Canadian Railroads > The "Rocky" is in town

The evening of May 7, 2022 sees the Rocky Mountaineer consist making a move, and an hour or so later, the entire train at rest for the night in Jasper, Alberta.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/22 22:03 by xcnsnake.

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Besides the train, a couple of nice shots of Roche Bonhomme.

Chris Rye

Rocky now only offers Silver Leaf and Gold Leaf class only - they retired their Red Leaf class, which was a more basic level of travel.

In this view I think I see the two Gold Leaf domes (the double decker coaches), and the Silver Leaf passenger car just ahead of it - just one car. Is that correct? If so then there are two former red leaf coaches in the consist (or what appear to be red leaf coaches) that are typically held for crew or red leaf coaches that have since been converted into a lounge. Interestingly, normally a Gold Leaf coach would bring up the markers, as opposed to having a single level coach behind.

Is this maybe just a re-positioning move or is this the consist the Jasper to Vancouver train (via Kamloops) or the Jasper to North Vancouver train (via Whistler)? Any further details? Just curious.

The "American Version" offers no Gold Leaf service, but does have regular Silver Leaf service and a special "Silver Leaf Plus" class (genius move!) where Silver Leaf passengers get to enjoy a single level lounge (converted from the former red leaf coach fleet). Are the lounges or "Silver Leaf Plus offered on any of the Canadian routes for passengers? 

Rocky kinda moved to a "premium" sort of service only with the Gold and Silver Leaf, which again, I think was a good move business wise. Capacity is concentrated on higher end revenue and cars are added accordingly for said service. The many red leaf coaches seem to be held in reserve for conversion to Silver Leaf cars (with larger and wrap around windows), or have become lounges to augment Silver Leaf (the "plus" class). 

Nice catch!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/22 09:48 by jp1822.

It's a shame that they turned off large swaths of the professional travel agencies with that disasterous no cash refund policy when covid hit. I have a long time friend who owns/operates one of the largest east coast agencies and he has issued a strict no business with Rocky under any circumstances policy.. He has his employees explain that after Rock's refusal to issue refunds his agency no longer trusts them. They advise clients to feel free to book directly but know the history. 

   Sad but true. Ross Rowland 

jp1822 Wrote:
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> Is this maybe just a re-positioning move or is
> this the consist the Jasper to Vancouver train
> (via Kamloops) or the Jasper to North Vancouver
> train (via Whistler)? Any further details? Just
> curious.

The first North Vancouver to Jasper via Whistler train left on Saturday. Consist is two locomotives, coach, Silver Leaf car, coach and three bilevels.

>> The "American Version" offers no Gold Leaf
> service, but does have regular Silver Leaf service
> and a special "Silver Leaf Plus" class (genius
> move!) where Silver Leaf passengers get to enjoy a
> single level lounge (converted from the former red
> leaf coach fleet). Are the lounges or "Silver Leaf
> Plus offered on any of the Canadian routes for
> passengers? 

No. Rocky has only two lounge cars and both are used in the U.S. service. "Silver Leaf Plus" is not offered on the Canadian routes.

That first coach has to actually be a generator car.

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's a shame that they turned off large swaths of
> the professional travel agencies with that
> disasterous no cash refund policy when covid hit.
> I have a long time friend who owns/operates one of
> the largest east coast agencies and he has issued
> a strict no business with Rocky under any
> circumstances policy.. He has his employees
> explain that after Rock's refusal to issue refunds
> his agency no longer trusts them. They advise
> clients to feel free to book directly but know the
> history. 
>
>    Sad but true. Ross Rowland 

They operate a GREAT train experience through some GREAT scenery. Rocky also knows the market well and can predict what people want that will be attractive to the experience. For example, their break-through to the US market and the marketing/use of Silver Leaf PLUS - genius! BUT, their business and financial practices - behind the scenes shall we say - absolutely atrocious and made worse with COVID and the non-refund BS they put people through. 

jp1822 Wrote:

> Is this maybe just a re-positioning move or is
> this the consist the Jasper to Vancouver train
> (via Kamloops) or the Jasper to North Vancouver
> train (via Whistler)? Any further details? Just
> curious.
 This came through Blue River westbound Sunday, so I'd say Jasper-Vanvouver via Kamloops.

NPRocky Wrote:
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> That first coach has to actually be a generator
> car.

Re-checking the consist I listed for the train via Whistler, there was a generator car ahead of the first coach. So the consist was two locomotives, generator car, coach, Silver Leaf car, coach and three bilevels.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/22 17:19 by railsmith.