Canadian Railroads > Upcoming trip on "Skeena"

Does anyone have recent experieince riding trains 5 and 6?   Just wondering about consist, food, use of Park Car, timekeeping, etc.?
I'm thinking of making a trip in February. 
Thanks in advance. 
 

I last rode #5 & #6 The Skeena November 22-25, 2023. What a great trip!
Starting out in Jasper, AB on November 22nd, the consist for VIA #5 pulled up in front of the station with VIA 6455 leading, followed by VIA 8613 baggage car, VIA 8102 economy coach, and VIA 8707 Kokanee Park.
A bad wheel on the baggage car necessitated a switching move to set the car out causing a delay in the 12:45 scheduled departure which just added to the enjoyment of the whole experience.
Once the baggage car was removed, the new consist for VIA #5 became a nice little 3-car train.
Food & drink service is available from the snack bar/kitchen in the Park Car. Microwave meals, sandwiches, cold drinks, beer/cocktails, and snacks are all available on a cash & carry basis.
I purchased a Subway sandwich in Jasper before the mid-day departure to avoid the rather bland on-board meals.
Overnight hotel stay in Prince George was nice. Tim Hortons the next morning and another Subway sandwich for the ride to Prince Rupert. 😁
Another hotel night in Prince Rupert and right back on board the next morning for the return trip. Hotel provided breakfast in the morning, Tim's coffee and donuts brought on board to share with the crew.
Prince Rupert to Prince George, overnight hotel, reboard in the morning, then Prince George to Jasper. I was the only passenger on the train! :-)
Great trip, great crew (on-board and headend).
There is only one class of service so all passengers have full access to the economy coach, and the Skyline Car or Park Car in the consist.
Lots of great scenery, train meets, and stops along the way for photo ops.
I plan to do it again in June of this year when the daylight hours are much longer.

VIA #5 The Skeena at Jasper, AB Mile 235.7 Edson Sub. November 22, 2023 - Paul O'Shell D850 photo

VIA #5 The Skeena at Smithers, BC Mile 125.2 Telkwa Sub. November 23, 2023 - Paul O'Shell D7200 photo

VIA 8707 Kokanee Park on VIA #5 The Skeena November 22, 2023 - Paul O'Shell D850 photo
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/25 14:49 by poshell.

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All three pics   VIA 8707 Kokanee Park on VIA #5 The Skeena November 22, 2023

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VIA 6455 leading VIA #6 The Skeena at Prince Rupert, BC Mile 94.6 Skeena Sub. November 24, 2023 - Paul O'Shell D7200 photo

VIA 8707 Kokanee Park on VIA #6 The Skeena at Smithers, BC November 24, 2023 - Paul O'Shell photo

VIA #6 The Skeena at Smithers, BC Mile 125.2 Telkwa Sub. November 24, 2023 - Paul O'Shell D850 photo

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It's a REALLY REALLY neat train and goes through the heart of interior British Columbia through great mountain, lake, river, and transformative coastal scenery. I always loved when the Panorama Cars were on this train and they offered hot food and beverage service. That was top notch service equivalent to Rocky Mountaineer, but much more personalized and laid back! I know this type of service doesn't exist anymore, but it's good to hear that the Park Car (hopefully) still has a "snack bar" type food arrangement. That was hit or miss through some of the years. I'd gladly pay more just to get a double bedroom in the Park Car, as opposed to sitting in coach. Even that I think would be a good experience to sit back and just enjoy! 

Safe travels, hope things work out!

Very nice work!! I may be taking the Jasper to Prince Rupert train with some friends in Spring of 2026. The day before the westbound 5 leaves Jasper, we may take the eastbound Canadian from Vancouver, BC to Jasper.  In addition, we may take the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy.

Passfanatic Wrote:
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> Very nice work!! I may be taking the Jasper to
> Prince Rupert train with some friends in Spring of
> 2026. The day before the westbound 5 leaves
> Jasper, we may take the eastbound Canadian from
> Vancouver, BC to Jasper.  In addition, we may
> take the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy.

Always wanted to do this type of round trip. Was scheduled to and then the Prince Rupert to Port Hardy BC Ferry got a bit messed up and delayed. Just know if something happens with the ferry you can always fly out of Prince Rupert to Vancouver, etc. 

Yes, we have to keep all of our transportation options on the table. Another idea if you need to turn back at Prince Rupert is to take the train back to Prince George and fly out of there. It sounds like there are more flight options out of there over Prince Rupert. That's great to hear about the outstanding scenery along the Jasper-Prince Rupert train. It's too bad that there is no sleeping car on that train as that would eliminate the need for the train to spend the night in Prince George. Until the brand new fleet replaces the Budd HEP cars, I wouldn't get your hopes up about a sleeping car returning to the Skeena route. That's just like saying don't count on a full service dining car returning to the Winnipeg-Churchill Train until the Budd rolling stock is replaced. Of course, it would be nice to have a dining car on the Jasper to Prince Rupert trains but that won't be happening until the equipment is replaced.

When I first travelled on the Skeena it was an overnight train with one coach, Skyline and Chateau sleeper.  The Skyline offered full diner service.  We were amused by the double-duty required of the sleeping car attendant who was also the diner waiter/steward in charge.  Between courses at dinner he went back to the sleeper to make down the beds of those who requested that.

Passfanatic Wrote:
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> It's too bad that
> there is no sleeping car on that train as that
> would eliminate the need for the train to spend
> the night in Prince George. Until the brand new
> fleet replaces the Budd HEP cars, I wouldn't get
> your hopes up about a sleeping car returning to
> the Skeena route.

Having a brand-new fleet won't change anything. The change to an overnight stop in Prince George was instituted in 1996 to create a "daylight" riding experience for tourists riding the whole route, in much the same manner as Rocky Mountaineer. Nothing to do with lack of sleeping cars.

The change was an immediate success, with summer ridership increasing 41% in the first year.

As the original poster noted, he was the only passenger travelling east between Prince George and Jasper. Riding the whole distance from Jasper to Prince Rupert is purely for tourists. Locals travelling for basic transportation would be riding shorter stints, and usually one side or the other of Prince George, not both.

 

railsmith Wrote:
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> Passfanatic Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It's too bad that
> > there is no sleeping car on that train as that
> > would eliminate the need for the train to spend
> > the night in Prince George. Until the brand new
> > fleet replaces the Budd HEP cars, I wouldn't
> get
> > your hopes up about a sleeping car returning to
> > the Skeena route.
>
> Having a brand-new fleet won't change anything.
> The change to an overnight stop in Prince George
> was instituted in 1996 to create a "daylight"
> riding experience for tourists riding the whole
> route, in much the same manner as Rocky
> Mountaineer. Nothing to do with lack of sleeping
> cars.
>
> The change was an immediate success, with summer
> ridership increasing 41% in the first year.
>
> As the original poster noted, he was the only
> passenger travelling east between Prince George
> and Jasper. Riding the whole distance from Jasper
> to Prince Rupert is purely for tourists. Locals
> travelling for basic transportation would be
> riding shorter stints, and usually one side or the
> other of Prince George, not both.
>
>  

Absolutely correct! VIA even upped the frequency to four times a week in the first year or two they put the Panorama cars in service on the Jasper to Prince Rupert route. That further increased summer traffic, at least the first year. An extension to Edmonton had been planned, and even operating the Canadian six days a week between Vancouver and Jasper. This I thought would have been GREAT for peak season (e.g. June to ~October). But then I often wondered - in the off peak, would the Jasper to Prince Rupert train be better as a through train with sleeper and Skyline (serving as diner) with extra cars that came off the Canadian. The tourist traffic in off-peak is just not there. But the two day daylight train was intentional. I was glad that VIA Rail recognized this and also recognized they needed to step it up and offer a good "observation" car to further attract riders. Loved when the Panorama cars were assigned to this train. Then they were shifted to the Canadian (Edmonton to Vancouver) and then just before COVID, there would be at least one round trip consist with a Panorama car on the Skeena during peak season. As I look back, I realize that I was one of the first passengers to be on the "Totem Deluxe" class with the recently acquired ex-BC Panorama Cars on the Skeena........about six years later I was on a special inaugural run of the Rocky Mountaineer's Jasper to Vancouver version of what is now Rain forest to Gold Rush Route. The train to Prince Rupert will always be the "Rupert Rocket" or "Skeena" to me. 

DrawingroomA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When I first travelled on the Skeena it was an
> overnight train with one coach, Skyline and
> Chateau sleeper.  The Skyline offered full diner
> service.  We were amused by the double-duty
> required of the sleeping car attendant who was
> also the diner waiter/steward in charge.  Between
> courses at dinner he went back to the sleeper to
> make down the beds of those who requested that.

That was a wonderful era.  You missed some nice scenery, but that was the most charming little train.  We rode it right after it had received the HEP refurbish, and loved it.

Which hotel did you stay in Prince George & Prince Rupert?

Posted from Android

For my November 2023 trip I stayed in the
Courtyard by Marriott in Prince George (both directions)
Inn on the Harbour in Prince Rupert
Whistlers Inn in Jasper

Thanks for the info.

A look a some of the scenery along the route ....

VIA #5 The Skeena meets CN 3157 at McCall, BC Mile 76.9 Nechako Sub. November 23, 2023

CN Burns Lake, BC Mile 35.0 Telkwa Sub. November 23, 2023

Near Bulkley Canyon Mile 38.8 CN Bulkley Sub. November 23, 2023



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/25 14:33 by poshell.

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And a few more ....

CN New Hazelton, BC Bulkley Sub. November 23, 2023

Near CN Andimaul, BC Mile 68.1 Bulkley Sub. November 23, 2023

Broman Lake, BC CN Telkwa Sub. November 24, 2023

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