The Canadian
The Canadian at Capreol, Ontario.
Headed by 6446 and 6448
Via Rail was formed in 1978 to operate the passenger services of the two main
railroad companies, the privately owned Canadian Pacific, former operator of
the trans-Canadian passenger service, and the state owned Canadian National.
Via Rail`s premier passenger service links Toronto on the Great Lakes
with Vancouver on the Pacific Ocean. The journey takes five days in
beautifully restored 1950s vintage stainless steel trains hauled by Via
Rail`s Class GPA 30c Bo-Bo diesel locomotives. Originally the train
took the Canadian Pacific route through the Rockies, via Calgary and
Banff. Nowadays it takes the more northerly Canadian National
line via Winnipeg, Edmonton and Jasper.
At Winnipeg the Canadian connects with the Hudson
Bay service to Churchill and at Jasper it connects with the
Skeena which gets to the Pacific coast at the port of Prince
Rupert.
At Jasper you have the option of continuing on the Canadian or
taking the daylight Rocky Mountaineer service through the
mountains, stopping overnight at a hotel in Kamloops.
The Train
The two class GPA-30a locomotives which head the Canadian out
of Toronto are General Motors F40PH-2 cab units developed for passenger use.
Each Bo-Bo locomotive develops 3000HP. Both units, contrary to
some expectations, run cab forward as the whole train is reversed at each end
of the journey. For the slog through the Rockies a third unit of the
same class is added at Jasper.
The trainsets are formed of the original 1955 stainless steel cars built by
Budd in the United States, mainly for the Canadian Pacific. 190 cars
were totally renovated by AMF from the trucks up at a cost of over one
million dollars each. The original steam heating was replaced by
electric heating and air conditioning was fitted. Showers were
installed in the sleeping cars and new carpets and upholstery supplied to the
original design. The end result has been to recreate the great days of
luxury transcontinental train travel.
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| The Canadian enters Winnipeg |
Each Canadian train set is formed of 19 cars of seven different
types. Marshalled immediately behind the locos is a baggage car, built
by Budd in 1963 for the Union Pacific. Suitcases and other major pieces
of luggage are carried here, passengers only taking hand baggage with
them on the train.
There are two classes of accommodation, Coach and Silver and Blue.
Coach class passengers travel in 3 HP1 day coaches, each with 62 reclining
seats. Hot and cold snacks are available from a cafeteria style
service.
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| Diner interior
|
Silver and Blue class passengers can chose from four different classes of
accommodation. The basic service is in the bunk sections of the
sleeping cars where the day seats convert into bunks at night and privacy is
assured by heavy curtains across each bay. This system dates back to
the earliest days of Pullman style travel in North America. Meals are
taken in a separate kitchen-diner, the decor of which features superb etched
glass screens.
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| Grant Manor and Skyline 8517 cars
|
The most luxurious way to travel is in comfortable two-berth compartments
each with its own (tiny) lavatory and wash basin. During the day both
bunks are folded away and two freestanding armchairs installed, making a
private lounge where you can relax, read a book or just sit and watch while
they wheel Canada past the big window. The Chateau and
Park vehicles each have 1 three berth compartment. There are
also one person roomettes which have a pull out bunk which slots on top of
the seat and the toilet. Each sleeping car has a shower cubicle.
There are 9 Manor sleepers and 1 Chateau sleeper in the
consist.
The main attraction of the train, though, is the magnificent Skyline
dome-cafe-lounge cars which give spectacular panoramic views all round.
Altogether there are three of these superb vehicles in the train.
At one end of the car is a small lounge where hot and cold drinks are
always available. In the centre is the dome lounge with the kitchen
underneath it, where the chefs work hard preparing superb meals for three
sittings three times a day. The other end of the car is a small dining
room serving the occupants of the sleeping cars each side of the dome car.
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| Bullet lounge interior
|
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| Strathcona Park car
|
At the rear of the train is the Park bullet observation car.
This vehicle has a spacious three-berth compartment and three two berth
compartments, a dome lounge with a television lounge underneath and a small
bar. This lounge is known as the Mural lounge and each car features a
painting by Canada`s Group of Seven artists. The originals are
on show in an art gallery in Ottowa. At the end of the car is a round
nosed observation lounge with free standing armchairs and a supply of hot
drinks and nibbles. A wonderful place to sit and have a beer before
dinner.
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| Skeena and Canadian at Jasper
|
On arrival at Jasper you have a number of options:
- Continue on the Canadian to Vancouver, this journey takes
nearly 24 hrs and crosses the first section of the Rocky Mountains in the
dark.
- Take the Skeena on a more northerly route through the
Rockies to Prince Rupert, again this leaves in the evening. The train
uses similar stock to the Canadian but all meals are taken in the dining car
on a pay as you go basis.
- Stay overnight in Jasper and sample the local beer and then continue on
to Vancouver bright and early the following morning on the Rocky
Mountaineer.
- As an alternative to the last option, take an overland trip through the
spectacular ice-fields down to Banff and then continue to Vancouver on the
other section of the Rocky Mountaineer.
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