Does anyone happen to know if VIA still has a fleet of single level streamlined cars? I was reading through some old magazines, and many had photos of beautiful coaches and such in use into the early 90's at least. I'm just wondering if any of them are still out there, especially the domed observation cars.

Thanks, Taylor

thrush@smt-net.com

> Does anyone happen to know if VIA still has
> a fleet of single level streamlined cars?

Absolutely. Reconditioned single-level Budd and Pullman-Standard cars are the backbone of their long-distance fleet, though they will soon be supplemented by the "Nightstar" cars that VIA bought from the cancelled overnight service that was to run through the Channel Tunnel. VIA's website at http://www.viarail.ca/en.index.html has images and car diagrams.

eledbetter@mail.rypn.org

Erik,

Thats good to hear, I was worried they'd all beensent to the scrap heap. You said they are going to be supplemented with new cars, does that mean they will be retiring some of the older cars?

Thanks Again, Taylor

thrush@smt-net.com

I saw two of the domed observation cars in the yard at Toronto a week ago. I believe these are used in VIA's "corridor service".

gbrewer@yahoo.com

You said they
> are going to be supplemented with new cars,
> does that mean they will be retiring some of
> the older cars?

Lordy, what with VIA being as great a political football in Canada and Amtrak is in the US, who knows? All I know is what I read in the railfan press, but that leads me to believe VIA is thinking supplement, not replace--an attempt to recover from the bloodletting imposed by the Conservative government (note: political party name, not me editorializing) 10 years or so back. But I'm no VIA expert and couldn't really tell you for sure.

eledbetter@mail.rypn.org

Don't blame the Conservative Party for all the VIA cuts. I lost my job with VIA during the first VIA cuts in 1981 under the Liberal Government of the late Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and his Transport Minister, former Voyageur Bus Lines CEO Jean-Luc Pepin. I was working as a Sales Rep for VIA in Los Angeles at the time when I was laid off. That is why I shed no tears when Trudeau died last year. I found it ironic that his remains were transported to Montreal on a VIA train. Pepin should have loaned him a bus.

In the aftermath of the 1990 cuts, all the ex-CN Pullman Standard coaches, dining cars and sleepers were sold off, and VIA standardized on the ex-CPR Budd built cars.

VIA has been using at least 1 Park series observation car on their overnight Toronto-Montreal train the ENTERPRISE. When they get enough Night Star equipment, it will be equipped with night star. The Budd equipment will be concentrated in the west.

kevingillespie@usa.net

Current status of the VIA fleet as of February, remembering that a couple of Budd stainless cars were damaged in the wreck of the Atlantic with at least one Diner (Wascana) scrapped on site, is as follows:

4 of the old blue cars, PS/CC&F or NSC
150 ex CPR Budd stainless cars
57 Budd stainless cars ex US roads
98 LRC cars

VIA purchased 78 stainless cars from the US market place and 21 of these were not rebuilt and are in storage. They include 8 coaches, 7 skyline domes all ex Zepher, 5 baggage and 1 dome observation (ex D&RGW Silver Sky).

As well three ex CPR "Park" dome observations were not rebuilt and are in storage (Algonquin, Riding Mountain and Sibley Parks)

VIA has recently purchased 139 NightStar cars out of the UK and several are now testing.

paul.bown@sympatico.ca

From what I have gathered from sources up north, the in-use Budd cars and the ex US servuce cars stored pending rehab will support services outside the Windsor-Quebec corridor.

The nightstar and Pullman Standard cars should support corridor trains.

This allows for the matched stainless consists and the enhanced silver & blue service which have become trademarks of VIA's tour business.

If you have not ridden a Sliver & Blue class acoomodation on VIA, go for it. I have ridden the Canadadian Tornot - Van. and of the 20,000+ North American rail miles I have logged in the past 15 years, it was by far the absolute best experience. And I am not speaking of just the scenery. There isn't an Amtrak train that can touch it.

Viva VIA!

Rob Davis

> Does anyone happen to know if VIA still has
> a fleet of single level streamlined cars? I
> was reading through some old magazines, and
> many had photos of beautiful coaches and
> such in use into the early 90's at least.
> I'm just wondering if any of them are still
> out there, especially the domed observation
> cars.

> Thanks, Taylor


inlinebob@aol.com