # 3) on :

There is a lot of information and photos on VIA's Website: www.viarail.ca

The number of trains with a Park car is shrinking. The overnight "Enterprise" between Toronto and Montreal was converted to Renaissance equipment a year and a half ago. One of the three consists of the Montreal - Halifax "Ocean" has again been replaced with Renaissance cars. (They ran for a few weeks late last summer.) There appears to be no definite date for the phasing in of the other consists. It has been reported that when the "Ocean" is all Renaissance trains, the "Chaleur" to Gaspe will carry a Park car.

That leaves, in addition to the Canadian, the Jasper - Prince George - Prince Rupert "Skeena." In the off-season, this is a bargain as there is no first class service on that train, so for the price of a coach ticket one can enjoy the facilities normally available only for premium-paying "Totem Class" or Totem Plus" passengers.

VIA is sometimes naughty and runs equipment or private cars behind the Park car. Most dead-head equipment is run immediately behind the locomotives, as is traditional, but there are reasons (electrical - don't ask me to elaborate) why some equipment must be towed behind the Park car. There was a recent consist posted on a Canadian discussion board showing that some regular Budd-built cars were carried behind the Park car from Vancouver to Jasper. There would appear to be no reason for that, other than to make it easier to remove them from the train upon arrival at Jasper. But I would say that 95% of the time there is an unobstructed view from the bullet lounge.