Ocean and Chaleur Update

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NS VIA Fan

NS VIA Fan

Conductor
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
1,975
Location
Nova Scotia
Here's VIA's w/b Ocean #15 at Truro NS on Sunday May 20/12. All consists use the Renaissance equipment but a Budd "Park" Dome Observation will be added for the summer and fall beginning on June 13.

6418 F40

6449 F40

7011 Baggage

7228 Coach

7222 Coach

7402 Diner

7313 Lounge

7517 Sleeper

7520 Sleeper

7507 Sleeper

7519 Sleeper

7600 Transition/Storage

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Montreal <> Gaspe train (aka the "Chaleur") has returned as least as far as New Carlisle, QC. It was annulled in December due to track and bridge conditions on the Gaspe Peninsula. VIA is the only regular user of the rail line there. New Carlisle has a Wye where the Chaleur can be turned. Passengers will continue to be bussed to/from Gaspe for a while longer until repairs are complete on that section of track.

Note the Transition Car on the end of the Ocean. It is there to accommodate hauling the Chaleur behind the Ocean between Matapedia and Montreal. Trains operate in what VIA terms a "J (Joined) Train" configuration:

Engine (Ocean)

Cars (Ocean)

Engine (Chaleur)

Cars (Chaleur)

........Wonder what the configuration will be after the Ocean's Park Car is added for the summer? Will the Chaleur now go on the front?......or still be added behind the Park Car?

IMG_0297.JPG
IMG_0296.JPG


IMG_0293.JPG


IMG_0300.JPG
 
NS VIA Fan said:
........Wonder what the configuration will be after the Ocean's Park Car is added for the summer? Will the Chaleur now go on the front?......or still be added behind the Park Car?
Click to expand...
Well I was on the front when I rode it last year, so I'm assuming that's where it will go again. Especially since putting it on the rear would defeat part of the purpose of the Park car, that being the rounded end viewing lounge.

One thing that I didn't understand back then however, and I see its still the same, is why they don't put the cafe closer to the coaches instead of the diner.
 
AlanB said:
...

One thing that I didn't understand back then however, and I see its still the same, is why they don't put the cafe closer to the coaches instead of the diner.
Click to expand...
Perhaps the lounge and diner share food and beverage storage and preparation facilities?
 
PRR 60 said:
AlanB said:
...

One thing that I didn't understand back then however, and I see its still the same, is why they don't put the cafe closer to the coaches instead of the diner.
Click to expand...
Perhaps the lounge and diner share food and beverage storage and preparation facilities?
Click to expand...
Bill you are quite correct, they do indeed share the facilities. In fact all food is prepared in the lounge car and carried into the diner. But that wouldn't prevent the cars from being flipped around.

It just seems odd to me to have the coach people needing to walk through the diner, while food is being served and potentially colliding with an attendant carrying something, just so they can buy something from the cafe.
 
AlanB said:
Bill you are quite correct, they do indeed share the facilities. In fact all food is prepared in the lounge car and carried into the diner. But that wouldn't prevent the cars from being flipped around.

It just seems odd to me to have the coach people needing to walk through the diner, while food is being served and potentially colliding with an attendant carrying something, just so they can buy something from the cafe.
Click to expand...
This is NOT a normal consist shown above. There is always a coach lounge/service car ahead of the diner then another lounge/service car right behind for sleeper passengers. VIA continues to upgrade these cars to "Barrier Free" Standards (ADA to Americans) and they are short of a couple of cars right now.
 
NS VIA Fan said:
AlanB said:
Bill you are quite correct, they do indeed share the facilities. In fact all food is prepared in the lounge car and carried into the diner. But that wouldn't prevent the cars from being flipped around.

It just seems odd to me to have the coach people needing to walk through the diner, while food is being served and potentially colliding with an attendant carrying something, just so they can buy something from the cafe.
Click to expand...
This is NOT a normal consist shown above. There is always a coach lounge/service car ahead of the diner then another lounge/service car right behind for sleeper passengers. VIA continues to upgrade these cars to "Barrier Free" Standards (ADA to Americans) and they are short of a couple of cars right now.
Click to expand...
Ah! Ok, that makes sense. I didn't really walk past the diner last fall, but I sort of thought that maybe there was another cafe, but then I wasn't sure especially after seeing this consist listing.

I was too busy in the dome to be worrying about what was forward of the diner. :)
 
AlanB said:
NS VIA Fan said:
........Wonder what the configuration will be after the Ocean's Park Car is added for the summer? Will the Chaleur now go on the front?......or still be added behind the Park Car?
Click to expand...
 

Well I was on the front when I rode it last year, so I'm assuming that's where it will go again. Especially since putting it on the rear would defeat part of the purpose of the Park car, that being the rounded end viewing lounge.

 
Click to expand...
 

It will be interesting to see just what the procedure will be now that the trains are being J'd which was not the case last year. Previously when a Park was running the trains were combined as follows:

Engine (Ocean)

Engine (Chaleur)

Cars (Chaleur)

Cars (Ocean)

Now:

Engine (Ocean)

Cars (Ocean)

Engine (Chaleur)

Cars (Chaleur)

VIA did run a test train last fall with the Chaleur attached behind the Park.......Guess we'll know for sure on June 13!

VIA must assume the view from the Park will only be infringed for a shot time in the evening and early morning as the trains run combined overnight and are separate for the daytime running between Matapedia and Halifax.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for all the information! I've been thinking of riding the Chaleur for a bit and am glad to hear work is progressing towards its full restoration.
 
Swadian Hardcore said:
I have heard that VIA plans to retire the stainless cars, but I hope it's just a rumour.
Click to expand...
No plans at all to retire them......they'll be around for awhile yet.

VIA uses stainless on the Chaleur but the Ocean is Renaissance with a stainless Park attached beginning on June 13.

(and obviously the Canadian is stainless too)
 

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