N
NS VIA FAN
Guest
Officially Touring Class but still called Easterly Class by many.....its an up-graded sleeper class offered on the Ocean during the summer and fall. I was going to Ottawa for the weekend so time to sample this service. I was able to book single occupancy of a deluxe double bedroom (with private washroom & shower) including meals for $342. + tax.
I left work just after lunch for the two hour drive to Moncton, New Brunswick. First stop was Moncton Airport to drop off my car so it would be available when I returned on Monday evening.....then a taxi ride downtown to the VIA station. I arrived with nearly an hour to spare and plenty of time to pick-up my ticket which I had booked earlier on line.
A pretty good crowd assembled as the Renaissance equipped Ocean arrived right on time at 4:40 pm. The consist included six sleepers: three regular sleepers and three touring class sleepers. The sleeper accommodations are identical but touring class includes meals and amenities such as snacks, a tour book and souvenirs and exclusive use of the dome observation Park Car
I quickly stashed my gear and headed for the dome. The attendant introduced herself to all and theres a Champagne reception just as we left Moncton. A couple from one of the regular sleepers is found but they are invited to stay for a few moments to sample the service with hopes they might up-grade on a future trip. Theyre even offered a glass of Champagne before having to return to their own car.....good PR!
Second Call to dinner is announced at 6:30 and I head forward eight cars.
Dinner
Maritime Fish Chowder
or
Duck Confit Salad Sprinkled with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Old-style Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic salmon marinated in old-style honey mustard sauce, served over saffron rice with seasonal vegetables.
Suggested Wine: Kim Crawfords Sauvignon Blancor
or
Veal Medallion
Pan-seared veal medallion au jus, served with roasted
red skin potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
Suggested Wine: Gretzkys Estate Cabernet-Merlot
or
Stuffed Chicken Breast
Tender chicken breast stuffed with sun-dried tomato and Feta cheese
served over angel hair pasta cooked to perfection and seasonal vegetables.
Suggested Wine: Grand Prés Léon Millot
Dessert
Sweet Sensation
I had the Fish Chowder and Veal which was very good. Desert was a Chocolate-Caramel cake.....coffee and conversation.
The Renaissance Diners are built from unused sleeper shells. Seating is tables for two on one side and for four on the other. A serving area in the centre divides the car.....regular sleeper and coach passengers can purchase meals in the forward section and complementary meals are provided to Touring Class passengers in the rear section. Meals are prepared in the two Service-Lounge cars on either side of the diner.
See 360 deg. image here:
http://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/360/Renaissance_dining_car/index.html
After dinner I returned to the dome as we headed through northern New Brunswick stopping at several French Acadian communities (cousins to the Louisiana Cajuns) These are small villages but good traffic generators for VIA. For example, Petit- Rocher (Little Rock) population only 1900 has a brand-new VIA station with ticket agent and we had to stop twice on the short platform…..once for boarding coach passengers and then the sleepers. Unlike the Canadian, the Ocean is well used by locals.....people actually travelling to get somewhere and not just on tour.....its a quick overnight run to Montreal with connections into the corridor.
Soon the lights of the Gaspe coast come into view 20 miles across the Baie des Chaleur.....scenic, with the sun setting behind the mountains. The dome fills quickly when its announced the attendant will be telling a Ghost Story.....The Phantom Ship of Chaleur Bay.
The Park Car has a round-end observation lounge where you can sit and watch the tracks receding into the distance. Its busier after dark as most sit in the dome during the day. The Park also has the largest accommodation on the train: the Triple Bedroom or Drawing Room.
On into Campbellton for a 10 minute servicing stop. I got off and walked forward for some video while the F40s are fueled.
After Campbellton the bay narrows down to the Restigouche River which we follow for several miles into Matapedia as we pace VIAs Chaleur from Gaspe on the opposite river bank. We cross the interprovincial bridge into Quebec, go from Atlantic to Eastern Time and arrive at Matapedia simultaneously with the Chaleur. The power then goes off for 15 minutes and its very quite in the sleepers except for the radio conversations in French as the trains are combined. Out of Matapedia the Chaleur has been placed ahead of the Ocean and the consist now includes:
3 F40s
1 Budd Baggage
2 Budd Coaches
1 Budd Skyline Dome
2 Budd Chateau Sleepers
1 Renaissance Baggage
3 Renaissance Coaches
1 Renaissance (Coach) Lounge
1 Renaissance Diner
1 Renaissance (Sleeper) Lounge
6 Renaissance Sleepers
1 Renaissance Transition car
1 Budd Park Car Dome Observation
Total: 21 cars
I left work just after lunch for the two hour drive to Moncton, New Brunswick. First stop was Moncton Airport to drop off my car so it would be available when I returned on Monday evening.....then a taxi ride downtown to the VIA station. I arrived with nearly an hour to spare and plenty of time to pick-up my ticket which I had booked earlier on line.
A pretty good crowd assembled as the Renaissance equipped Ocean arrived right on time at 4:40 pm. The consist included six sleepers: three regular sleepers and three touring class sleepers. The sleeper accommodations are identical but touring class includes meals and amenities such as snacks, a tour book and souvenirs and exclusive use of the dome observation Park Car
I quickly stashed my gear and headed for the dome. The attendant introduced herself to all and theres a Champagne reception just as we left Moncton. A couple from one of the regular sleepers is found but they are invited to stay for a few moments to sample the service with hopes they might up-grade on a future trip. Theyre even offered a glass of Champagne before having to return to their own car.....good PR!
Second Call to dinner is announced at 6:30 and I head forward eight cars.
Dinner
Maritime Fish Chowder
or
Duck Confit Salad Sprinkled with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Old-style Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic salmon marinated in old-style honey mustard sauce, served over saffron rice with seasonal vegetables.
Suggested Wine: Kim Crawfords Sauvignon Blancor
or
Veal Medallion
Pan-seared veal medallion au jus, served with roasted
red skin potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
Suggested Wine: Gretzkys Estate Cabernet-Merlot
or
Stuffed Chicken Breast
Tender chicken breast stuffed with sun-dried tomato and Feta cheese
served over angel hair pasta cooked to perfection and seasonal vegetables.
Suggested Wine: Grand Prés Léon Millot
Dessert
Sweet Sensation
I had the Fish Chowder and Veal which was very good. Desert was a Chocolate-Caramel cake.....coffee and conversation.
The Renaissance Diners are built from unused sleeper shells. Seating is tables for two on one side and for four on the other. A serving area in the centre divides the car.....regular sleeper and coach passengers can purchase meals in the forward section and complementary meals are provided to Touring Class passengers in the rear section. Meals are prepared in the two Service-Lounge cars on either side of the diner.
See 360 deg. image here:
http://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/360/Renaissance_dining_car/index.html
After dinner I returned to the dome as we headed through northern New Brunswick stopping at several French Acadian communities (cousins to the Louisiana Cajuns) These are small villages but good traffic generators for VIA. For example, Petit- Rocher (Little Rock) population only 1900 has a brand-new VIA station with ticket agent and we had to stop twice on the short platform…..once for boarding coach passengers and then the sleepers. Unlike the Canadian, the Ocean is well used by locals.....people actually travelling to get somewhere and not just on tour.....its a quick overnight run to Montreal with connections into the corridor.
Soon the lights of the Gaspe coast come into view 20 miles across the Baie des Chaleur.....scenic, with the sun setting behind the mountains. The dome fills quickly when its announced the attendant will be telling a Ghost Story.....The Phantom Ship of Chaleur Bay.
The Park Car has a round-end observation lounge where you can sit and watch the tracks receding into the distance. Its busier after dark as most sit in the dome during the day. The Park also has the largest accommodation on the train: the Triple Bedroom or Drawing Room.
On into Campbellton for a 10 minute servicing stop. I got off and walked forward for some video while the F40s are fueled.
After Campbellton the bay narrows down to the Restigouche River which we follow for several miles into Matapedia as we pace VIAs Chaleur from Gaspe on the opposite river bank. We cross the interprovincial bridge into Quebec, go from Atlantic to Eastern Time and arrive at Matapedia simultaneously with the Chaleur. The power then goes off for 15 minutes and its very quite in the sleepers except for the radio conversations in French as the trains are combined. Out of Matapedia the Chaleur has been placed ahead of the Ocean and the consist now includes:
3 F40s
1 Budd Baggage
2 Budd Coaches
1 Budd Skyline Dome
2 Budd Chateau Sleepers
1 Renaissance Baggage
3 Renaissance Coaches
1 Renaissance (Coach) Lounge
1 Renaissance Diner
1 Renaissance (Sleeper) Lounge
6 Renaissance Sleepers
1 Renaissance Transition car
1 Budd Park Car Dome Observation
Total: 21 cars
Last edited:
