Yes that was back in 1959. My Dad came home from work one day and said he took a promotion in Vancouver. He couldn’t stand the cold in Winnipeg anymore (not to mention the mosquitoes). So we took the Canadian to Vancouver. Rarely snows and some years the temperature doesn’t hit freezing and in the summer there are no bugs flying around.
Today temp should hit 15C/60F.
Thanks Dad!
Why don’t more young men hop that train to the coast?
Photo’s taken this morning.[:P]
Daffodils
Tulips
Snow drops
This was last week. It has been years since we have had more than a dusting of snow. It didn’t last long.
Does this mean Jason Shron won’t be putting one in his basement.[(-D]
As for price, I recall my Dad saying that back in 1959 the train was a lot cheaper than taking an Air Canada DC-6 to Vancouver. We had a roomette that was made much cosier by the fact we had my Sisters Budgie bird in there with us.
As for the weather, look on the bright side, your modeling season is so much longer than ours.[(-D]
Although I will agree with the assertion that the Renaissance cars are cr*p (especially in the winter!), they only run on the Ocean (Halifax-Montreal), so not an issue on the Canadian. In fact the Canadian still runs with the exact same stainless-steel Budds that it was running with when Brent rode it in '59. Granted, they’ve received a few overhauls since then, but they’re still magnificent!
Shame we lost them on the east coast…at least we still get a Park!
The train can be expensive, sure, but you can get some good deals if you watch for them (Express Deals online, sales, etc.). Flying may still often be cheaper (and faster, if that matters to you), but if you compare it to driving the same distance over several days, plus paying for hotel rooms and meals…suddenly it doesn’t look quite so bad.
As for this talk of spring weather…we’ve hit a lovely, balmy high of 0C/31F today here in Halifax, and may even see see positive temperatures tomorrow, before it goes back to subzero. Still beats the -15C two days ago…
Rode either CN or CP from Sudbury6 to Banff in Jan 72. Rode back to Toronto March 1 the same year, Three hrs late coming into Banff, eight hrs late into Toronto. Brake lines icing, first winter ever in Canada. Expensive meals.
1973 flew from Vancouver to Toronto, on time both ends, cheaper.
Tomorrow - Partly cloudy skies early. A few showers developing later in the day. High 68 °F (20.0 °C). Winds S at 5 to 10 mph (8.0 to 16.1 kph). Chance of rain 30%.
Geared Steam wrote the following post 1 hours ago:
Tomorrow - Partly cloudy skies early. A few showers developnig later in the day. High 68 F (20.0 C) Winds S at 5 to 10 mph (8.0 to 16.1kph) Chance of rain 30%
Where this at?? Written in code Eh!
Frank
Batman,
Train ride. Last to do on My Bucket List, no matter the cost. Last times, 50’s and 60’s.
Frank
Tomorrow - Partly cloudy skies early. A few showers developing later in the day. High 68 °F (20.0 °C). Winds S at 5 to 10 mph (8.0 to 16.1 kph). Chance of rain 30%.
The whole thing is a missed marketing opportunity. It could be operated like a rolling cruise ship (much like the Rocky Mountaineer) and do quite well; we’re talking the last running streamliner in North America, here!
Via doesn’t market it that way (or at all, really). Damn shame; that’s a gorgeous train running through some of the prettiest country South of the North Pole. The potential is huge.
I got to ride the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver and back in 1965. I was 11. It was an amazing experience!
On the way west I happened to meet an older boy who had been bold enough to approach the conductor to see if he could ride in the engine. The conductor spoke to the engineer and the next thing I knew the two of us were riding in the cab! I’m sure they were breaking every rule possible but there we were. It was at night in Northern Ontario so there wasn’t much to see other than the occasional deer crossing the tracks, but I got to experience the rumble and the roar of the engines right up close and personal. I think we got about 3 hours in the cab before the train made its next stop, and when we were getting out we were told explicitly to get our butts back where they belonged asap.
Our ride in the cab could have led to a lot of trouble because, being 11, it never dawned on me to tell my mother where I was going. Had she woken up and determined that I wasn’t on the train I’m sure there would have been a whole lot of trouble!
I have to add that on the way back from Vancouver to Calgary I did not take the train. Instead I got to ride with my uncle Johnnie all the way through the Rockies in an MGB with the top down. That was neat too.
Trip of a lifetime!
We are looking at doing the Rocky Mountaineer, but like some have said, it’s a bit pricey. Highly rated though.
Man, I’m so envious of you guys who got to see the actual passenger trains(yes even the amtrak rainbow fleet) before they became nothing but superliners and talgo sets.
missed the SP&S by 24 years… I’ll just have to vicariously, live it through that SP&S 8mm film on youtube and my models.
Seeing that ad again is going to cost me money! We have been talking about doing it since last summer. We saw it roll into Jasper last year. It looked great. Apparently the food and service are extraordinary!
When we were in Alberta last summer we rented a car and did the Calgary, Banff, Jasper and Edmonton tour. It was a great time but it would have been so so nice to not have to drive and just be able to stare out the windows.
If we make the decision to go it will be your fault, and I’m going to send you the bill!!![(-D]
You really know how to rub it in don’t you! Our daffodils are still under 18" of snow and the nasty weather people are saying that that isn’t going to change any time soon.[xx(]
Actually must be warmer on this side of the harbour as I just took the dog for a walk in a T-shirt, Absolutely balmy! I’ll be firing up the BBQ later today!
