NS VIA Fan
Conductor
A "Park Car" has returned early this year to the Ocean for the summer season. In previous years it didnt appear until mid-June when Sleeper+Plus (Easterly) Class began....but since the reduction to tri-weekly service last fall, theres now a Dome year 'round. For the winter it was a "Skyline".
Recently, its been reported on a couple of the CDN railfan newsgroups that everyone, including coach passengers have been invited to use the "Park" but this will probably change when the extra amenities of Sleeper+Plus Class begin for the summer.
Heres "Evangeline Park" trailing westbound #15 at Truro NS, last Sunday, May 5. The consist included 3 coaches, 6 sleepers, a diner, 2 lounge/service cars, baggage and transition/storage car. Later that evening it picked up the former "Chaleur's" 6 cars from New Carlisle at Matapedia for a 21 car arrival into Montreal on Monday morning.
Sure its not the 20 to 25 cars of perfectly matched Budd Stainless Steel and it won't replace that iconic transcontinental trip....but for anyone in the Northeast US wanting to sample a classic Dome-Observation, the Ocean is an alternative to the time and cost of riding the Canadian. It's an easy long-weekend trip, departing Montreal on a Friday evening and arriving back into Montreal Monday morning. Or do a loop: Halifax is 1 1/2 to 2 hrs flying time nonstop from Boston, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia or Washington.
Then take the Ocean to Montreal and return on the Adirondack. The connections to and from the Adirondack aren't as convenient as they once were but you'll want to stopover in Montreal anyway. Or better still, visit Quebec City; boarding the Ocean at Charny and riding a VIA Corridor train from Montreal.
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/46163-montreal-quebec/
Recently, its been reported on a couple of the CDN railfan newsgroups that everyone, including coach passengers have been invited to use the "Park" but this will probably change when the extra amenities of Sleeper+Plus Class begin for the summer.
Heres "Evangeline Park" trailing westbound #15 at Truro NS, last Sunday, May 5. The consist included 3 coaches, 6 sleepers, a diner, 2 lounge/service cars, baggage and transition/storage car. Later that evening it picked up the former "Chaleur's" 6 cars from New Carlisle at Matapedia for a 21 car arrival into Montreal on Monday morning.
Sure its not the 20 to 25 cars of perfectly matched Budd Stainless Steel and it won't replace that iconic transcontinental trip....but for anyone in the Northeast US wanting to sample a classic Dome-Observation, the Ocean is an alternative to the time and cost of riding the Canadian. It's an easy long-weekend trip, departing Montreal on a Friday evening and arriving back into Montreal Monday morning. Or do a loop: Halifax is 1 1/2 to 2 hrs flying time nonstop from Boston, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia or Washington.
Then take the Ocean to Montreal and return on the Adirondack. The connections to and from the Adirondack aren't as convenient as they once were but you'll want to stopover in Montreal anyway. Or better still, visit Quebec City; boarding the Ocean at Charny and riding a VIA Corridor train from Montreal.
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/46163-montreal-quebec/
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