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Riding VIA Rail Train #1 "The Canadian" from Toronto to
Vancouver.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Here we go!
Today's the big day. My brother Mark and I are in
Toronto Union Station ready to
travel across Canada on a VIA Rail stainless-steel streamliner which just celebrated its
70th Anniversary of existence.
Canadian
Pacific inaugurated "The
Canadian" built by the
Budd Company in April 1955 on its more southerly (and much more scenic)
route. That was then, this is now.
In 2025, Canadian National Railway now hosts these glorious VIA "Canadian" trainsets on their route from Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper and
on to Vancouver. The scuttlebutt is CN is notorious for prioritizing
money-making freight over money-losing passenger cruise trains. Who cares. We
are both retired, on vacation, and have all the time in the world. Let's go!
We are in our respective "Sleeper+" roomettes at the appointed hour of 0955 as
our rebuilt GMD F40PH-2D's smoothly glide west OT (on time).
Pulling out of Union Station, we pass a UP Express train which runs between Pearson
Airport and the terminal. Next is the west end yard for
GO Transit trains.
Locomotive #630 is an MPI MP40PH-3C
The dome is full, so Mark and I sit downstairs and celebrate our launch with a
complementary Mimosa.
After running along for about an hour, we grind to a halt at "CN Snyder". Oddly,
we begin to back up, getting our first view of the head end. Jokes in the lounge
about "forgetting the Grey Poupon" are bandied about. Finally, we proceed
forward and are now heading northeast.
The first seating for lunch is called at 1100 and we grab a pair of vacant dome
seats. Score! I get right to work taking pictures.
Look at all those signals; CN 2988 is a
GE ES44AC leading a train of 53'
domestic double stacks; CN 2942 is another GE ES44AC tugging eastbound 40'
overseas containers; Check that guy's snarl as we enter a curve.
Lake Simcoe.
Approaching our first stop at Washago, ON, we pass an enormous coaling tower
from the days of steam; It's a double spot (coach and sleeper) to load
passengers. We are 30 minutes late.
Leaving Washago, we cross a steel bridge. Vacationland! Lots of cabins, lakes
and fishing to be found here.
It's Lunchtime 1345 Third Sitting - hardly anyone in the diner. I believe we
both had the Seafood Ravioli which was quite good for our first meal on #1.
Luckily, we had Tim Hortons for breakfast this a.m.
Whilst still supping, 1440 finds us on a high bridge coming into Parry Sound,
ON, with east, then west views. Just 13 minutes off the advertised. That body of
water connects with Lake Huron of Great Lakes fame.
1540. The Canadian Shield. Billion year old rock and
muskeg. Nuff said.
Sudbury Junction, ON, 1654. We are OT. The home town of
Alex Trebek! I remember
on Jeopardy when none of the contestants knew where Canola Oil came from -- he
was crushed! (It comes from Canada, of course. Even I know that one.).
CN 2310/2205/3226 are switching a trainload of covered gondolas (probably ore of
some kind) as we pull into town. That 3226 is brand spanking new with glossy
trucks and paint. Not a speck of dirt to be found.
1745. OT. Capreol, Ontario. Pronounced, "K-pre-el". This is the first servicing
stop on our trip where the locomotives are fueled and we are allowed to walk the
train and stretch our legs.
CLICK HERE if you'd like to see
our consist from front to back.
Unfortunately, we are barred, nay, FORBIDDEN! to take pictures of the engines.
Bastards.
When we boarded in Toronto, our car attendant Hayley, said after 5pm (1700), we
were allowed as Sleeper+ riders into the Park series car (Laurentide Park, in
this case). SO! Let's do a little exploring.
Shaka, Bro! The high falutin' "Prestige Class", $10k per bedroom, slightly
nose-in-air accommodations, beckon us into their inner sanctum. Let's check it
out.
I couldn't let a good opportunity pass by. C'mon, Mark. Let's go up into the
dome!
With red signals beside us, we could see all four dome cars on our train; great
views alongside the Park car; Mark gets a splendid view out the back of our dome
observation; gray hair abounds in the forward seats of Laurentide Park. Green
signals!
Then they caught us. "Oh, no you can't go UP in the Dome, just the observation
below and maybe have a drink. Yeah, whatever, we snagged unauthorized dome
pictures in Laurentide Park and have SOILED your precious reputation.
PPfffffffthth!
Oh and, BTW....Check out the little souvenir I brought home (Thanx, Mark!).
It now adorns my bedroom mirror.
It is COLD up here in Northern Ontario. Lakes are frozen over. Snow is on the
ground. There is NO internet signal to speak of. Mark is absolutely
flabbergasted at his inability to constantly connect with the folks back home. I
warned ya, big brother...
Dinner! At 2030, we finally get our evening meal. It's the soup/salad course and
Mark digitizes it. That's a
pretzel roll to go with dinner. God, I miss Jack. Beef Tenderloin, garlic
potatoes and fresh veggies. Good meal again! VIA's onboard repasts are excellent
so far.
It's dark. Time to hit the hay.
 
 
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