Canadian Railroads > A Rare Via Sighting Out West

Via Rail Canada has announced they are not expecting  to resume service for the Canadian, the train formerly known as the Ocean and the train formerly known as the Skeena until at least November 1, 2020. During this hiatus they will be refurbishing a number of stainless steel cars used in for these services. Work on these cars will be done in a number of Via shops across the system. In order to balance this work a deadhead train of empty equipment was dispatched from Vancouver on Friday May 15 destined for Toronto.

Fellow TO member Marcus posted his selection of pictues on here as well. It was fun keeping up the chase.  https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?15,5024438

The train was an odd configuration for a cross country train but it didn’t matter with only one mechanical engineer and a supervisor riding as passengers. I was too busy chasing the train to record the actual cars but it was configured as such:

6453
6456
3x Manor Cars
Coach
3x Diners
Baggage
Prestige Chateau
2x Diners
2x Prestige Chateaus
Prestige Park Car Glacier Park

Traditionally cross Canada passenger services from Vancouver have left later in the day so a  morning departure afforded a rare opportunity for morning light on a train that was normally in the dark much of its journey into the Fraser and Thompson River Canyons of British Columbia.

Running with an unusual designation as Via train 12 it departed Vancouver shortly after 11am and the chase was on. I put in a good days work chasing for a solid 8 hours between Vancouver and Ashcroft BC where the last rays of sunlight fell on Glacier Park.
 
1. Through the soon to be replaced signal bridge at Piper 8 miles out of Pacific Central Station.

2. Onto directional running zone CP track at Hatzic BC. Mission Abbey looks out over Hatzic Prairie.

3. In the eastern Fraser Valley at Ruby Creek


cp1400
 

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4. Climbing the hill into Haig BC which is across the Fraser River from Hope. The Kamloops crew will take over here for the run up the canyons.

5. Entering the Fraser River Canyon at Choate.

6. Between tunnels at Yale.


cp1400
 

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7. Crossing Spuzzum Creek

8. Clinging to the cliffs at Calamity Tunnel. Note the abandoned railcar truck below the second engine near the water from a derailment in the steam era close to 100 years ago.

9. Crossing White’s Creek bridge deep in the canyon.


cp1400
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/20 18:22 by cp1400.

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10. Crossing the Fraser River at Cisco.


11. In the Thompson River Canyon at the Tank Hill rail overpass of Hwy 1 across from the CN siding of Morris.


12. Park Car at Thompson



cp1400
 

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13. Rays of sunlight catch the train at Drynoch East zoom view


14. Rays of sunlight catch the train at Drynoch East wide view


15. Glacier Park at Drynoch East



cp1400
 

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16. Crossing the Nicola River at Spence’s Bridge. Note the spring runoff in full swing.

17. East of Spences Bridge along the Thompson River.

18. Slowly creeping up to Ashcroft for a three train meet. West of here in the Black Canyon this train has crossed to CN rails again for the rest of its journey to Toronto.


cp1400
 

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19. Graphics applied to dining car Emerald #8407 which was done to acknowledge resumption of service to Churchill Manitoba in October 2018. Heavy spring flooding in May 2017 washed out the roadbed in 29 places and track operator Omnitrax refused to repair it choosing to give up. The Canadian government intervened and provided funds to a new operating consortium to repair the track and resume service after 18 months. The line to Churchill is deemed an essential service and Via is running train 692 and 693 from Winnipeg to the shores of Hudson Bay even during this pandemic. Oddly enough the Churchill wrapped dining car has seen more service on the Canadian than on the Churchill service.

20. Late day light glints off the consist between bridges 47 and 45 in the Thompson Canyon east of Ashcroft.

21. Last rays of sunlight shine on Via train 12 crossing bridge 45 east of Ashcroft and a great chase comes to a close.


cp1400
 

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WOW !!! Thank you for sharing this with us !!! :):):)

A marvelous group of images. Makes me look forward even more to a hoped-for trip on the train after the present situation gets better. Thanks so much.

GORGEOUS     Great set of picures.....Arlen

Man Oh Man !  You sure had a fine day !  Great to see that Stainless Steel running in the River Canyons.

These are great! Thank you for your effort.

Jim

cp1400 Wrote:
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> Via Rail Canada has announced they are not
> expecting  to resume service for the Canadian,
> the train formerly known as the Ocean and the
> train formerly known as the Skeena until at least
> November 1, 2020.

Great shots! Thanks for posting.

....and BTW the Ocean is still the Ocean and hopefully will still be when it returns in November. The Ocean along with the Canadian and if you count the Maple Leaf are the only 'named' VIA trains.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/20 11:31 by ghCBNS.

Thank you for all your effort!  The images are all terrific!

Very nice series of photos. Thanks for sharing.

Outstanding group of photos, makes me miss the Canadian even more. Maybe I can get back to ride it in January depending on the pandemic. 

What a beautiful series!!

​Larry

As said before, a beautiful series. Love every location and lighting.

PQM

Outstanding!!  Sure do miss that train!!

Great stuff..!!  I REALLY like Pics 4, 11, and 16!!