Canadian Railroads > Update on food service on Hudson Bay Train

Roughly a month ago TO member Psssfanatic asked a series of questions about VIA's train to Churchill which he is just about to ride. With regard to food service I reported on the positive experience in the Skyline diner we had when we rode the train just before COVID. 

I just read a report by Bob Johnston on Trains NewsWire about the current food situation and it's a lot grimmer:-( He states:  
Winnipeg-Churchill, Manitoba (once known as Hudson Bay) has been assigned only one sleeping car and only snacks are offered for purchase on the two-day trip. The crew does have menus for restaurants at Thompson, Man., and take-out orders are delivered to the train during the long midday stop there.

Stocking up ibefore boarding seems the only way to go.
WP17

With the Skyline Lounge/Dome, I don't understand why they can't have a cook/attendant take care of things for the train. They finally get dome cars on this train regularly, but then pull the food out! Hope those restaurants are open 24/7 for when the trains are late.......

Some of the best food I've eaten on VIA trains has been from restaurants at stops along the way...

I know the Panorama cars are out of servcie, but do they have galleys ? 

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know the Panorama cars are out of servcie, but
> do they have galleys ? 

Why are the Panorama cars out of service? They have served food in the Panorma cars - hot food (e.g. lunch, dinner, appetizers, breakfast, etc.). I am just not 100% sure if they used the adjacent VIA 1 Coach car and its galley that often operated next to it. The Panorama cars came with a food cart too. LOVED these cars when in service on the Skeena (to/from Prince Rupert) in Totem Deluxe service (as it was then called - then Touring Class). The first few years of Totem Deluxe Class was the best. If you are thinking they'd run the Panorama cars to Hudson Bay - I doubt VIA would do that. VIA "winterized" the Panorama cars, but not sure if I'd be sending it to Churchill..... 

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I know the Panorama cars are out of servcie,
> but
> > do they have galleys ? 
>
> Why are the Panorama cars out of service? They
> have served food in the Panorma cars - hot food
> (e.g. lunch, dinner, appetizers, breakfast, etc.).
> I am just not 100% sure if they used the adjacent
> VIA 1 Coach car and its galley that often operated
> next to it. The Panorama cars came with a food
> cart too. LOVED these cars when in service on the
> Skeena (to/from Prince Rupert) in Totem Deluxe
> service (as it was then called - then Touring
> Class). The first few years of Totem Deluxe Class
> was the best. If you are thinking they'd run the
> Panorama cars to Hudson Bay - I doubt VIA would do
> that. VIA "winterized" the Panorama cars, but not
> sure if I'd be sending it to Churchill..... 

I spoke to some veteran VIA crew about this recently- they sent the Panoramas to MMC to be prepped for summer service this year and MMC found them to be in unserviceable condition. They're apparently completely rotted out with rust underneath. VIA is probably not going to keep them.

That's aside from them being shop queens with the usual Colorado Railcar 'quirks'

Posted from Android

Amfleeter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > joemvcnj Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I know the Panorama cars are out of servcie,
> > but
> > > do they have galleys ? 
> >
> > Why are the Panorama cars out of service? They
> > have served food in the Panorma cars - hot food
> > (e.g. lunch, dinner, appetizers, breakfast,
> etc.).
> > I am just not 100% sure if they used the
> adjacent
> > VIA 1 Coach car and its galley that often
> operated
> > next to it. The Panorama cars came with a food
> > cart too. LOVED these cars when in service on
> the
> > Skeena (to/from Prince Rupert) in Totem Deluxe
> > service (as it was then called - then Touring
> > Class). The first few years of Totem Deluxe
> Class
> > was the best. If you are thinking they'd run
> the
> > Panorama cars to Hudson Bay - I doubt VIA would
> do
> > that. VIA "winterized" the Panorama cars, but
> not
> > sure if I'd be sending it to Churchill..... 
>
> I spoke to some veteran VIA crew about this
> recently- they sent the Panoramas to MMC to be
> prepped for summer service this year and MMC found
> them to be in unserviceable condition. They're
> apparently completely rotted out with rust
> underneath. VIA is probably not going to keep
> them.
>
> That's aside from them being shop queens with the
> usual Colorado Railcar 'quirks'
>
> Posted from Android

Too bad as they were really nice and unique cars for taking in the British Columbia interior landscapes. Glad I got to ride them when I did. Typically through, when in service for the summer, I don't remember them being shop queens then. VIA ran them hard for a season, yet I don't think they were built completely new or even like what Rocky Mountaineer has for its Silver Leaf service.....