Maine Beach Train Nostalgia

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NS VIA Fan

Conductor
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
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Location
Nova Scotia
It’s 54 years ago this month since the last Passenger Specials to the Maine Beaches ran on the 295 mile CN-Grand Trunk route between Montreal and Portland. After regular, year round service was discontinued in 1960…..CN continued to run and advertise summertime Passenger Specials for another 7 years.

The Maine beaches were close for the Quebecois wanting to escape a hot and humid Montreal each summer. (And it continues today (covid aside) to Kennebunk and especially Old Orchard Beach where you’ll find hotels and restaurants offering service ‘en francais’…..but they’re travelling by car now (or maybe a round ‘about way on the Adirondack > NEC > Downeaster!)

Summer 1963: CN was advertising the Passenger Specials with a late Friday evening departure from Montreal, an early morning arrival in Portland.....then return on Saturday afternoon with an arrival back in Montreal late evening.

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Portland 63.jpg

Summer 1967: And the last timetable: An early Saturday morning departure from Montreal with an afternoon arrival in Portland. A quick turn around and back in Montreal before midnight.

Portland 67.jpg

There were no sleepers when the trains ran overnight….but there was reserved seating and Buffet Palour/Club Car Ainslie provided café service.


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