NS VIA Fan
Conductor
It’s been 50 years since CN’s 3’-6” gauge ‘Caribou’ completed its last run across the Island of Newfoundland between Port-aux-Basques (Port oh Bask) and St. John’s overnight on July 2-3 1969. This was North America’s last full-service narrow-gauge passenger train with coaches, sleepers, diner and lounge. A sample consist from the ‘60s:
GMD NF210
GMD NF210
GMD NF210
Steam Generator
Mail (wooden boxcar)
Mail (wooden boxcar)
Baggage/Express
Coach (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
Coach (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
Diner (as lounge)
Coach
Coach
Coach
Diner
Sleeper (as Crew Dorm)
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
Sleeper (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
CN had introduced a new fleet of ‘Roadcruisers’ several months earlier and passengers soon abandoned the ‘Caribou’ for the frequent and faster bus service that now covered the 900 km run in 14 hours vs the 22 hours the train took. Here’s the CN Timetable issued in April ’69 showing the combined train and bus service (the Caribou was gone in 2 months!)
GMD NF210
GMD NF210
GMD NF210
Steam Generator
Mail (wooden boxcar)
Mail (wooden boxcar)
Baggage/Express
Coach (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
Coach (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
Diner (as lounge)
Coach
Coach
Coach
Diner
Sleeper (as Crew Dorm)
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
Sleeper (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
CN had introduced a new fleet of ‘Roadcruisers’ several months earlier and passengers soon abandoned the ‘Caribou’ for the frequent and faster bus service that now covered the 900 km run in 14 hours vs the 22 hours the train took. Here’s the CN Timetable issued in April ’69 showing the combined train and bus service (the Caribou was gone in 2 months!)
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