Canadian Railroads > Canadian #2 at Melville

The Canadian #2 arrived at Melville on July 26 on schedule!  The train is 22 cars plus 3 engines long.  That is over a 1/4 mile longe?  The two Prestiage sleeper  carss were Chateau Varennes 8227 and Chateau Lauzon 8213.

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The Park car is Prince Albert.  All cars assigned to the Canadian Prestige class have a black strip not blue. car



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/22 15:15 by edsaalig.

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I see they've returned to a more conservative lettering treatment--yaay! Now: where the heck is Melville? Thanks for sharing, glad to see this classic still plying the rails!

What a consist contrast to anything Amtrak operates......Glad VIA can keep the equipment going (and maintained) at nearly 70 years of age during this tight labor market, can offer adequate capacity to meet demand (that's a lot of cars for a lot of passengers), can fabricate or find the parts to keep the equipment in service, and has the onboard staff so they don't have to cancel trains. Speaks volumes compared to southern neighbor Amtrak's situation. I wish Amtrak would adopt VIA's model of LD train staffing.....That would actually save a LOT of money and perhaps be easier on most crew members.  

kurtarmbruster Wrote:
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>Now: where the heck is Melville? 

About 85 mile northeast of Regina.  GPS co-ordinates:  N50.925955  W-102.807452

Keith Robertson
Langley, BC

The Hollywood of Canada! Check this video out.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/railroad_town/

Looking forward to my next trip on this train.

For operational reasons VIA has limited the Canadian to 21 cars, including the baggage car and the crew sleeper. This has been consistent since the peak season started. There are two economy coaches, three Skyline cars , two diners, nine Sleeper Plus Manor series sleepers, two Prestige Chateau sleepers and of course the Park car.

A couple of weeks ago I did a quick search on Reservia. The earliest a cabin for one or two could be booked - in both directions between Toronto and Vancouver - was mid-October, except for one Prestige room available in each direction. On many days even the berths were sold out and occasionally all coach seats. It's a pity the third train can't be operated. 

Great photos and information!   Thanks!!

Hello, Could you tell my the price to travel on this train in one of the Prestige Chateau sleepers please and in the Park cars
is there sleeping available or what is or who is able to travel in the park car please??.
Cheers and thanks in advance. Brian..

Generally you needto be a Prestige class passenger to be in the Park Car;  however, after 4 PM open to all sleeper class passengers.  Don't remember the exact fare for Prestige but it is over $1,000 for Vancouver - Toronto.  Sleeper class less and you can enjoy Sleeper Class Skyline domes all day.

Stll the best train!!

viatrainrider Wrote:
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> Generally you needto be a Prestige class passenger
> to be in the Park Car;  however, after 4 PM open
> to all sleeper class passengers.  Don't remember
> the exact fare for Prestige but it is over $1,000
> for Vancouver - Toronto.  Sleeper class less and
> you can enjoy Sleeper Class Skyline domes all
> day.
>
> Stll the best train!!

Add another zero - it's over $10,000 for Vancouver to Toronto when adding all in. Just looked at fare in end of November. 

Summer fares - which are in effect until about late Oct. - are just under $12,000. That is for one or two people. Sales tax is extra. It is 13% from Ontario and only 5% from the western provinces.

There are almost no restrictions on Park car use in the off-season. The first few rows of the dome will be marked off for Prestige only, but otherwise all sleeper passengers have use of the Park car.

Prestige is full almost every run in the peak season. In the winter season it may be empty.  At present there is only one Prestige room available until mid-October. Most of my trips in the past 10 years have been in  November. On those  trips there have been between zero and two rooms sold.  

Of course another zero needed to be added for Prestige.  My mistake!!!

King_Coal Wrote:
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> The Hollywood of Canada! Check this video out.
> https://www.nfb.ca/film/railroad_town/

Did anyone notice in this film that Curly, the engineer getting ready to take a trip out, had his lunch packed into an ammo can?
Being that this film was produced in 1955, Curly could be a veteran of WWII!