Canadian Railroads > The man in Seat 61 trip on the Canadian

For rail-ship-ferry-hotel folks of interest, should be following the account of Mr 61 and family from Englland and Victoria BC.


https://twitter.com/seatsixtyone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/19 01:33 by mundo.

Well who does he think he is spreading FAKE news?

I mean many folks have said that he is one of the best bloggers of rail travel in the business.

But, EARLY into Vancouver, a SMOOTH ride??

Come on can't be true.  In fact there are a couple of folks on here, no names, who insist that The Canadian is ALWAYS late and is always a rough ride.

All right, tongue now out of my cheek!!!!!!

If Via #1 arrives Vancouver that early, must passengers disembark immediately?  Or may they stay aboard and sleep until the scheduled arrival time?

I to have been following his trip . It's very interesting with lots of pictures and video's !!!

Terrific publicity for a great train !

4489 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well who does he think he is spreading FAKE news?
>
> I mean many folks have said that he is one of the
> best bloggers of rail travel in the business.
>
> But, EARLY into Vancouver, a SMOOTH ride??
>
> Come on can't be true.  In fact there are a
> couple of folks on here, no names, who insist that
> The Canadian is ALWAYS late and is always a rough
> ride.
>
> All right, tongue now out of my cheek!!!!!!

It would be interesting to know if VIA persuaded/begged/bribed CN to give this train the "Moonlighters" treatment, given who was on board and the publicity effect (pro or con) that was sure to follow.

Not only was Mr. Smith ahead of time at Vancouver, the train was very close to schedule all the way across the country, even leaving Wainwright, Alta., in the heart of the "CN Bermuda Triangle", 25 minutes early.  This is precsiely the kind of timing VIA would hope to achieve with every running of the train, and just look who happened to be aboard.

https://reservia.viarail.ca/tsi/GetTrainStatus.aspx?l=en&TsiCCode=VIA&TsiTrainNumber=1-&TrainInstanceDate=2019-08-25



 

chakk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If Via #1 arrives Vancouver that early, must
> passengers disembark immediately?  Or may they
> stay aboard and sleep until the scheduled arrival
> time?

I don't know what the official policy is, but when I have arrived early we were not told to disembark. We were even encouraged to have breakfast before leaving at the scheduled arrival time. The train before Mr. Smith's (#3) arrived in Vancouver two and a half hours early, i,e, 05:32. I doubt anyone would be ready to detrain at that time even if they were awake.

Today's #1 also arrived early into Vancouver at 5:45 a.m. 

railsmith Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 4489 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well who does he think he is spreading FAKE
> news?
> >
> > I mean many folks have said that he is one of
> the
> > best bloggers of rail travel in the business.
> >
> > But, EARLY into Vancouver, a SMOOTH ride??
> >
> > Come on can't be true.  In fact there are a
> > couple of folks on here, no names, who insist
> that
> > The Canadian is ALWAYS late and is always a
> rough
> > ride.
> >
> > All right, tongue now out of my cheek!!!!!!
>
> It would be interesting to know if VIA
> persuaded/begged/bribed CN to give this train the
> "Moonlighters" treatment, given who was on board
> and the publicity effect (pro or con) that was
> sure to follow.
>
> Not only was Mr. Smith ahead of time at Vancouver,
> the train was very close to schedule all the way
> across the country, even leaving Wainwright,
> Alta., in the heart of the "CN Bermuda Triangle",
> 25 minutes early.  This is precsiely the kind of
> timing VIA would hope to achieve with every
> running of the train, and just look who happened
> to be aboard.
>
> https://reservia.viarail.ca/tsi/GetTrainStatus.asp
> x?l=en&TsiCCode=VIA&TsiTrainNumber=1-&TrainInstanc
> eDate=2019-08-25
>
>
>Based on the postings below, it appears nothing special was done to accommodate Mr. Smith.   Amazing what this does to conspiracy theories!
>  

Yes, the man in seat 61, and the WSJ Scott McCartney are extremely important travel writers. And widely followed b investment analysts.

Posted from Android

DrawingroomA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't know what the official policy is, but when
> I have arrived early we were not told to
> disembark. We were even encouraged to have
> breakfast before leaving at the scheduled arrival
> time. The train before Mr. Smith's (#3) arrived in
> Vancouver two and a half hours early, i,e, 05:32.

Isn’t that the same time the Sunset arrives into LA. Does Amtrak encourage you to say aboard and have breakfast?

No! Been there done that at LA! Had to exit the train on arrival!

Posted from Android

For those who have not followed the Twitter reports, here is an article in the Times Colonist of Victoria.

https://www.timescolonist.com/life/the-man-in-seat-61-travels-to-victoria-by-rail-and-sea-1.23932610
 

When the Canadian used to be on a faster schedule - pre 2010 - it used to leave Jasper by 4 pm and have a scheduled arrival into Vancouver at 7:30/8:00 am. The last time I was aboard with this particular schedule (around 2008 or so), we left Jasper at 5 pm and pulled into Vancouver at 6:15 am. We were told the night before we'd likely make up time and have an on-time or early departure (again - back then). And we did. So passengers were prepared to have a continental breakfast and depart in the morning. We weren't "kicked off" but the prep from the night before, let alone the time change, most passengers were in Pacific Central Station by 6:45 am and the city of Vancouver was just about waking up too. I was at the Waterfront Fairmont in Vancouver sitting and having breakfast with a business associate by 7:30 am - gathering the morning papers to get an update on the US banking re-org/crash that was unfolding while I was on the train! Definitely wouldn't expect that today, but Canadian Train #1 or #3 seems to be doing better coming into Vancouver lately!