Canadian Railroads > Algonquin Park in Tennessee

I enjoyed seeing photos of VIA Park car "Sibley Park" under restoration. Here is another rarely photographed Park car - Algonquin Park.
I had the pleasure of riding the right front seat of the dome for the entire trip. No, not Toronto to Vancouver but from Etowah to Hiwassee, Tennessee
on the Hiwassee Loop train. This excursion is run by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum on former L&N trackage. Etowah is about halfway between Knoxville and Chattanooga, TN.
TVRM bought Algonquin Park from a Michigan owner about 10 years ago.

During the peak of fall color they run 2 trains daily on the route. I rode the morning train and chased the afternoon train. If you plan to visit the Great Smokey mountains, include a ride in style
on this very scenic train!

Gordon Bjoraker
Hiawatha101

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Thanks for posting.

The maroon colour is close to the original CPR scheme.

Posted from Android

Adding the lettering and affixing a couple of beaver shileds would give it as good as new look.  (No you cannot borrow my beaver shield)

Wha'ts the interior like? Bedrooms still in place? Artwork (obviously would be the 1990 HEP I newer version) in the bar area? 

> Wha'ts the interior like? Bedrooms still in place?
> Artwork (obviously would be the 1990 HEP I newer
> version) in the bar area? 

Here are some interior photos.
The dome has reversible seats, which we used on the return trip. There are also 2 tables.
The Bullet Lounge looks similar to VIA cars. Looking forward, there is a CP poster and bilingual signs from VIA.

Gordon Bjoraker
Hiawatha101

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> Wha'ts the interior like? Bedrooms still in place?
> Artwork (obviously would be the 1990 HEP I newer
> version) in the bar area? 

The bedrooms are unchanged. Here is a shot inside the Drawing Room.

In the lounge under the dome, an attendant serves pastries and coffee. Where the mural once was is a photograph
of either the original (1955) artwork, or more likely, the replacement artwork from the early 1990s.

Gordon Bjoraker
Hiawatha101

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I don't believe TVRM owns that car.  I think it's on lease from the owner in Michigan who bought it from VIA Rail.

Whenever I see one of these, I wish I could own onw, so I could convert the dome into a bedroom.
 

Hiawatha101 Wrote:
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...
>
> The bedrooms are unchanged. Here is a shot inside
> the Drawing Room.
>
...
>
> Gordon Bjoraker
> Hiawatha101

That appears to be the bedroom suite C & D. 

Hiawatha101 Wrote:
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> > Wha'ts the interior like? Bedrooms still in
> place?
> > Artwork (obviously would be the 1990 HEP I
> newer
> > version) in the bar area? 
>
> Where the mural once was is a  photograph of either the original (1955) artwork, or more
> likely, the replacement artwork from the early 1990s.
>
> Gordon Bjoraker
> Hiawatha101

The photo is of the original artwork.  This car was never HEP'ed.

Well, considering it was mixed from the CPR historic fleet paint formulas and matches the provided drift cards, I’d say it’s accurate. 😒

Posted from iPhone

8 people visible in the inside the dome image, and not even ONE is looking outside.  This, folks, is a railroading Cardinal Sin.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

agentatascadero Wrote:
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> 8 people visible in the inside the dome image, and
> not even ONE is looking outside.  This, folks, is
> a railroading Cardinal Sin.

A Dome just doesn't have the same allure to others as it does railfans!

ghCBNS Wrote:
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> agentatascadero Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 8 people visible in the inside the dome image,
> and
> > not even ONE is looking outside.  This, folks,
> is
> > a railroading Cardinal Sin.
>
> A Dome just doesn't have the same allure to others
> as it does railfans!

True enough......I see the same phenomenon in Superliner lounge cars.  Sometimes it gets very annoying......folks rush to the lounge, place belongings all over the place to "claim" that space, then leave it there to go who knows where.  Others bring all their stuff to read, play video games, etc....anything but take in the scenery....even in mountain territory.  On a recent trip on VIA's Canadian the domes were utilized by those who wanted to see the view, much like travel back in the '50s.  Back then, the travelling public loved the domes.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA