Canadian Railroads > The "Canadian" at Jasper AB., May 24th,2015

The westbound Via "Canadian" was four hours late into Jasper yesterday, however the long spring evening allowed photography despite threatening thunderstorms. Sleeper "Chateau Denonville" and dome observation car "Prince Albert Park" show the enlarged windows to the sleeping compartments used on the "Prestige" class sleepers.  The departure of the train draws a small crowd of spectators.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/15 18:18 by eminence_grise.

The consist of this train also included a "Panorama" style observation car.

Because of late running, the loading of baggage and fresh laundry took place quickly.  Note also the carman performing his "PK" train inspection on a bicycle, a feature unique to Jasper AB.

Finally, he returns with a Via pickup truck to remove the blue flag protection when he completed his inspection.

Phil

How many cars were in the train? And is the appearance of a panorama dome a rare event or does it happen more frequently?

Thanks

Neil

Those converted Chateaus are ugly as sin with the new windows. They don't make the profile of the Budd car at all.

WP17 Wrote:
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> Phil
>
> How many cars were in the train? And is the
> appearance of a panorama dome a rare event or does
> it happen more frequently?
>
> Thanks
>
> Neil

The Canadian has been running up to 23 cars on some trains . . . when that long, there is usually three power units on the front end.  The panorama domes appear on an infrequent basis . . .apparently one was used on the Jasper to Prince Rupert train earlier this spring.

Craig
http://mcmrailvideos.com/

I have yet to see any photos of the corridor side of the Prestige cars. Did they replace the existing windows on that side as well or leave the orignal ones in place (particularly the staggered duplex roomette windows at the vestibule end of the Chateau cars)
Can anyone enlghten me

 

The train had three units, a baggage and 22 cars. Kylie took photos of every car, I will add them here. Note VIA has started to add reflective yellow emergency exit stickers below the windows. Also starting at least last year VIA has been adding yellow rotating beacons to the F40PH-2D units, we have photos of units without them last year.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/15 19:10 by eminence_grise.

Next three

next three cars

more cars

even more...including the panorama car that is ex-BC Rail

more train

more sleepers

more of the Canadian

last one

Amfleeter Wrote:
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> Those converted Chateaus are ugly as sin with the
> new windows. They don't make the profile of the
> Budd car at all.

I doubt if the high-fare-paying passengers are concerned about that. They probably like the large windows.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/15 19:27 by DrawingroomA.

WP17 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have yet to see any photos of the corridor side
> of the Prestige cars. Did they replace the
> existing windows on that side as well or leave the
> orignal ones in place (particularly the staggered
> duplex roomette windows at the vestibule end of
> the Chateau cars)
> Can anyone enlghten me
>
I have no photos, but I have seen the corridor side of two sleepers outside the Toronto Maintenance Centre prior to them being in service. The windows have been left as they were except on one of the sleepers the two "upper roomette" windows were plated over. 

Here's Via train 3 the "Super Continental' at Jasper AB. in 1980 after the service cuts of 1981 had been announced, and a Via  train 1 "Canadian" of the mid 1990's also at the west end of Jasper.

Phil

Thanks for the detailed consist. I love seeing photos of the cars and how they are always pointed in the same direction. 

And now I have a question or two for the experts on the arrangement of cars on the long summertime Canadians:

First I notice that the front diner is sandwiched (pun intended) by two skyline domes while the rear diner has one Skyline dome behind it. I'm guessing the first dome is for coach passengers but is there food service  in that car as well for coach riders? Also how does VIA make use of the trailing Skyline attached to rear of each diner -- do they use it for overflow meal service or just a place for passengers to wait until a table is ready (a la Amtrak)

Also I noted one lonely Chateau car in the unprestigious section of the train. How rare or common is it to see a Chateau car in a summer consist.

Thanks

WP17 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Phil
>
> Thanks for the detailed consist. I love seeing
> photos of the cars and how they are always pointed
> in the same direction. 
>
> And now I have a question or two for the experts
> on the arrangement of cars on the long summertime
> Canadians:
>
> First I notice that the front diner is sandwiched
> (pun intended) by two skyline domes while the rear
> diner has one Skyline dome behind it. I'm guessing
> the first dome is for coach passengers but is
> there food service  in that car as well for coach
> riders? Also how does VIA make use of the trailing
> Skyline attached to rear of each diner -- do they
> use it for overflow meal service or just a place
> for passengers to wait until a table is ready (a
> la Amtrak)
>
> Also I noted one lonely Chateau car in the
> unprestigious section of the train. How rare or
> common is it to see a Chateau car in a summer
> consist.
>
> Thanks

I am not an expert, but I ride the Canadian along its entire route once a year and I see it often at Toronto Union, so I can share my observations. The first Skyline is used for coach passengers.  In peak season the dining section is usually operated as a diner for coach passengers. The menu is different from the full diners.  When space permits, coach passengers are permitted to use the first of the two dining cars if they prefer the more elaborate menu.

The Skyline cars adjacent to the diners are used as lounge cars and, as suggested by WP 17, a waiting area for passengers going to the diner.  Reservations are made for each sitting of lunch and dinner, so the waiting area is busy at breakfast.

Chateau sleepers are operated on as "as required" basis.  Last summer there were many trains without any in the consist and I have seen as many as four.  In previous years I have seen as many as seven on one train.