Canadian Railroads > Frasier Lounge Car

Does VIA ever use the Lounge Car it purchased from BC Rail - I believe it is named "Frasier?" VIA had used this car on the Niagara Falls run at one point in time - even often a wine tasting event. Now it has seemed to have passed into VIA's PRIVA fleet - or those cars that can be chartered. As I've mentioned before, it would be great if this car was offered on say the northern Quebec runs. I rode in this car a few times and it was a great experience. It seems to be a shame that this car largely remains unused from what I can tell.

jp1822 Wrote:
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> Does VIA ever use the Lounge Car it purchased from
> BC Rail - I believe it is named "Frasier?" VIA had
> used this car on the Niagara Falls run at one
> point in time - even often a wine tasting event.
> Now it has seemed to have passed into VIA's PRIVA
> fleet - or those cars that can be chartered. As
> I've mentioned before, it would be great if this
> car was offered on say the northern Quebec runs. I
> rode in this car a few times and it was a great
> experience. It seems to be a shame that this car
> largely remains unused from what I can tell.


The car is the "Glenfraser" (named for a location north of Lillooet on the former BC Rail). It is a former CN and later Via car heavily refurbished for the BCR "Whistler Northwind" tour train.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/05/13 21:14 by eminence_grise.

eminence_grise Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Does VIA ever use the Lounge Car it purchased
> from
> > BC Rail - I believe it is named "Frasier?" VIA
> had
> > used this car on the Niagara Falls run at one
> > point in time - even often a wine tasting
> event.
> > Now it has seemed to have passed into VIA's
> PRIVA
> > fleet - or those cars that can be chartered. As
> > I've mentioned before, it would be great if
> this
> > car was offered on say the northern Quebec runs.
> I
> > rode in this car a few times and it was a great
> > experience. It seems to be a shame that this
> car
> > largely remains unused from what I can tell.
>
>
> The car is the "Glenfraser" (named for a location
> north of Lillooet on the former BC Rail). It is a
> former CN and later Via car heavily refurbished
> for the BCR "Whistler Northwind" tour train.


Thanks for clarifying the in between details. This is indeed the car I am speaking of.

So what does VIA do with this car now? Or when was it last used etc.?

For example, the rear observation car that VIA also bought in this "bulk" purchase (with the Panorama Cars etc.) has basically not been touched and as far as I know it never will be used. It just "came with the package." However, I have stated it would be nice for the Chaleur (or train to Gaspe) if the train ever makes the trek "all the way."

VIA has some really nice "viewing" cars in its possession but there are some trains, like the trains to northern Quebec that don't have such a car. Same for the Hudson Bay train.

But I think the Glenfraser