Oh but the memories this video gave me. Thanks so much for posting. I started working at CP Rail, as it was known then, servicing these cars in 1973 when it was still being run by CP here in Montreal's Glen Yard. When Via Rail took over in 1978, CP Rail still serviced the train under contract for a few years while Via was setting up to to take over the maintenance on their own. Back then the cars were heated by steam as was hot water. My trade was known as a "Steam Fitter", a trade that all but died out once the cars were converted to electric. Train #1 left Montreal's Windsor Station daily, made up of 6 cars - baggage, coach, Skyline, dining car, sleeping car (usually a Manor car) and a park car. I stayed with the train as a trouble shooter while it sat at Windsor station, and returned to Glen Yard when it made it's first stop at Westmont Station. Shortly after the maintenance contract with Via ended, CP moved all of it's headquarters, locomotive and fright operations to Calgary, resulting in massive layoffs here in Montreal. How I miss the old days.
I thought I was the only train "geek"...loll.....I've done it approximately 10 times but only between Sudbury (Capreol) and Winnipeg.I even did it when it belonged to the Canadian Pacific. Loved it every time. Sometime soon I'll do it from Toronto to Vancouver.
As a student, for two summers 1979, 1980 I was a VIA Rail Dining Car waiter working between Toronto and Winnipeg. Absolutely loved it. Sad thing is, these days if I want to travel by rail across Canada with a sleeper car it is prohibitively expensive (8 grand return Toronto-Vancouver). Quality train travel should be affordable and not just for the rich. I miss riding the rails.
$8000 is for Prestige class. You can travel much cheaper with discounted fares if you book through www.viarail.ca. The cheapest fare class is for coach seating (reclining seats for sleeping). Just a couple of hundred dollars, one-way. There's a new Prestige class which is the true First Class, with luxurious private suites. This is the $8,000 one-way ticket.
Great video,nice music. I have 3 clarifications. 1: Roomettes are for a single person(not 2 as you stated). 2: 'Triangle falls' is actually called 'Pyramid Falls'. 3: The bridge the train crosses near Vancouver is crossing the mouth of the Fraser River, the source of which the train goes by just west of Jasper on the BC side of Continental Divide. I have done about 50 trips on The Canadian since 1964. In 1964 the Mural lounge under the dome of Park car had original paintings by the Group of Seven & people still smoked on trains back then. They had to do a lot of work to restore paintings. They now reside in the National Museum in Ottawa.
Excellent video and stirring choice of music, too. My congratulations to the OP and also to commenters Don Brown and Ross Johnson who have been lucky enough to ride the Canadian more than 50 times! My hat's off to you both. I rode on the Canadian exactly once, many years ago now, in 1981. This was not long after the VIA takeover and the consist was a mixture of blue-painted cars acquired from CN and the stainless Canadian fleet inherited from CP. The train on the CN route, the one followed by today's Canadian, was the Super Continental. In 1981 it was about to be cancelled, but soon after my 1981 trip the CN route received a reprieve from the federal government because passenger rail access was more important to the communities on that line, and we ended up losing the more scenic CP route instead, although the remaining train is called the Canadian and not Super Continental. In addition to the Rocky Mountain scenery, the CP route features a very scenic passage along the north shore of Lake Superior - the last part of the transcontinental route to be completed since construction was so arduous. In 1981 they still joined/split separate Montreal and Toronto sections, most of the CN equipment going to/from Toronto and most of the CP fleet going to Montreal. My 1981 trip was, along with a 1983 transcontinental trip on Amtrak, the experience of a lifetime. I will never forget it, and the wonderful people I met in the boat-tail lounge area of the Park car, my favourite spot next to the dome.
The F40PH-3D is a mith. The 6400 series of Locomotives never included a '3' at the end of model I.D. When purchased, the model I.D was; F40PH-2. Since the rebuild program in 2011, a 'D' was added at the end. Other then that minor issue, great video!
The Canadioan was killed in 1989. The name "The Canadian" was applied to the former CN train "The Super Continental" but has little in common with the real Canadian in terms of the route. It also ceased to be transcontinental when VIA ceased to originate the train from Montréal where it connected with the Atlantic train to Halifax. So it never reached 60 years of age, it was killed by government at age 34. Part of the reason was that CP Rail,s chairman was a firend of the Liberal party and the then current government didn't want VIA subsidies going to CP. As CP was out to tear up as much track as it could, it didn't mind losing the business.
Want to take the train from Toranto to VanCouver in October 2019. What level of service do I need to use the Observation car at the read of the train??
BIll Ligon when we rode you could just ride in the park car as it's called. However I have heard now the access is limited to only a couple hours in the evening for non "prestige class" passengers
Michigan Central Lines true for the Park car at the rear, but the Skyline dome cars are still open to non-Prestige sleeper passengers (section, roomette etc)
Very nice video of the best train on the continent--bar none BUT: Why doesn't the blue on the locos match that of the cars? Why does each car have CANADA plastered all over it. Are they afraid they'll get lost? Do they know what country there in? Duh. . .
Greatdome99 hey! A bit late to respond but here ya go: The blue on the cars don’t match the locomotive because the locomotives are way newer and have a new colour scheme. The cars will eventually all be updated so they all match but via likes to take its time with those things lol. Also, the Canada markings on the train is the logo of the federal government, as via is owned by them.
Hoping to do this in May 2023! Loved seeing the train crossing the Fraser River! Amazing footage. Thank you.
Oh but the memories this video gave me. Thanks so much for posting. I started working at CP Rail, as it was known then, servicing these cars in 1973 when it was still being run by CP here in Montreal's Glen Yard. When Via Rail took over in 1978, CP Rail still serviced the train under contract for a few years while Via was setting up to to take over the maintenance on their own. Back then the cars were heated by steam as was hot water. My trade was known as a "Steam Fitter", a trade that all but died out once the cars were converted to electric.
Train #1 left Montreal's Windsor Station daily, made up of 6 cars - baggage, coach, Skyline, dining car, sleeping car (usually a Manor car) and a park car. I stayed with the train as a trouble shooter while it sat at Windsor station, and returned to Glen Yard when it made it's first stop at Westmont Station. Shortly after the maintenance contract with Via ended, CP moved all of it's headquarters, locomotive and fright operations to Calgary, resulting in massive layoffs here in Montreal. How I miss the old days.
One of the world's great train journeys! Thank's for sharing!
bodaciousbiker thank you!
ive done this trip 56 times and an going on my 57th trip in december 2015
Ross Johnson why have you bean on it so many times?
I thought I was the only train "geek"...loll.....I've done it approximately 10 times but only between Sudbury (Capreol) and Winnipeg.I even did it when it belonged to the Canadian Pacific. Loved it every time. Sometime soon I'll do it from Toronto to Vancouver.
As a student, for two summers 1979, 1980 I was a VIA Rail Dining Car waiter working between Toronto and Winnipeg. Absolutely loved it. Sad thing is, these days if I want to travel by rail across Canada with a sleeper car it is prohibitively expensive (8 grand return Toronto-Vancouver). Quality train travel should be affordable and not just for the rich. I miss riding the rails.
Parkwaymania when we made this trip in the birth sleepers it was under $2000 USD for two of us one way. But I agree it is very expansive
$8000 is for Prestige class. You can travel much cheaper with discounted fares if you book through www.viarail.ca. The cheapest fare class is for coach seating (reclining seats for sleeping). Just a couple of hundred dollars, one-way.
There's a new Prestige class which is the true First Class, with luxurious private suites. This is the $8,000 one-way ticket.
@@MichiganCentralLines And expensive, too!
Great video,nice music. I have 3 clarifications. 1: Roomettes are for a single person(not 2 as you stated). 2: 'Triangle falls' is actually called 'Pyramid Falls'. 3: The bridge the train crosses near Vancouver is crossing the mouth of the Fraser River, the source of which the train goes by just west of Jasper on the BC side of Continental Divide. I have done about 50 trips on The Canadian since 1964. In 1964 the Mural lounge under the dome of Park car had original paintings by the Group of Seven & people still smoked on trains back then. They had to do a lot of work to restore paintings. They now reside in the National Museum in Ottawa.
I was amazed at the length of Canadian...with only two engines pulling so many cars
I walked the entire length just once. I was exhausted.
At 3000 horsepower each they can easily handle it.
Excellent video and stirring choice of music, too. My congratulations to the OP and also to commenters Don Brown and Ross Johnson who have been lucky enough to ride the Canadian more than 50 times! My hat's off to you both. I rode on the Canadian exactly once, many years ago now, in 1981. This was not long after the VIA takeover and the consist was a mixture of blue-painted cars acquired from CN and the stainless Canadian fleet inherited from CP. The train on the CN route, the one followed by today's Canadian, was the Super Continental. In 1981 it was about to be cancelled, but soon after my 1981 trip the CN route received a reprieve from the federal government because passenger rail access was more important to the communities on that line, and we ended up losing the more scenic CP route instead, although the remaining train is called the Canadian and not Super Continental. In addition to the Rocky Mountain scenery, the CP route features a very scenic passage along the north shore of Lake Superior - the last part of the transcontinental route to be completed since construction was so arduous. In 1981 they still joined/split separate Montreal and Toronto sections, most of the CN equipment going to/from Toronto and most of the CP fleet going to Montreal. My 1981 trip was, along with a 1983 transcontinental trip on Amtrak, the experience of a lifetime. I will never forget it, and the wonderful people I met in the boat-tail lounge area of the Park car, my favourite spot next to the dome.
Thank you!
Very well done!
The F40PH-3D is a mith. The 6400 series of Locomotives never included a '3' at the end of model I.D. When purchased, the model I.D was; F40PH-2. Since the rebuild program in 2011, a 'D' was added at the end. Other then that minor issue, great video!
A FANTASTIC JOURNEY......ALMOST LIKE THE REAL THING
REALMENT
The segment between 23:46 and 27:34 gave me shivers.
Great video I almost want to take a vacation with my dad sometime in Canada someday this video is classic
Nice video you made. I am soon uploading one of the Ocean which temporarily has all heritage equipment.
Superbe je suit un retrete du CN MAGNIFIQUE COMPANIE Mercie a vous tous«««
Great video!
The Canadioan was killed in 1989. The name "The Canadian" was applied to the former CN train "The Super Continental" but has little in common with the real Canadian in terms of the route.
It also ceased to be transcontinental when VIA ceased to originate the train from Montréal where it connected with the Atlantic train to Halifax.
So it never reached 60 years of age, it was killed by government at age 34.
Part of the reason was that CP Rail,s chairman was a firend of the Liberal party and the then current government didn't want VIA subsidies going to CP. As CP was out to tear up as much track as it could, it didn't mind losing the business.
Want to take the train from Toranto to VanCouver in October 2019. What level of service do I need to use the Observation car at the read of the train??
BIll Ligon when we rode you could just ride in the park car as it's called. However I have heard now the access is limited to only a couple hours in the evening for non "prestige class" passengers
Michigan Central Lines true for the Park car at the rear, but the Skyline dome cars are still open to non-Prestige sleeper passengers (section, roomette etc)
Where is a shot of the Jasper Banff Park?
via rail trail toronto ontario canada summer vacation in july film music video
GREAT VIDEO, BEAUTIFUL.
It was a 173 car order - not 155. $40,000,000.
LETS GO BLUE JAYS
Very nice video of the best train on the continent--bar none BUT: Why doesn't the blue on the locos match that of the cars? Why does each car have CANADA plastered all over it. Are they afraid they'll get lost? Do they know what country there in? Duh. . .
Greatdome99 hey! A bit late to respond but here ya go: The blue on the cars don’t match the locomotive because the locomotives are way newer and have a new colour scheme.
The cars will eventually all be updated so they all match but via likes to take its time with those things lol.
Also, the Canada markings on the train is the logo of the federal government, as via is owned by them.
go away...why does Union Pacific have huge American flags painted on their loco's ? afraid they will forget what country they are in ?
Canadian Pacific Railway ..not Railroad .
That's right! Glad you pointed that out. In Canada we call them railways not railroads.
Hope this bad vires goes away Start no more boat cruises enjoyed 3 of them the bad USA getting bad under Trump to visit my great Canada