Swadian Hardcore
Engineer
I've been wanting to do this for a while. Very few people seem to compare the various coaches operated by VIA Rail, there's informal sleeper polls, loco discussions, etc., but nothing much about the coaches. VIA Rail has a lot of interesting, unique coaches from a wide timespan, they all have their own advantages and disadvatages, but it's hard to find a good source of information on their different characteristics. Note that most Amtrak coaches are reletively similar in interiors, seating, etc..
Choose your favourite coach and maybe describe why it's your favourite. Here are your choices:
Budd 62-seat Long Distance Coach (HEP)
8100-8129 ex-Canadian Pacific
8130-8145 from US roads
8145-8147 from US roads (60 seats and bar)
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/coach-car-units-8100-8147
Used throughout the network. Rarely used on Corridor.
Budd 68-seat Short Distance Coach (HEP-II)
Budd 56-seat Short Distance "Business Class" Coach (HEP-II)
4100-4125 from US roads (68-seat galley installed)
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/coach-car-units-4100-4125
4000-4009 from US roads (56-seat galley installed) BC
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/galley-club-car
Used on Corridor and Skeena.
Bombardier 68-seat Short Distance "Light Rapid Comfortable" Coach
Bombardier 56-seat Short Distance "Light Rapid Comfortable Business Class" Coach
REPRESENTS ALL LRC'S
3300-3399 built for VIA Rail (68-seat galley installed)
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/lrc-coach
3451-3475 built for VIA Rail (56-seat galley installed) BC
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/lrc-club-car-units-3451-3475
3600-3601 built for VIA Rail (56-seat galley installed) BC
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/lrc-club-car-units-3600-3601
Used on Corridor only.
Metropolitan-Cammell 48-seat "Renaissance" Coach
COACH AND CLUB ARE IDENTICAL
7100-7113 built for cancelled Nightstar (BC actually identical)
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/renaissance-club-car
7200-7232 built for cancelled Nightstar
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/renaissance-coach-car
Used on Corridor and Ocean.
Of course, the HEP-II and LRC cars are put together because if the different versions were put to the test against each other, obviously the Business Class would win over the Economy Class cars. For the Renaissance cars however, the Business and Economy cars are identical.
Hopefully this poll/thread gets more than just a few votes/posts. Would really like to know what you guys think, with some loving the Budds, some loving the LRC's (especially rebuilt ones), and some loving the Renaissance cars. Don't know much about VIA myself.
Choose your favourite coach and maybe describe why it's your favourite. Here are your choices:
Budd 62-seat Long Distance Coach (HEP)
8100-8129 ex-Canadian Pacific
8130-8145 from US roads
8145-8147 from US roads (60 seats and bar)
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/coach-car-units-8100-8147
Used throughout the network. Rarely used on Corridor.
Budd 68-seat Short Distance Coach (HEP-II)
Budd 56-seat Short Distance "Business Class" Coach (HEP-II)
4100-4125 from US roads (68-seat galley installed)
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/coach-car-units-4100-4125
4000-4009 from US roads (56-seat galley installed) BC
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/galley-club-car
Used on Corridor and Skeena.
Bombardier 68-seat Short Distance "Light Rapid Comfortable" Coach
Bombardier 56-seat Short Distance "Light Rapid Comfortable Business Class" Coach
REPRESENTS ALL LRC'S
3300-3399 built for VIA Rail (68-seat galley installed)
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/lrc-coach
3451-3475 built for VIA Rail (56-seat galley installed) BC
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/lrc-club-car-units-3451-3475
3600-3601 built for VIA Rail (56-seat galley installed) BC
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/lrc-club-car-units-3600-3601
Used on Corridor only.
Metropolitan-Cammell 48-seat "Renaissance" Coach
COACH AND CLUB ARE IDENTICAL
7100-7113 built for cancelled Nightstar (BC actually identical)
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/renaissance-club-car
7200-7232 built for cancelled Nightstar
http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-fleet/renaissance-coach-car
Used on Corridor and Ocean.
Of course, the HEP-II and LRC cars are put together because if the different versions were put to the test against each other, obviously the Business Class would win over the Economy Class cars. For the Renaissance cars however, the Business and Economy cars are identical.
Hopefully this poll/thread gets more than just a few votes/posts. Would really like to know what you guys think, with some loving the Budds, some loving the LRC's (especially rebuilt ones), and some loving the Renaissance cars. Don't know much about VIA myself.