Rail Freak
Engineer
I'm thinking of doing the Canadian. What would you folks suggest, east bound or west bound?
Thanx
Thanx
Follow the Sun is a good motto! East to West is best is another! You have more daylight when you go West and arrive into Vancouver in the Daytime! It is much cheaper in the Winter , less crowded and be sure sure and look for specials, occasionally you can ride for like $500 in a Roomette, that's a real deal!I'm thinking of doing the Canadian. What would you folks suggest, east bound or west bound?
Thanx
Thanx, I just discovered the express deals offered by VIA. A couple of days ago I applied for a pass port so I'll be prepared to jump on a great deal!!! BTW How often do they offer Exprees Fares?Follow the Sun is a good motto! East to West is best is another! You have more daylight when you go West and arrive into Vancouver in the Daytime! It is much cheaper in the Winter , less crowded and be sure sure and look for specials, occasionally you can ride for like $500 in a Roomette, that's a real deal!I'm thinking of doing the Canadian. What would you folks suggest, east bound or west bound?
Thanx
VIA has been offering deals for years and they are still around.....don’t think they’re going anywhere anytime soon!.........I'd move fast though if I were you. Whenever I see a business routinely offering 50-75% off sales I tend to view that as a sign of trouble. Know what I mean?
I can't tell you how many times I was asked if I got in on the 50% or the 75% off sale. Apparently these sales are pretty well patronized by both locals and foreigners. Hopefully VIA's books are rock-solid but when I see the locomotives of their flagship train painted in butt-ugly advertisements I begin to wonder just how well they are really doing.I think if you checked into it you would probably find that most of the rooms in a typical consist have been sold at full price.
I'm going to come down in the middle here on this one. I agree with NS VIA that the 75% sales are exactly what was said, that VIA has a room or two here and there that they anticipate going empty, so it shows up on those specials.I can't tell you how many times I was asked if I got in on the 50% or the 75% off sale. Apparently these sales are pretty well patronized by both locals and foreigners. Hopefully VIA's books are rock-solid but when I see the locomotives of their flagship train painted in butt-ugly advertisements I begin to wonder just how well they are really doing.I think if you checked into it you would probably find that most of the rooms in a typical consist have been sold at full price.
I really dont know where youre getting the idea VIA is in financial difficulties because they have a seat sale or paint a locomotive……. Sure VIA is underfunded…….really no different than Amtrak.Hopefully VIA's books are rock-solid but when I see the locomotives of their flagship train painted in butt-ugly advertisements I begin to wonder just how well they are really doing.
I have no idea if VIA is in actual financial trouble or not. But I've read that they have been on the bubble before and I see some aspects of their current operation today that give me pause. As a result I have listed some of my concerns here. What you take away from them is up to you. Maybe every tacky lotto advertisement plastered over their formerly proud looking locomotives is a sign of inherent strength but it sure looked ugly to me and several other people I spoke to about it. Not one single person was in the "Wow, I was finally able to save up for a $1,500 ticket to ride the famous Lotto Train!" group.I really don’t know where you’re getting the idea VIA is in financial difficulties because they have a seat sale or paint a locomotive. Sure VIA is underfunded. Really no different than Amtrak.Hopefully VIA's books are rock-solid but when I see the locomotives of their flagship train painted in butt-ugly advertisements I begin to wonder just how well they are really doing.
Does the colour of a F40 really matter to the average passenger on board? I don’t think so.....they’re more interested in the Dome and Observation view from the inside out!...........Not one single person was in the "Wow, I was finally able to save up for a $1,500 ticket to ride the famous Lotto Train!" group.
I’m sorry you feel the Panorama cars stick out like a sore thumb and ruin your image of a perfectly matched train. But did you ever think that the passengers who the cars are actually being run for might enjoy them?I agree with those who say the panorama cars stick out like a sore thumb compared to rest of the carefully matched and maintained rolling stock, but they're nothing compared to this monstrosity.
Ah! But the frothing railfans do! And aren't trains basically run for the railfans pleasure mostly?Do 90% of the passengers on the Canadian even see the locomotive hauling their train? Most would board in the larger stations where the power is stopped outside of the trainshed. Sure a few might see it pulling in and some may walk forward while the train is serviced but do they really care how it’s painted?
Give 6414 six months or so and it will emerge from the rebuild program looking like this....... And yes there’s probably those out there all aghast with how could VIA alter that beautiful roof-line by adding the HEP compartment on the F-40s rear platform......blasphemy!......and that trailing Renaissance equipment......Don't even go there!Yes 6414 is one unit that could use a paint job but it has nothing to do with ‘a last ditch effort at solvency’
VIA is currently in the middle of $100 million program rebuilding their F40 fleet.......
I have no idea if most passengers care or not as I did not walk around with a survey asking everyone about their views. The only opinion I can give you is mine. I felt the Lotto locomotive was butt ugly pulling an otherwise beautiful train. I was surprised to see such tacky advertisements on a flagship train. Maybe everyone else expects this sort of thing but nothing in VIA's literature gave me any indication that they were using their trains as mobile billboards.Yes 6414 is one unit that could use a paint job but it has nothing to do with ‘a last ditch effort at solvency.’ Do 90% of the passengers on the Canadian even see the locomotive hauling their train? Most would board in the larger stations where the power is stopped outside of the trainshed. Sure a few might see it pulling in and some may walk forward while the train is serviced but do they really care how it’s painted?
Yes, the “U” Series sleepers……and not just painted but with fluted stainless-steel panels added to the sides. The cars retained their clerestory roof. Photo here:As to the Canadian, in its early days it had some heavyweight sleepers painted silver running as a type of budget sleeper.......
Yes, VIA should certainly publish a warning to potential passengers that their train could be hauled by a locomotive in a paint scheme that might not be particularly appealing to them!Maybe everyone else expects this sort of thing but nothing in VIA's literature gave me any indication that they were using their trains as mobile billboards.
Is VIA your parent's employer? The primary component of a life-dominating hobby? The subject of your college thesis? What exactly is the basis for your hyper-emotional connection to VIA anyway?Yes, VIA should certainly publish a warning to potential passengers that their train could be hauled by a locomotive in a paint scheme that might not be particularly appealing to them!Maybe everyone else expects this sort of thing but nothing in VIA's literature gave me any indication that they were using their trains as mobile billboards.
I like VIA!Is VIA your parent's employer? The primary component of a life-dominating hobby? The subject of your college thesis? What exactly is the basis for your hyper-emotional connection to VIA anyway?
And what exactly do you like about them?I like VIA!Is VIA your parent's employer? The primary component of a life-dominating hobby? The subject of your college thesis? What exactly is the basis for your hyper-emotional connection to VIA anyway?
.........And what exactly do you like about them?I like VIA!Is VIA your parent's employer? The primary component of a life-dominating hobby? The subject of your college thesis? What exactly is the basis for your hyper-emotional connection to VIA anyway?
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