For several days during Christmas 1980… besides the regular VIA ‘Atlantic’ between Halifax-Saint John & Montreal across the State of Maine…there was also a second, extra ‘Atlantic’ that ran through between Halifax and Toronto instead of Montreal. It made no stops (other than for crew changes and servicing) between McAdam NB and Kingston ON.
The regular section of the ‘Atlantic’ following close behind made the usual 6 stops across Maine.
Here’s the two westbound sections of the ‘Atlantic’ on Dec 22, 1980. Thirty-Eight years ago this weekend!
Very nice. Thank you. So was this repeated in following years or was this a one time thing? Surprised to see a heavyweight in the consist and an open end observation. I’ll take the heavyweight sleeper, thank you.
No…The ‘Atlantic’ was eliminated in the big VIA cuts of November 1981. It did return in June 1985 and lasted until December 1994. But the Second Sections across Maine never operated again.
The following year…December 1981…VIA’s Halifax-Campbellton-Montreal ‘Ocean’ operated with extra sections.
There is no Extra Ocean this year…but today’s westbound train from Halifax to Montreal is reported to have 6 Coaches, 7 Sleepers and 3 Domes including a ‘Park Car’
Actually I’ve scheduled my next trip to Montreal in mid January to be on a Renaissance Ocean. Sure the Rens have their mechanical issues……but for the solid, quiet, smooth riding qualities….I’ll take one any day over the shimmy and rattling of those old Budds!
Did VIA ever manage to properly winterize the Renaissance fleet?
The Budds stay warm as long as they are supplied with power. If the locomotives die then they all freeze.
I suspect that some summer diesel accidentally ended up in a number of F40’s last winter, as the freezing train incidents appear to have been caused by plugged fuel filters.
