Canadian Railroads > VIA will honour 120 years of the "Ocean"

VIA says the first run of the Ocean was 121 years ago, but on the 15th of July VIA will honour the 120th anniversary with an open house in Halifax.

https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/event/halifax-july-15-ocean-anniversary

 

If only they had a better observation/lounge car on the Ocean at present. I'd still be taking it out to Halifax if they had something more suitable - other than the Renaissance service cars - on the train. The dome car is sorely missed......And it's too bad the VIA Panorama cars are out of service. They could have worked for this route in its current form with not being able to do a loop turn in Halifax. 

Renaissance Eastbound, Cabin for 2 westbound. Trip was absolute gold! The Atlantic Maritime Museum in Halifax shook me to the core the with Titantic Display, absolutely breathtaking! The food at the hotel attached to the train station was also top notch! Crews were amazing both ways, especially westbound with the fully rested Halifax Crew! 

Drew Mitchem
Centralia, WA

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If only they had a better observation/lounge car
> on the Ocean at present. I'd still be taking it
> out to Halifax if they had something more suitable
> - other than the Renaissance service cars - on the
> train. The dome car is sorely missed......And it's
> too bad the VIA Panorama cars are out of service.
> They could have worked for this route in its
> current form with not being able to do a loop turn
> in Halifax. 

I agree that the Renaissance service cars are inadequate.  But I do find the lounges to be attractive.  Back in the 1970s there were no dome cars on the CN Ocean..  There was a full-length lounge car adjacent to the diner.  The bar half of it was divided by a wall.  The other half was not very appealing. CN had gone modern by putting in bright fluorescent lights and a false ceiling, as they did with the diners.  The brightly-coloured chairs seemed to be dominated by purple. The art-work was multi-coloured squiggles, for want of a better description.

The decor of the Rennaissance lounge is more soothing to my taste, although  I wish it was bigger.  It's a shame the space created by the removal of the the customs officer's office and the "brig" (cell) - both of which I saw the first time the equipment was displayed in Toronto - has remained empty.  A couple of chesterfields would provide additional seating.  I don't find it pleasant standing in that area waiting for my meal sitting to be called when all 12 seats are occupied.

DrawingroomA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If only they had a better observation/lounge
> car
> > on the Ocean at present. I'd still be taking it
> > out to Halifax if they had something more
> suitable
> > - other than the Renaissance service cars - on
> the
> > train. The dome car is sorely missed......And
> it's
> > too bad the VIA Panorama cars are out of
> service.
> > They could have worked for this route in its
> > current form with not being able to do a loop
> turn
> > in Halifax. 
>
> I agree that the Renaissance service cars are
> inadequate.  But I do find the lounges to be
> attractive.  Back in the 1970s there were no dome
> cars on the CN Ocean..  There was a full-length
> lounge car adjacent to the diner.  The bar half
> of it was divided by a wall.  The other half was
> not very appealing. CN had gone modern by putting
> in bright fluorescent lights and a false ceiling,
> as they did with the diners.  The
> brightly-coloured chairs seemed to be dominated by
> purple. The art-work was multi-coloured squiggles,
> for want of a better description.
>
> The decor of the Renaissance lounge is more
> soothing to my taste, although  I wish it was
> bigger.  It's a shame the space created by the
> removal of the the customs officer's office and
> the "brig" (cell) - both of which I saw the first
> time the equipment was displayed in Toronto - has
> remained empty.  A couple of chesterfields would
> provide additional seating.  I don't find it
> pleasant standing in that area waiting for my meal
> sitting to be called when all 12 seats are
> occupied.

It would have seen more plausible to have gutted all but the "counter area or galley" in the service car and made a big open space of lounge chairs or couches, as you allude to. A bit weird that this didn't happen, as I am not aware of the "brig" ever being used. Complete wasted space. And for that matter, I thought VIA could have done something better with the three "transition Renaissance cars" - even as an additional lounge with window space. But not complaining as they served their purpose in getting people to the rear most prize at the end of the train - the Park Dome Car!!!! I'd use the Ocean a LOT more if there was descent lounge space. Sitting all day in the sleeper compartment would not be ideal for this picturesque route. 

Has their been ANY news or development on the ex-BC Panorama Ultra Dome cars? It's a tragedy that these cars didn't hold up for more years of service. LOVED these cars - especially when operating as Totem Deluxe Class or Touring Class on the Skeena (aka Train To Prince Rupert). Beautiful cars that had such a great purpose. Was not a fan of them to be on the Canadian though! They already got the Skyline Domes!!!!

jp1822 Wrote:
...
> It would have seen more plausible to have gutted
> all but the "counter area or galley" in the
> service car and made a big open space of lounge
> chairs or couches, as you allude to. A bit weird
> that this didn't happen, as I am not aware of the
> "brig" ever being used. Complete wasted space.
...
The "brig" - if I may be excused for using the nautical term - and the customs-immigration  officer's office were intended for use on the Nightstar routes in Europe.  On my first look at three Renaissance cars, the lucky people chosen for the tour. chuckled at this small prison cell.  The VIA rep. said the two rooms would be removed when other modifications were made to the equipment.  I expected some sort of seating, not standing room, but sadly VIA didn't do this.

The Panorama cars would be a good addition to the consist, but there are rumours there are some structural problems with them.  Obviously there is some problem because none of them are being used.
 

DrawingroomA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> ...
> > It would have seen more plausible to have
> gutted
> > all but the "counter area or galley" in the
> > service car and made a big open space of lounge
> > chairs or couches, as you allude to. A bit
> weird
> > that this didn't happen, as I am not aware of
> the
> > "brig" ever being used. Complete wasted space.
> ...
> The "brig" - if I may be excused for using the
> nautical term - and the customs-immigration 
> officer's office were intended for use on the
> Nightstar routes in Europe.  On my first look at
> three Renaissance cars, the lucky people chosen
> for the tour. chuckled at this small prison
> cell.  The VIA rep. said the two rooms would be
> removed when other modifications were made to the
> equipment.  I expected some sort of seating, not
> standing room, but sadly VIA didn't do this.
>
> The Panorama cars would be a good addition to the
> consist, but there are rumours there are some
> structural problems with them.  Obviously there
> is some problem because none of them are being
> used.
>  

That continues to be the rumor I hear as well! It's also been rumored - not sure if this is really true though so hence even more of a rumor - that they were moved to Vancouver for potential work of some sort......

jp1822 Wrote:
-
...
>
> That continues to be the rumor I hear as well!
> It's also been rumored - not sure if this is
> really true though so hence even more of a rumor -
> that they were moved to Vancouver for potential
> work of some sort....

The three had been stored in Vancouver.  I saw them there last year.  One was sent to Montreal, apparently for an inspection or some work.  I don't know if it is still there or sent back to Vancouver.  ..