Passenger Trains > Return Trip from Churchill to Winnipeg on VIA692

After spending a full day in Churchill doing touristy activities, we head back to the station to board southbound VIA Rail Train # 692 which we take back to Winnipeg. We looked into flying back from Churchill to Winnipeg, but the Calm Air charges very high fares for the journey, probably more expensive than the train. We also looked into taking the train only as far south as Thompson and then taking an overnight bus the rest of the journey to Winnipeg which would have dropped us off at the airport. We decided it was worth spending the extra night on the train. My friends and I really enjoyed riding in and sleeping in these Budd HEP Cars. We had the same exact crew coming up and they were outstanding!! Here are the pictures.

    The first group were taken in Churchill and the sun finally came out at the end of the day.
1. VIA Rail Train # 692 gets its rest before heading back to Winnipeg

2. Chateau Sleeper Car # 8229 glistens in the sun as it sits on the rear of VIA692.

3. The Churchill Station building-viewed from the side closest to the business district.  
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 16:27 by Passfanatic.

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4. Churchill Yard

5. Departing Churchill on schedule-the business district of Churchill is on the left

6. Leaving Churchill behind as the sun begins to get low



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:38 by Passfanatic.

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7. Tundra viewed from the Skyline Car

8. Continuing to leave Churchill behind

9. Passing a wye track

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10. Sunset between Tidal and Chesnaye
      
     Images taken on 4/19/24

11. View of VIA692 at Ilford Station-looking toward Churchill

12. VIA692 at Ilford Station-looking toward Thompson, The Pas, and Winnipeg

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13. Running along a lake

 14-15. View of VIA692 at Pikwitonei Station during a fresh air stop. Some pictures were taken outside and some were taken from the dome.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:00 by Passfanatic.

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16-18. Views at Pikwitonei during mid morning

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19. Coming onto the Thompson Sub from the Thicket Sub

20. Running on the Thompson Sub

21. Negotiating the wye just east of Thompson Station

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22.. VIA691 backing into Thompson Station

23-24. Leased power to the Hudson Bay RR in Thompson Yard-viewed from VIA692
                       
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:21 by Passfanatic.

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25. VIA Rail Train # 691 stopped just west of Thompson Station as it has to let 692 do its station work.

26. The tail end of VIA692 stopped before the lead units on VIA691

27. VIA692's turn to occupy the station platform



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:16 by Passfanatic.

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28. Chateau Sleeper on the rear of VIA Train # 692

29. Rear side view of our two F40PH-3 units on VIA692

30. At last, a sunny day nose up head end picture of our two locomotives on the Churchill to Winnipeg train, formerly known as the Hudson Bay



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:28 by Passfanatic.

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31. Leaving the Thompson Branch and entering the Thicket Sub again but this time the south wye. We left Thompson about 15 minutes late.

32. Looking north along the Thicket Sub as VIA692 leaves the Thompson Branch.

33. Thicket Portage Station building and view looking south during fresh air stop



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:37 by Passfanatic.

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34. Iced pond somewhere between Thicket Portage and Wabowden Stations

35. Wabowden Station sign

36. VIA Train # 692 at Wabowden Depot-looking north



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:45 by Passfanatic.

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37. VIA Train # 692 at Wabowden Depot-looking south

        The next group of images were taken at The Pas Station. Yes I sacrificed some sleep in order to get these evening shops of the station building, VIA Rail Train # 692 plus the equipment belonging to the Keewatin RR company which runs from The Pas to Pukatawagan

38. Our exceptionally wonderful service mgr standing next to the door to the Skyline Dome car

39. View of VIA692 and The Pas Station-looking south



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:51 by Passfanatic.

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40. Economy Class Car

41. Side rear view of F40PH-3 units # 6456 and 6428

42. These cars on the right belong to the belong to the Keewatin RR company which runs from The Pas to Pukatawagan-not part of the VIA Rail network

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43. Keewatin RR company rolling stock which are actually former VIA Rail cars

44. Keewatin RR Company Car # 3248

45. The classic VIA Rail logo above the door to The Pas station building

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46. Station building

47. VIA Rail Train # 692 getting a lenghty layover

48. Looking south from The Pas Station



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 15:27 by Passfanatic.

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    The rest of the pictures were taken on 4/20/24-when I woke up, VIA692 was running a little over an hour late.

49. VIA692 is getting closer to the Canora Station

50. Crossing what looks like the CN Yorkton Sub

51. VIA Rail Train # 692 at Canora Station during a short fresh air stop

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 15:33 by Passfanatic.

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52. People enjoying fresh air at the Canora Depot with the VIA Rail Budd HEP baggage car in the background

53. Restored CN Caboose next to the Canora Depot building

54. Looking toward Dauphin and Winnipeg from Canora Station-VIA692 is on the left



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/24 17:21 by Passfanatic.

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55. Economy Class, Skyline Car, and Chateau Sleeping Car on VIA Rail Train # 692 at Canora Station

56. Roblin, MB

57. View from the Dome in the prairies of Manitoba



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 15:43 by Passfanatic.

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Was the car behind the Park obs car part of the "put an unoccupied car at the end of every train" policy, or was there some other reason?