Thanks so much for joining me on the Ocean - it's one of the most unique train journeys I've ever done and I was blessed to have pretty much the entire train to myself! If you enjoyed this, why not watch my: Amazing CrossCountry HST train trip in England! th-cam.com/video/aA6MoteaJwU/w-d-xo.html Follow me on Twitter: @paul_winginit ¦ twitter.com/paul_winginit Follow me on Instagram: paul_winginit ¦ instagram.com/paul_winginit My website: www.winginit.me
I was a service manager for VIA Rail from 2007 to 2013. The "Ocean" used to be coupled up with the "Chaleur" from Montreal to Matapedia. The "Chaleur" would split in the morning in Matapedia and run up the Gaspé coast and team up back at night with the "Ocean". If you have any questions about VIA let me know. The " Chaleur" was my favourite train to work. In the summertime, the combined trains added up to 24 cars. Sometimes we had to stop five times in a station to let people on. In my day, we did not cross the Quebec bridge, the stop was Charny station. I remember one night, the snow was so high, we were hitting snow banks at the crossings that would shake the train and send snow flying onto the roof. I spent many nights in the dome. The best time was coming into Amqui around June 21st on the way up to Gaspé at around 4:30 am and seeing the sunrise. rogertwancetpt@gmail.com
@RoadhogTime13 Amtrak will probably restore service after Covid-19. Joe Biden is a rail buff himself, so Amtrak isn't going anywhere and he'll probably reverse Trump's budget cuts.
Done the train ride, the Canadian, from Toronto to Vancouver in July 2017. It is one heck of the ride. The Ocean train line is going to be on my next bucket list.
As a Canadian, I am so happy you did this review. I have been planning to do this trip for a number of years! Great video and review. Just one correction - Canadians call it Vee Ah Rail rather that V.I.A rail. The parents of a number of my Italian friends used this route to start their new life in Canada after arriving by boat in Halifax.
The thing is the word via is pronounced differently so if he had said it the British way people would complain and if he said it the North American/Canadian way people would have complained I think he did the best he could
I'm glad to hear the Ocean is popular with foreign visitors. I'm sure it is also very valuable for local residents in their isolated and remote communities.
Back in the '90s we used to take the train on this route to Montréal to visit family for Christmas. I still feel nostalgic for the Budd couchettes we used to travel in until rising costs forced us into coach class. Good times. Also, thanks for giving us the dates for those old cars. I always knew they were old, but never knew how old.
Loved the video! I live in Halifax and have taken the Ocean a number of times when the entire fleet was still like the park car you enjoyed so much. My late husband worked the bar in that car for many years and I too enjoyed spending time up in the dome, especially late at night. We were super lucky to see the northern lights while travelling through northern New Brunswick once. The bulk of that fleet was moved out west and replaced by the Renaissance. It was considered a major downgrade comfort wise, especially for front coach passengers. Narrow plastic seats with thin padding just not really suited for 22 - 24 hour journeys.
Indeed. I rode on VIA Rail between Toronto and Vancouver and all the cars were from the 50's. They were NICE! I then rode an Amtrak from Seattle to LA and then LA to New Orleans. 70's cars. Efficient, but not nearly as nice.
@@christalbot210 Amtrak would be wise to refurbish the Superliners better than they have. With the pandemic impacting their business, Amtrak is reducing their long distance sleeper trains to just three times a week. Only taking credit of having one train more per week than the Canadian or the Ocean in Canada... The days of daily service for long distance trains in North America appears to be over, gone with the wind...
The Renaissance cars are showing both their age and that they were built for conditions in Britain and western Europe, not eastern Canada. On many cars, the exteriro body rust is evident.
Thank you so much, Paul! Since the pandemic, like many, I suffer depression but since discovering your videos, I feel hope again! I love travelling and your realistic but also inspiring comments make me hopeful!
Born and grew up in Nova Scotia; in 1967 I left for work in Toronto, boarding the train in Truro at the old original sandstone station, which for some reason was later torn down and replaced by the present drab "warehouse", which is probably the dullest train station in Canada. In 2010 my wife and I took the train to Montreal and on to Truro to be there for my Mom's 90th birthday. My wife is no longer able to travel by air or by car for a long distance, but she enjoyed the trip on the train. I travel by any and all means available, but did find the train a relaxing way to go. I've taken day trips on the GO train, and on the train from Toronto to Montreal but the Ocean is the only overnight train I've ever traveled on and only those 2 times, 1967 and 2010. I believe it was less expensive than flying in 1967, but don't know for certain because the company who hired me paid the fare. Now It's more expensive than flying or driving, but it's leisurely and you feel well taken care of.
A Brit comes to Canada to ride a train made up primarily of cars from Britain that were supposed to be used on a project from Britain that never happened. Another great video Paul I have never had the chance to ride trains in Canada yet but hope that I can if the service returns. Dome cars are just incredible and it's too bad they have become very rare. When it is that cold outside being on a warm train and not having to worry about driving is the best.
While the Budd cars of the Canadian are approaching 70 years in age, the Ocean will be losing their British built Renaissance cars soon for Budd cars. These Renaissance cars have not fared well in the Canadian winters and are quickly reaching the end of their service lives while all of the Budd cars have been refurbished. Having said that these Budd cars will require replacing soon as well, although they are still in better shape than the much newer Renaissance cars. Appears after the pandemic the Canadian will not go to three trains per week during the summer months it has in the past. That rolling stock switching to the Ocean...
@@ronclark9724 Via Rail never maintained the Renaissance carriages properly. They are modern high-tech coaches, not simple old tech 1950s technology. FFS the Renaissance coaches still have their original 1990s Nightstar livery, Via Rail NEVER repainted them. Eurostars built a few years earlier run every day in the extremely wet and salty, and warm - thermal shocks in winter with brutally melting ice - Channel Tunnel, and they are in better condition.
I guess they were built to run through the Channel tunnel in the early 90s. Of course the high speed line from London wasn't ready for another 10. It'll be another 10-15 years before we get HS2, and naturally that won't connect directly with HS1! So, probably good business sense to flog these carriages to Canada!
The "double-decker" trains that you saw are very common in NA. They are called intermodal trains and they carry shipping containers to their destinations. Sometimes they even carry them accross the country because it is cheaper than going through the Panama Canal. They are different from regular trains because the contents of the shipping containers are not handled by the train company at all. edit: I also forgot to mention that they can go for literally miles!
Intermodal just means they carry containers. Because the containers themselves use different modes of transport. Containers and container trains aren't at all special. It would be more remarkable if the freight wasn't in containers. The double stack part is the special part. A lot of places can t run double stacks because they have tunnels and bridges built before double stacking was a thing or because they have electric infrastructure above the rails
I only ever see double decker freight trains where I live. Between cars there are a few breaks but they're incredibly long! I think the longest one I've counted was 140 cars (nor including the locomotives).
A great video. I used to ride this run from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick (the stop before Moncton), in to Montreal on my way home for Christmas break. They offered student rates then for a berth, bottom or top which were 1/2 price. It was such a lovely relaxing trip home for Christmas right after exams. Then change trains for a ‘cattle car’ from Montreal to a Toronto - seated and crammed in - still wonderful. I am so glad you enjoyed it. The car at the end of the train has always been a stunning way to see Canada. My grandfather was a Canadian Pacific Railway engineer. He drove the very first engine into Atlantic Canada from Montreal in...1953. The run ended in Saint John, New Brunswick with a brass band and the Mayor waiting for him when the train arrived - so I am a train geek hereditarily. They are a magnificent part of our Canadian history. Thanks for coming to enjoy it.
My son used the Ocean several times going to and from Mount Allison for 4 years. As we live in central New York state, we always needed to drive to Montreal as Amtrak and VIA Rail do not coordinate well if you want to connect from the Adirondack to the Ocean or vice versa. Still preferable to driving all the way through New England and New Brunswick! I hope it returns soon...
The Ocean got the Park Car added specifically for the backup movement into St. Foy (Quebec City) across the Quebec Bridge as it has an interior air brake dump valve for the crewman. For years the Quebec City stop was Charny, across the St. Lawrence River, VIA would shuttle passengers from QC across to Charny to catch the combined Ocean/Chaleur.
Even further back, the Quebec City stop was in Levis; in 1987, I had dinner in the dining car with a view of the Chateau Frontenac during the Levis stop. I am guessing in that era any passengers from Quebec City would have come over the ferry to Levis.
Yes - my very first trip on Via in the late 1980s, we stopped at Levis and took the ferry over to Quebec City to transfer to the ski hills at Mt Sainte Anne. The trains were also still steam heated back then.
I have travelled this train several times in the late 60's and 70's and at that time it was all stainless steel cars like the bullet. I remember pulling into Halifax (my home town) sitting in the very Assiniboine Park car highlighted here. Great memories.
So glad I stumbled on this video. I took this train in 2003 I think it was! And as a teenager, was oblivious to the history of it. So great to experience it again.
Thank you so much Paul. I did thiz journey (in reverse) with my girlfriend in 2016 and it was one of the most magnificent rail journeys we have ever done. It brings back such memories and I hope that we will be able to do other Via Rail journeys again in the future, once it is safe to do so.
I've been taking the AMT Passenger Trains for years, about an hour ride from home to work in Montreal. But now after seeing this I have to try this train on my next vacation. That's what I call a train ride.
We took this train from Halifax to Moncton in 1967 and I still remember walking past the curved end car before boarding, which we were not allowed to go into. Not much shown about Moncton but I did recognize the old Times and Transcript building (newspaper) as you crossed Main Street. Brought back many good memories - things like couldn't wait for the train to start moving, only to realize it already was. Or rolling through woodland and then suddenly 'floating' across a lake. Thanks!
I enjoyed every second of this. A few years ago we rode the Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto in the sleeper car. Best Experience! Was so sad when the trip was over.... I must say though that the food on the Canadian was exceptional! Not a cheap trip but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Thanks again, we will do this trip in the future.
I've taken this trip several times and I really miss it now that it's no longer running. Thank you for sharing this video with us. Brings back some nice memories.
What an incredible video and review! I was lucky enough to meet Paul on the Via Rail "The Canadian" trip and he is such a cool guy with so many interesting stories! Can't wait for more videos! Cheers Paul!
Brilliant, mate. My extended family arrived in Halifax from Europe in 1930 and some stayed while my parents moved to Montréal. No doubt aboard The Ocean. Thank you so much for this.
Loved this video. I've taken the Ocean a number of times, always love the dome car. I literally laughed out loud at the Halifax and Truro station comparisons. Very accurate! Glad you enjoyed your trek down our little neck of the woods. You're welcome back anytime (post-pandemic).
In 2002 I went by VIA from Vancouver to Winnipeg, Winnipeg to Churchill return and thence to Halifax, before returning to Montreal and Ottawa. A marvellous experience. The 1940's coaches on the Churchill leg, and the people I met were particularly memorable.
Thank you for your lovely video. Interesting note: Back in the mid 70s, and the again in the mid 80s, I had the pleasure of staying in one of the sleeper rooms in the park car. One trip was in the summer, and the other was a ski trip. Both were from Vancouver to Banff and they were the best train rides I have ever experienced. It looks like the sleeper rooms have been removed to make space for the small lounge that you showed. The car used to have a small bar, by the steps into the end part of the car. The observation deck was there, just as you showed it. Having our sleeper in that car was so cool because we had almost everything we needed in our car, except for meals. The whole trip was breathtaking both times. Thank you for bringing back those memories! Good luck on your future adventures.
Interesting thing about the Quebec bridge is that new Engineering graduates in Canada are presented with an Iron ring, said to be from metal from the first Quebec bridge that collapsed, as a reminder of ethical duties of engineering
They do get an iron ring upon graduation, but it is in fact a popular myth that steel from the first Quebec Bridge was used to forge the initial batch.
Are engineering graduates in Canada taught that maintenance is key? For example, painting the bridge before it rusts too much and collapses? Just saying
@@paname514 As a civil engineering graduate with an iron ring, I would say we were taught that regular maintenance, among many other things such as good design and practicality considerations, is of course important!
My Grandfather and one of my Great-Uncles, took that train, once each way, in 1912 ( Westbound) and 1914 (Eastbound) One of my stepfather's brothers also took that train, when he moved to Canada, raising a family in Calgary, Alberta. His son tells tales of the railroad as it was in the 60s, and how it slowly declined. I don't know ( although I can easily look it up) if Calgary has much of a railroad service, if any. He's also been asked to several old grain elevators, further south of the city, to rebuild/ replace engines that work the grain augers, as they are coming back into use, with more grain cars also entering service. This is yet another service I'll not be able to travel on, so thank you very much indeed, for showing it to us all.
I have traveled this route as I live in Nova Scotia, in fact I went from Halifax to Vancouver in 1968 in a sleeper car on my honeymoon. The food and dining service were exceptional at this time. In the summer of 2019 shortly after my husband passed, I traveled from Toronto to Montreal first class, great trip. Thank you for showing our area, it looks much better in fall and summer. I sure hope we can resume train travel soon as I really love it, as well as cruising. Thank you.
Dear Mr. Lucas: I'm a US local Democratic pol in Portland, Oregon, but I have always loved Canada. I hope the pandemic is defeated sooner than later (it is 09 Nov 2020 - and I am delighted the T is the loser). >>So, I find train videos real relaxing and give me a chance to get away from current problems. This show was GRRReat! I took the 20th Century Ltd on my way to college in 1968 and mom and dad purchased a room for me. Wow! The club car is one that I remember well, even though only old men playing poker and smoking cigars, drinking liquor were in it when I got there. >>I am delighted to see Via is using these throw-backs to grander days (1950's). Such wonderful memories. And, of course, the new cars are also top notch, and straight out of a bit of science fiction. Too bad the train was almost empty. >>And finally, when I heard that the "Ocean is suspended" I was roughly dragged back to reality -- what a shocking way to say the run is on hiatus due to the emergency. >>BUT, nonetheless, hope to take the trip when all is "back to normal." >>Warmly (my Northern neighbor, please stand on guard).
Great episode Paul, in these sad and dark times it's good to see a n interesting journey full of history and interesting facts, thanks for sharing Paul D U.K.
Love to see these landship cruise trains. Much better and more comfortable then flying..... Much safer and makes me want to buy a train car house to live and travel in safety and comfort . Good choice of train as well. " The Ocean Express" is a wonderful choice, my old 6th grade teacher from english class never liked me bringing my train books to school but I managed to secure a nice job at a real working railway after school.
Paul, such a great host are you! I always feel comfortable while i share these rail journeys with you. I also learn a lot. Your honesty is rare. A great companion are you!
Paul, love your videos and commentary. You have one of the most interesting channels on TH-cam, in my opinion. And this video is great. We live in Halifax, and although we’ve never taken the Ocean line, many years ago we occasionally took the “day liner” between Halifax and Saint John, New Brunswick. It was a treat, but was cancelled many years ago due to low ridership and profits. Sadly, the same thing had now happened to the Ocean. Due to the uncertainty brought about by COVID, Via Rail has suspended the service indefinitely, which means we may never see it again, unfortunately. So I’m really glad you got a chance to take this run and post another great video. Thanks and all the best!
Thanks Paul from an ex Brit now living in Canada , great to see a video on the Canadian trains for a change. I live in Saskatoon and only get to see CN and CP freight trains with the odd VIA passenger train going to Vancouver from Toronto . Cheers mate 🏴⚒🇨🇦
Thanks for this. It brought back a lot of memories railfanning eastern Canada back in the 90's and early 2000's, when the Ocean still was all heritage stock. I also traveled in the Assiniboine Park in 1983 from Vancouver to Montreal (when the Canadian still traveled that far and ran via the CP through the Rockies). We had the drawing room right in the Park car, so it was a bit like having our own private car with drinks and food right next door and access to the dome and "bullet" end without having to pass between cars. So it was quite a treat to see how the car has fared after going through several "renovations" in the interior. It's sad to see that the original linoleum murals were removed from the face of the bar and in the observation lounge, but probably for the best in terms of ease of maintenance. In the opinion of a fellow videographer, you did well to catch an empty train so you were not dodging other passengers or giving offence by filming them. And your composition and editing were spot on! Kudos!
Thank you for an excellent adventure. Hope the train resumes in the near future. My grandson is 4, would love to take him when he's a bit older. We will take the ferry from Portland Maine to NS. Grammy is a train fanatic!
That looks amazing! It reminds me a bit of the Nordland line in Norway, with the wide snowy views and the same grey door cards, although those Norwegian trains could really do with ensuite bathrooms. I've added this trip to my bucket list for when travel is allowed again, thank you for another great trip report :)
I took the Ocean Halifax-Montreal in January 2008 with my partner at the time - loved it. We then continued by train to Toronto and flew to Winnipeg. Love Canada, can't wait to return :-) Great trip report - as always.
Thank you for this! I took the Ocean to Halifax and back as a child with my Dad and sister to visit my Fathers home province of Nova Scotia. This video was so nostalgic! I remember not being able to sleep at night and just staring out the window of our sleeper cabin and waking up early to get the front seat in the dome! Cannot wait to resume travelling as soon as it is safe, but for now we have videos like yours to take us travelling virtually!
11:18 I believe that's what they call a "general merchandise" train. Or as the 1988 BR advert said "Girders for bridges, Plastic for fridges bricks for the site are required by tonight"
Loved the video! I live in Halifax and have taken the Ocean a number of times when the entire fleet was still like the park car you enjoyed so much. My late husband worked the bar in that car for many years and I too enjoyed spending time up in the dome, especially late at night. We were super lucky to see the northern lights while travelling through northern New Brunswick once. The bulk of that fleet was moved out west and replaced by the Renaissance. It was considered a major downgrade comfort wise, especially for front coach passengers. Narrow plastic seats with thin padding just not really suited for 22 - 24 hour journeys.
My husband and I did this trip and we absolutely loved it! I’m looking forward to do it again. We took the the whole 1st class experience. Sleeper cabin all the meals included in the dining room car. It was bliss. I will definitely go back again.
For older people like myself, who can forget the story of Pierre Laporte and the FLQ crisis in the early 70s. So glad he was remembered. Edit Ah yes. That great sign when you're in Canada. Tim Horton's!
When I was 5 or 6 years old, back in 1957 or 1958, my parents moved my sister and I from Halifax to Montreal, on what was then called the "Ocean Limited.' I agree with others who commented on this trip, there is nothing like travelling in a Budd car, those stainless steel window, that Greyhound busses from the 40s to the 90s replicated. I have a black and white image of my sister, taken in Halifax Station Thank you for posting your journey. It brought back many faded memories.
The 3rd locomotive was definitely there for extra traction on wet rails. Via habitually adds an extra loco on long distance routes from Leaf-fall to spring
Alas, being 70 and with COVID lurking for probably years to come, I will likely not ever again experience the mystique of travel (or any travel) by rail. Not VIA. Nor Amtrak. But this video is delightful and inspiring as related to history, geography, and sheer romance of rail. What is sad, however, is the emptiness of the train especially the usually joyful dining car. And with no VIA routes now running, the landscape and culture of Canada are bereft of the allure of a more relaxed, more gentile or at least it used to be mode of travel. Still we can dream. And we shall. PS Oh. My. God. The music, the sunrise, frigid cold, and snow. The 5AM venture to the observation car is emotionally overwhelming. Truly overwhelming for the autistic. Utterly beautiful. Tenderly ethereal. And tears. Thank you ever so much.
This has always been the way I travel to visit friends in New Brunswick and Quebec and before the line shut down to Cape Breton ,NS. Love seeing you do a video on this route. Most of the older bridges and buildings in Canada were constructed by members of the First Nations as their people are amazing iron/steel workers who seem to have no fear of heights. ....unfortunately so many lost their lives due to no regulations in the early days. I have to say that I 100% stand with the First Nations people's of Canada.....if they need to shut this country down in order for the government to respect the treaties so be it.
I don't mind folks protesting, but I do mine folks blocking commerce... No one has the right to block me from getting my harvest to any market... NO ONE! It is simply PIRACY!
I’m a bit ashamed to have lived in this country all my life and having never taken a train trip across the country (or even out of my own province). This was a great video to watch, I’ll have to take this route as soon as Covid restrictions are lifted. Greetings from Toronto.
Thanks so much for joining me on the Ocean - it's one of the most unique train journeys I've ever done and I was blessed to have pretty much the entire train to myself!
If you enjoyed this, why not watch my: Amazing CrossCountry HST train trip in England! th-cam.com/video/aA6MoteaJwU/w-d-xo.html
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I was a service manager for VIA Rail from 2007 to 2013. The "Ocean" used to be coupled up with the "Chaleur" from Montreal to Matapedia. The "Chaleur" would split in the morning in Matapedia and run up the Gaspé coast and team up back at night with the "Ocean". If you have any questions about VIA let me know. The " Chaleur" was my favourite train to work. In the summertime, the combined trains added up to 24 cars. Sometimes we had to stop five times in a station to let people on. In my day, we did not cross the Quebec bridge, the stop was Charny station. I remember one night, the snow was so high, we were hitting snow banks at the crossings that would shake the train and send snow flying onto the roof. I spent many nights in the dome. The best time was coming into Amqui around June 21st on the way up to Gaspé at around 4:30 am and seeing the sunrise.
rogertwancetpt@gmail.com
I really liked this. It was good to see old rolling stock still being used from way back then.
Thats where swiss air went down in 98 paul i think,?..
🌏🌎🌍⛪
The train didn’t stop at Campbellton?
"There's nothing so civilised as a dining car..." Amen and amen. Good report.
@RoadhogTime13 Amtrak will probably restore service after Covid-19. Joe Biden is a rail buff himself, so Amtrak isn't going anywhere and he'll probably reverse Trump's budget cuts.
BACK in tha day there used to be a bar car .
English breakfast with Yorkshire Gold in a dining car.....
Great video. My dad was a porter for 25 year on that very train. Also my grandfather before him. This train as a warm place in my heart. Thanks
I'm finally trying the Ocean in two weeks. I am so so excited. Your video helped a lot!
Done the train ride, the Canadian, from Toronto to Vancouver in July 2017. It is one heck of the ride. The Ocean train line is going to be on my next bucket list.
As a Canadian, I am so happy you did this review. I have been planning to do this trip for a number of years! Great video and review. Just one correction - Canadians call it Vee Ah Rail rather that V.I.A rail.
The parents of a number of my Italian friends used this route to start their new life in Canada after arriving by boat in Halifax.
Thank you for saying that. I came to say the same thing. It's just "Via Rail" not "V.I.A. Rail"
The thing is the word via is pronounced differently so if he had said it the British way people would complain and if he said it the North American/Canadian way people would have complained
I think he did the best he could
We also refer to it as Via Rail down here in the States.
@@average_joe8905 I still remember when we used to have a North American Rail pass where we could use both Amtrak and Via within 30 days
@@businessbuilding1 I didn’t know they even had that, very interesting!
The troubled history of the Quebec bridge is why all engineers in Canada wear a faceted iron ring: to remind them of their responsibilities.
Very interesting piece of information. Thank you.
The iron ring for Canadian engineers en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Ring
I'm glad to hear the Ocean is popular with foreign visitors. I'm sure it is also very valuable for local residents in their isolated and remote communities.
Absolutely best review of Via Rail. I really enjoyed, thank you!
Snow is so pretty when you are inside all nice and toasty warm with a hot drink.
Back in the '90s we used to take the train on this route to Montréal to visit family for Christmas. I still feel nostalgic for the Budd couchettes we used to travel in until rising costs forced us into coach class. Good times. Also, thanks for giving us the dates for those old cars. I always knew they were old, but never knew how old.
Loved the video! I live in Halifax and have taken the Ocean a number of times when the entire fleet was still like the park car you enjoyed so much. My late husband worked the bar in that car for many years and I too enjoyed spending time up in the dome, especially late at night. We were super lucky to see the northern lights while travelling through northern New Brunswick once. The bulk of that fleet was moved out west and replaced by the Renaissance. It was considered a major downgrade comfort wise, especially for front coach passengers. Narrow plastic seats with thin padding just not really suited for 22 - 24 hour journeys.
Indeed. I rode on VIA Rail between Toronto and Vancouver and all the cars were from the 50's. They were NICE! I then rode an Amtrak from Seattle to LA and then LA to New Orleans. 70's cars. Efficient, but not nearly as nice.
jericho1961 sounds lovely
@@christalbot210 Amtrak would be wise to refurbish the Superliners better than they have. With the pandemic impacting their business, Amtrak is reducing their long distance sleeper trains to just three times a week. Only taking credit of having one train more per week than the Canadian or the Ocean in Canada... The days of daily service for long distance trains in North America appears to be over, gone with the wind...
The Renaissance cars are showing both their age and that they were built for conditions in Britain and western Europe, not eastern Canada. On many cars, the exteriro body rust is evident.
I was delighted to see that everybody eating in the dining car gets chowder, no matter what! This train seems like a good idea!
Thank you so much, Paul! Since the pandemic, like many, I suffer depression but since discovering your videos, I feel hope again! I love travelling and your realistic but also inspiring comments make me hopeful!
Born and grew up in Nova Scotia; in 1967 I left for work in Toronto, boarding the train in Truro at the old original sandstone station, which for some reason was later torn down and replaced by the present drab "warehouse", which is probably the dullest train station in Canada.
In 2010 my wife and I took the train to Montreal and on to Truro to be there for my Mom's 90th birthday. My wife is no longer able to travel by air or by car for a long distance, but she enjoyed the trip on the train. I travel by any and all means available, but did find the train a relaxing way to go. I've taken day trips on the GO train, and on the train from Toronto to Montreal but the Ocean is the only overnight train I've ever traveled on and only those 2 times, 1967 and 2010.
I believe it was less expensive than flying in 1967, but don't know for certain because the company who hired me paid the fare. Now It's more expensive than flying or driving, but it's leisurely and you feel well taken care of.
A Brit comes to Canada to ride a train made up primarily of cars from Britain that were supposed to be used on a project from Britain that never happened. Another great video Paul I have never had the chance to ride trains in Canada yet but hope that I can if the service returns. Dome cars are just incredible and it's too bad they have become very rare.
When it is that cold outside being on a warm train and not having to worry about driving is the best.
British loading gauge is so small
While the Budd cars of the Canadian are approaching 70 years in age, the Ocean will be losing their British built Renaissance cars soon for Budd cars. These Renaissance cars have not fared well in the Canadian winters and are quickly reaching the end of their service lives while all of the Budd cars have been refurbished. Having said that these Budd cars will require replacing soon as well, although they are still in better shape than the much newer Renaissance cars. Appears after the pandemic the Canadian will not go to three trains per week during the summer months it has in the past. That rolling stock switching to the Ocean...
@@ronclark9724 Via Rail never maintained the Renaissance carriages properly. They are modern high-tech coaches, not simple old tech 1950s technology. FFS the Renaissance coaches still have their original 1990s Nightstar livery, Via Rail NEVER repainted them. Eurostars built a few years earlier run every day in the extremely wet and salty, and warm - thermal shocks in winter with brutally melting ice - Channel Tunnel, and they are in better condition.
Best railroad commentary yet. Thanks.
I guess they were built to run through the Channel tunnel in the early 90s. Of course the high speed line from London wasn't ready for another 10. It'll be another 10-15 years before we get HS2, and naturally that won't connect directly with HS1!
So, probably good business sense to flog these carriages to Canada!
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A lack of crowds, chilly rooms, and snowy scenery-ideal for me...that's why I live in Montana. Great presentation-I just subscribed, Paul.
The "double-decker" trains that you saw are very common in NA. They are called intermodal trains and they carry shipping containers to their destinations. Sometimes they even carry them accross the country because it is cheaper than going through the Panama Canal. They are different from regular trains because the contents of the shipping containers are not handled by the train company at all.
edit: I also forgot to mention that they can go for literally miles!
We have them in Australia too (not my part due to tunnels though), they are a great sight
Intermodal just means they carry containers. Because the containers themselves use different modes of transport. Containers and container trains aren't at all special. It would be more remarkable if the freight wasn't in containers.
The double stack part is the special part. A lot of places can t run double stacks because they have tunnels and bridges built before double stacking was a thing or because they have electric infrastructure above the rails
I only ever see double decker freight trains where I live. Between cars there are a few breaks but they're incredibly long! I think the longest one I've counted was 140 cars (nor including the locomotives).
The only main line without double deck container freight cars is Amtrak's northeast corridor...
Double decker passenger cars work as well.
A great video. I used to ride this run from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick (the stop before Moncton), in to Montreal on my way home for Christmas break. They offered student rates then for a berth, bottom or top which were 1/2 price. It was such a lovely relaxing trip home for Christmas right after exams. Then change trains for a ‘cattle car’ from Montreal to a Toronto - seated and crammed in - still wonderful. I am so glad you enjoyed it. The car at the end of the train has always been a stunning way to see Canada. My grandfather was a Canadian Pacific Railway engineer. He drove the very first engine into Atlantic Canada from Montreal in...1953. The run ended in Saint John, New Brunswick with a brass band and the Mayor waiting for him when the train arrived - so I am a train geek hereditarily. They are a magnificent part of our Canadian history. Thanks for coming to enjoy it.
My son used the Ocean several times going to and from Mount Allison for 4 years. As we live in central New York state, we always needed to drive to Montreal as Amtrak and VIA Rail do not coordinate well if you want to connect from the Adirondack to the Ocean or vice versa. Still preferable to driving all the way through New England and New Brunswick! I hope it returns soon...
The Ocean got the Park Car added specifically for the backup movement into St. Foy (Quebec City) across the Quebec Bridge as it has an interior air brake dump valve for the crewman. For years the Quebec City stop was Charny, across the St. Lawrence River, VIA would shuttle passengers from QC across to Charny to catch the combined Ocean/Chaleur.
Even further back, the Quebec City stop was in Levis; in 1987, I had dinner in the dining car with a view of the Chateau Frontenac during the Levis stop. I am guessing in that era any passengers from Quebec City would have come over the ferry to Levis.
Yes - my very first trip on Via in the late 1980s, we stopped at Levis and took the ferry over to Quebec City to transfer to the ski hills at Mt Sainte Anne. The trains were also still steam heated back then.
I laughed at the brakeman on the ground lighting up a smoke, that's a real railroad man.
I enjoy listening to your anecdotes and historical trivia as we glide merrily along.
This might be the best “I took an excursion on a train” video I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them. Bravo! 👏👏👏
I have travelled this train several times in the late 60's and 70's and at that time it was all stainless steel cars like the bullet. I remember pulling into Halifax (my home town) sitting in the very Assiniboine Park car highlighted here. Great memories.
So glad I stumbled on this video. I took this train in 2003 I think it was! And as a teenager, was oblivious to the history of it. So great to experience it again.
Excellent and fun video Paul. There is always something magical about eating on a train when the food looks as good as that.
taking the train during winter adds to the experience! Quite the historic route.
Thank you so much Paul. I did thiz journey (in reverse) with my girlfriend in 2016 and it was one of the most magnificent rail journeys we have ever done.
It brings back such memories and I hope that we will be able to do other Via Rail journeys again in the future, once it is safe to do so.
I've been taking the AMT Passenger Trains for years, about an hour ride from home to work in Montreal. But now after seeing this I have to try this train on my next vacation. That's what I call a train ride.
Wow...looks amazing
Such a beautiful old train. Lovely to see such a train still running 🧡
Loved this video; can’t wait to do this journey myself!
I really love the train excursion videos, feel like i can soak in more of your voyage and the locales you are visiting.
We took this train from Halifax to Moncton in 1967 and I still remember walking past the curved end car before boarding, which we were not allowed to go into. Not much shown about Moncton but I did recognize the old Times and Transcript building (newspaper) as you crossed Main Street. Brought back many good memories - things like couldn't wait for the train to start moving, only to realize it already was. Or rolling through woodland and then suddenly 'floating' across a lake. Thanks!
Wow, you won the lottery with this train ride. I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been to be in that viewing car with a snowy sunrise!
I enjoyed every second of this. A few years ago we rode the Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto in the sleeper car. Best Experience! Was so sad when the trip was over....
I must say though that the food on the Canadian was exceptional!
Not a cheap trip but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks again, we will do this trip in the future.
Snowpiercer season 2 looking fire!
around and around Canada we go, we can never stop, snowpierc- sorry the *ocean* , 14 cars long.
I've taken this trip several times and I really miss it now that it's no longer running. Thank you for sharing this video with us. Brings back some nice memories.
My friends call me crazy but this seems like the best option for a vacation relaxing and fun
What an incredible video and review! I was lucky enough to meet Paul on the Via Rail "The Canadian" trip and he is such a cool guy with so many interesting stories! Can't wait for more videos! Cheers Paul!
Great video! I've travelled this route many times since 1978 and loved every minute of it. Your video brought back some great memories to me.
Brilliant, mate. My extended family arrived in Halifax from Europe in 1930 and some stayed while my parents moved to Montréal. No doubt aboard The Ocean. Thank you so much for this.
Loved this video. I've taken the Ocean a number of times, always love the dome car.
I literally laughed out loud at the Halifax and Truro station comparisons. Very accurate!
Glad you enjoyed your trek down our little neck of the woods. You're welcome back anytime (post-pandemic).
In 2002 I went by VIA from Vancouver to Winnipeg, Winnipeg to Churchill return and thence to Halifax, before returning to Montreal and Ottawa. A marvellous experience. The 1940's coaches on the Churchill leg, and the people I met were particularly memorable.
Hi Paul! Someone has probably mentioned this already, but most of us call it "Via rail" not V-I-A. As in, I'm travelling via rail! 😉
Thank you for your lovely video. Interesting note: Back in the mid 70s, and the again in the
mid 80s, I had the pleasure of staying in one of the sleeper rooms in the park car. One trip was in the summer, and the other was a ski trip. Both were from Vancouver to Banff and they were the best train rides I have ever experienced. It looks like the sleeper rooms have been removed to make space for the small lounge that you showed. The car used to have a small bar, by the steps into the end part of the car. The observation deck was there, just as you showed it. Having our sleeper in that car was so cool because we had almost everything we needed in our car, except for meals. The whole trip was breathtaking both times. Thank you for bringing back those memories! Good luck on your future adventures.
Interesting thing about the Quebec bridge is that new Engineering graduates in Canada are presented with an Iron ring, said to be from metal from the first Quebec bridge that collapsed, as a reminder of ethical duties of engineering
They do get an iron ring upon graduation, but it is in fact a popular myth that steel from the first Quebec Bridge was used to forge the initial batch.
Very nice glad to hear about it!
Are engineering graduates in Canada taught that maintenance is key? For example, painting the bridge before it rusts too much and collapses? Just saying
@@paname514 As a civil engineering graduate with an iron ring, I would say we were taught that regular maintenance, among many other things such as good design and practicality considerations, is of course important!
My Grandfather and one of my Great-Uncles, took that train, once each way, in 1912 ( Westbound) and 1914 (Eastbound) One of my stepfather's brothers also took that train, when he moved to Canada, raising a family in Calgary, Alberta. His son tells tales of the railroad as it was in the 60s, and how it slowly declined. I don't know ( although I can easily look it up) if Calgary has much of a railroad service, if any. He's also been asked to several old grain elevators, further south of the city, to rebuild/ replace engines that work the grain augers, as they are coming back into use, with more grain cars also entering service. This is yet another service I'll not be able to travel on, so thank you very much indeed, for showing it to us all.
Oh! You were on the verge of greatness. You were THIS close😂😂😂 I was hoping it was The Canadian but the Ocean is nice too.
Ive been on this train more than 10 times and had no idea of the "bullet lounge"! Fancy that!
I can't wait for this pandemic to end this is one train trip I'd love to take! ! It looks like an amazing trip.
@RoadhogTime13 Thank you for sharing this important information with me. I still want to make this trip, and I'll wait until October.
I have traveled this route as I live in Nova Scotia, in fact I went from Halifax to Vancouver in 1968 in a sleeper car on my honeymoon. The food and dining service were exceptional at this time. In the summer of 2019 shortly after my husband passed, I traveled from Toronto to Montreal first class, great trip. Thank you for showing our area, it looks much better in fall and summer. I sure hope we can resume train travel soon as I really love it, as well as cruising. Thank you.
Great video very relaxing and quiet could actually hear the sound of the train thank you Paul
Dear Mr. Lucas: I'm a US local Democratic pol in Portland, Oregon, but I have always loved Canada. I hope the pandemic is defeated sooner than later (it is 09 Nov 2020 - and I am delighted the T is the loser).
>>So, I find train videos real relaxing and give me a chance to get away from current problems. This show was GRRReat! I took the 20th Century Ltd on my way to college in 1968 and mom and dad purchased a room for me. Wow! The club car is one that I remember well, even though only old men playing poker and smoking cigars, drinking liquor were in it when I got there.
>>I am delighted to see Via is using these throw-backs to grander days (1950's). Such wonderful memories. And, of course, the new cars are also top notch, and straight out of a bit of science fiction. Too bad the train was almost empty.
>>And finally, when I heard that the "Ocean is suspended" I was roughly dragged back to reality -- what a shocking way to say the run is on hiatus due to the emergency.
>>BUT, nonetheless, hope to take the trip when all is "back to normal."
>>Warmly (my Northern neighbor, please stand on guard).
Thanks for sharing this unique trip. Gorgeous wintry scenery! The Ocean is everything I’ve imagined a classic train to be. Wonderful! 🚈
The best thing about North American trains - the view out the back! Could watch it for hours, as seen in my Amtrak video too!
Great episode Paul, in these sad and dark times it's good to see a n interesting journey full of history and interesting facts, thanks for sharing Paul D U.K.
The most beautiful empty train of your series, thankyou Paul! Much appreciated.
nice to see your trips again..
Love to see these landship cruise trains. Much better and more comfortable then flying..... Much safer and makes me want to buy a train car house to live and travel in safety and comfort . Good choice of train as well. " The Ocean Express" is a wonderful choice, my old 6th grade teacher from english class never liked me bringing my train books to school but I managed to secure a nice job at a real working railway after school.
What a outstanding video. The content is always good Mr. Lucas, but the filming you do ! Fantastic.
Paul, such a great host are you!
I always feel comfortable while i share these rail journeys with you.
I also learn a lot. Your honesty is rare.
A great companion are you!
An amazing rail journey through eastern Canada. Hopefully everything will get back normal operation in the future, when this have improved!
Paul, love your videos and commentary. You have one of the most interesting channels on TH-cam, in my opinion. And this video is great. We live in Halifax, and although we’ve never taken the Ocean line, many years ago we occasionally took the “day liner” between Halifax and Saint John, New Brunswick. It was a treat, but was cancelled many years ago due to low ridership and profits. Sadly, the same thing had now happened to the Ocean. Due to the uncertainty brought about by COVID, Via Rail has suspended the service indefinitely, which means we may never see it again, unfortunately. So I’m really glad you got a chance to take this run and post another great video. Thanks and all the best!
Brilliant video you could almost feel the cold definitely one of your best 👍thanks Paul
Paul I like this segment so much I have to watch it again. Keep up the Fantastic Work!!!
I love those chairs from the 50s. They remind me of my childhood, though I'm not from the 50s, I'm from the 60s lol
I have been watching your videos for a while now, and I can say that they are very relaxing to watch.
Thanks Paul from an ex Brit now living in Canada , great to see a video on the Canadian trains for a change. I live in Saskatoon and only get to see CN and CP freight trains with the odd VIA passenger train going to Vancouver from Toronto .
Cheers mate 🏴⚒🇨🇦
Loved this , always wanted to see Canada but this is next best!
That is a trip worth inclusion on anyone's bucket list.
Thanks for this. It brought back a lot of memories railfanning eastern Canada back in the 90's and early 2000's, when the Ocean still was all heritage stock. I also traveled in the Assiniboine Park in 1983 from Vancouver to Montreal (when the Canadian still traveled that far and ran via the CP through the Rockies). We had the drawing room right in the Park car, so it was a bit like having our own private car with drinks and food right next door and access to the dome and "bullet" end without having to pass between cars. So it was quite a treat to see how the car has fared after going through several "renovations" in the interior. It's sad to see that the original linoleum murals were removed from the face of the bar and in the observation lounge, but probably for the best in terms of ease of maintenance. In the opinion of a fellow videographer, you did well to catch an empty train so you were not dodging other passengers or giving offence by filming them. And your composition and editing were spot on! Kudos!
It's amazing how much content you had on hand
Now I'm reminded of my last long-distance train trip back in 2015. How I wish I could take the train again.
Great review, even learned some stuff even though I did this exact journey in reverse, 16 years ago!
Thank you for an excellent adventure. Hope the train resumes in the near future. My grandson is 4, would love to take him when he's a bit older. We will take the ferry from Portland Maine to NS. Grammy is a train fanatic!
That looks amazing! It reminds me a bit of the Nordland line in Norway, with the wide snowy views and the same grey door cards, although those Norwegian trains could really do with ensuite bathrooms. I've added this trip to my bucket list for when travel is allowed again, thank you for another great trip report :)
I took the Ocean Halifax-Montreal in January 2008 with my partner at the time - loved it. We then continued by train to Toronto and flew to Winnipeg. Love Canada, can't wait to return :-)
Great trip report - as always.
Thanks Paul for this amazing train trip report! Train voyage from Halifax to Montreal looked awesome! Keep it up man!
Thank you for this! I took the Ocean to Halifax and back as a child with my Dad and sister to visit my Fathers home province of Nova Scotia. This video was so nostalgic! I remember not being able to sleep at night and just staring out the window of our sleeper cabin and waking up early to get the front seat in the dome! Cannot wait to resume travelling as soon as it is safe, but for now we have videos like yours to take us travelling virtually!
Excellent trip report as always Paul. Thank you 👍🏻
I've done part of this trip a few times and this made me nostalgic, thanks for sharing.
Wow, I really love these kind of journeys. Thank you very much for showing us, Paul.
The choice of music at 14:20 is perfect. It suits the time of day and scenery, well done
11:18 I believe that's what they call a "general merchandise" train. Or as the 1988 BR advert said "Girders for bridges, Plastic for fridges bricks for the site are required by tonight"
Loved the video! I live in Halifax and have taken the Ocean a number of times when the entire fleet was still like the park car you enjoyed so much. My late husband worked the bar in that car for many years and I too enjoyed spending time up in the dome, especially late at night. We were super lucky to see the northern lights while travelling through northern New Brunswick once. The bulk of that fleet was moved out west and replaced by the Renaissance. It was considered a major downgrade comfort wise, especially for front coach passengers. Narrow plastic seats with thin padding just not really suited for 22 - 24 hour journeys.
nope..intermodal....general manifests are mixed freight
My husband and I did this trip and we absolutely loved it! I’m looking forward to do it again. We took the the whole 1st class experience. Sleeper cabin all the meals included in the dining room car. It was bliss. I will definitely go back again.
Great to see a train video! Love the Geoff Marshall reference! 😂 Stay safe. x
Ty Paul 4 your videos! I enjoy the sleeper train videos the best,esp winter like this one
For older people like myself, who can forget the story of Pierre Laporte and the FLQ crisis in the early 70s. So glad he was remembered.
Edit Ah yes. That great sign when you're in Canada. Tim Horton's!
When I was 5 or 6 years old, back in 1957 or 1958, my parents moved my sister and I from Halifax to Montreal, on what was then called the "Ocean Limited.' I agree with others who commented on this trip, there is nothing like travelling in a Budd car, those stainless steel window, that Greyhound busses from the 40s to the 90s replicated. I have a black and white image of my sister, taken in Halifax Station Thank you for posting your journey. It brought back many faded memories.
The 3rd locomotive was definitely there for extra traction on wet rails. Via habitually adds an extra loco on long distance routes from Leaf-fall to spring
One of the best,Paul.Keep it up!And the sublime photography!
Excellent video as always! The weather made this experience look a lot like the Netflix show Snowpiercer. 🥶
Alas, being 70 and with COVID lurking for probably years to come, I will likely not ever again experience the mystique of travel (or any travel) by rail. Not VIA. Nor Amtrak. But this video is delightful and inspiring as related to history, geography, and sheer romance of rail. What is sad, however, is the emptiness of the train especially the usually joyful dining car. And with no VIA routes now running, the landscape and culture of Canada are bereft of the allure of a more relaxed, more gentile or at least it used to be mode of travel. Still we can dream. And we shall.
PS Oh. My. God. The music, the sunrise, frigid cold, and snow. The 5AM venture to the observation car is emotionally overwhelming. Truly overwhelming for the autistic. Utterly beautiful. Tenderly ethereal. And tears. Thank you ever so much.
Cool video I find trains from other countries amazing
The coach at the back is very nice
Massive thanks for making this video in the winter -- probably our least appealing season. Still a fantastic ride!
This has always been the way I travel to visit friends in New Brunswick and Quebec and before the line shut down to Cape Breton ,NS.
Love seeing you do a video on this route. Most of the older bridges and buildings in Canada were constructed by members of the First Nations as their people are amazing iron/steel workers who seem to have no fear of heights. ....unfortunately so many lost their lives due to no regulations in the early days.
I have to say that I 100% stand with the First Nations people's of Canada.....if they need to shut this country down in order for the government to respect the treaties so be it.
I don't mind folks protesting, but I do mine folks blocking commerce... No one has the right to block me from getting my harvest to any market... NO ONE! It is simply PIRACY!
Took me back to my visits to Canada - Bone chilling cold, warm hospitality and wide open vistas! Thanks, Paul.
I’m a bit ashamed to have lived in this country all my life and having never taken a train trip across the country (or even out of my own province). This was a great video to watch, I’ll have to take this route as soon as Covid restrictions are lifted. Greetings from Toronto.
What a treasure! I hope service returns so I can mark this newest item off my bucket list. Thanks so much for discovering and sharing this Paul!