Chateau Montebello Trip:

 

Prologue:

 

            My mom has begun a quest of visiting many of Canada’s great hotels. Many of them are “Railroad Hotels” meaning they were founded by Canadian National or Canadian Pacific.

 

            One hotel she stayed at as part of her quest was the Chateau Montebello which is about an hour away from Montreal. However, when she was there, she got sick. (Don’t worry, it was NOT COVID!) As a result, she wanted her own make up trip like many trips I had done in the past.

 

            I wasn’t at the original trip, but would join this one after I used a feature available to Home Depot associates to allow associates to give away or take a shift. I had given a shift away in order to join.

 

            After staying a couple days at the Chateau Montebello, my family would go on to Montreal where my sister would be playing in a softball tournament. I would spend a few days there with one day I would visit Exporail. I would come home the day before my family on VIA train #65. The trip unfolded as follows.

 

August 13, 2023:

 

            We left home shortly after 8:30 am. We got onto highway 407 and took it to highway 412. This was my first time going on highway 412. We took Highway 412 to highway 401 and headed east.

 

            We eventually stopped for lunch outside of Cornwall. After lunch we headed out. We then headed out and after awhile crossed into the province of Quebec. We turned onto highway 148 and then drove 30 km west. We arrived at the Chateau Montebello. I photographed it.

 

 

            We went in and checked in. We got to our room. I went online.

 

            After awhile, I went out. I was going to go fishing. I had brought fishing gear from home. This was the first trip I actually did fishing other than at my cottage following my overnight trip to Kitchener to ride ION. I wished I could have when I was in the Agawa Canyon. I didn’t have my fishing gear then.

 

            I walked down to the river and photographed it.

 

 

            The water was a bit rough. I didn’t catch anything. After awhile I gave up and went back to my room. I worked on this report before we had dinner in the hotel’s patio restaurant. After dinner, we went back to the room. I worked on this report some more. If you read my previous trip, you’ll know on that trip, my laptop’s screen broke. I took it in for repairs the day after I got back and got it back two weeks later.  I eventually called it a night.

 

August 14, 2023:

 

            I got up and got dressed. We went to the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast I went back to the room. I went online for a little before I went out fishing again. The river was calmer than it was the day before.

 

            I started fishing from the bank. At one point, I caught a fish! I reeled it in and photographed it.

 

 

            I released the fish back into the river. I cast again and then caught a second fish! This fish was a little bigger than the fish I just caught. I photographed that fish as well.

 

 

 

            Since I was a kid, I have caught 18 fish. I was the only one in my family to have caught a fish in the lake my dad’s cottage was on until last November when my dad sold it. I had pulled 6 fish out of that lake. The other 12 included these two, two from my childhood summer camp, a trout farm near my cottage, and a rented cottage I was at in early July.

 

            I went to another spot to fish near my mom and sister after showing them photos of my two fish. I cast a few more times. I felt a strike on my rod, but whatever fish was there, it got off again.

 

            A little while later I went back to the room. I worked on this report some more. I showed my dad pictures of the two fish I caught. He thought the first fish looked like a perch and the second was a rock bass.

 

            I then went out to see what this resort offered. I walked to the far end where they rent watercraft. I took some photos.

 

 

 

            I ended up renting a jet ski for an hour. I took it out on the river in front of the Chateau Montebello. At some points, I decided to see how fast it would go. I hit 85 km/h at one point before safely coasting to a stop. I brought the Jet Ski back safely. I took a photo of it.

 

 

            I then had lunch at a poolside restaurant. I took some photos around the grounds.

 

 

            I then returned to my room. I worked on this report some more. I went out and found a nearby convenience store outside of the hotel. I bought a Pepsi. I then walked to a railway crossing that was nearby. I was hoping a train would come by but none did. I walked back to the hotel.

 

            Shortly after I got back to the hotel, I played a round of mini-golf with my sister. After the game I went for a swim in the outdoor pool until in closed.

 

            I went back to the room and worked on this report some more. We then went out into Montebello to a restaurant for dinner. It took me several minutes to find a parking spot but I eventually found one.

 

            After dinner, we headed back to the Chateau Montebello. After awhile I went out and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I then walked back to the convenience store

 

            I went back to the hotel. On the way back I felt that I was up at my cottage and not a luxury resort. I went back to my room and worked on this report some more. We eventually called it a night.

 

August 15, 2023:

 

            We got up and got dressed. We went for breakfast. After breakfast we packed and went to check out. We didn’t leave right away. I went fishing again. I saw a fish looking at my lure, but it didn’t strike.

 

            I went to the hotel’s indoor pool for a swim. After my swim, I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I bought lunch at the same place as yesterday. After lunch I met my family by the outdoor pool. We eventually headed out and left the Chateau Montebello.

 

            We hit the highway and drove to Montreal. It was about a 90-minute drive to get to Montreal. We were staying in west end of Montreal. I could see my hotel was by a section of the new REM light rail. The first leg had recently opened. However, this portion was not open yet.

 

            We checked in and went up to our room. I logged in and went online. We were waiting for my sister team mates to sign a form. For next little while, people came to sign.

 

            After awhile we headed out. We were going to Gibeau Orange Julip; my favorite place to eat in Montreal. I was so used to getting there on transit, so we had to look up driving directions. There were two ways to get there. We ended up taking the long way.

 

            As we drove the CAD builder, I saw various VIA HEP1 coaches and an RDC2 that had been stripped down.

 

            Those coaches may have been sacrificed for looking at the status of the Budd equipment which in 2022 resulted in VIA putting buffer cars on all trains equipped with Budd coaches. The buffer cars were removed a few months ago.

 

            We made it to Gibeau Orange Julip. I got out and photographed the restaurant.

 

 

            My dad and I ordered dinner. A woman started asking for people to buy her a meal. I declined.

 

            After I ordered my meal, my dad pointed out she got food.

 

            I soon got my order and went to eat. The woman from earlier asked me for money for food again. I told her no because she already got food.

 

            I decided to go to the counter again. The woman approached me a third time before she saw it was me and went to someone else.

 

            I bought a jug of the orange juice. I tried to get a hoodie as well, but they had none in my size.

 

            We went back to the hotel. I worked on this report some more. I eventually called it a night.

 

August 16, 2023:

 

            I got up and got dressed. We went down to the lobby for breakfast. After breakfast we went up to the room. I went online for a few minutes. I saw a station for Montreal’s new REM light rail system under construction. While a portion is open, this leg is not. If this leg was open, it would have made it easier to get downtown.

 

            I then headed out. My parents gave me a ride to Dorval. Along the way we passed a CPKC intermodal with a KCS locomotive on the rear and a CP diesel up front.

 

            At Dorval, I walked to the bus terminal. I boarded a bus on route #485. I remembered the bus I took from the terminal last time had a long and windy route to Angrignon Metro station. The #485 is an express route. However, this route was only slightly less windy. I did eventually get to Angrignon.

 

            I saw STM Nova LFS #39-903. It was one of four electric Nova LFS buses STM bought in 2019. I’m not sure what happened to the ones I rode in 2018.

 

            I saw the charging station was under repair. I photographed #39-903.

 

 

 

            Electric Nova #39-904 then arrived. It went into service. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

 

 

 

            I rode the bus to Monk station. I got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

            I filmed the bus pulling away. I took one more photo.

 

 

            I then got on the Metro and rode a train of AZUR cars to Lionel-Groulx. I filmed the train pulling out and transferred to the Orange line. I rode to Bonadventure. I got off and went to Central Station. I had lunch at the McDonald’s in the station. After lunch, I went to ride the new REM light rail. REM recently opened the first leg of their system. This branch goes from Central Station to Bossard on the south shore of Montreal. I bought a round trip ticket and waited for the next train to arrive.

 

            It came a few minutes later. I boarded the front car. The REM trains are all automated and you can see out the front and back of the train. The train soon departed.

 

            We headed south away from Central Station running parallel to the line VIA trains take out of Central station. We curved to the left. I filmed the EXO yard and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            The train curved again and passed VIA’s Montreal Maintenance Center. I filmed the equipment in the yard. I saw former BC Rail lounge car Glenfraser which is in a different livery than when I rode it back in 2005, the three ex BC Rail single level domes acquired at the same time as Glenfraser and an RDC-4. I also saw several of the new trainsets being built to replace the LRC and HEP2 coaches. Some are apparently already in service. My friend Karl in Chicago got a photo of one such trainset in the process of delivery as part of the route from the factory to VIA is on Union Pacific.

 

            I noticed the stations on REM had platform doors so filming the train would be almost impossible in stations.

 

            The line currently consists of five stations. Two are on the Montreal side of the river. The other three are on the south shore. The first stop across the river is by RTL’s Panama transit terminal.

 

            The last station on the line is Brossard. Like the other REM stations, this one has platform doors. I walked to the far end and attempted to film the train leaving.

 

 

            I then left the station. I photographed an exhibit on REM.

 

 

            I photographed and filmed the next two trains arriving and departing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed an EXO Nova LFS.

 

 

            I photographed the REM exhibit again.

 

 

            The next train arrived. I boarded the front car and we soon departed. Along the way back, I filmed out the front window and photographed a passing REM train.

 

 

            As we passed VIA’s Montreal Maintenance Center, I photographed equipment that was visible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I photographed the EXO yard and another REM train.

 

 

 

 

            We soon arrived back at Central Station. I got off and attempted to film the train departing after taking some photos.

 

 

 

            I have heard that the Ontario subway line which recently began construction may be similar to the REM. I can’t say for certain because it’s YEARS away from completion. I hope the technology that goes into the REM isn’t another Scarborough RT in almost 40 years time.

 

            The Scarborough RT (which my friend Bill and I rode in 2009 when he came to Toronto) was originally designed with CLRVs in mind by the government made them buy the cars that would run on the line.

 

            While Vancouver and Detroit did buy similar cars, the Scarborough RT was a headache for TTC. The line had a couple of sharp curves that would not allow newer, longer cars to run on the line.

 

            As a result after much political debates, the RT was to be replaced by a three stop extension of the Bloor-Danforth subway. However the earliest that would open was 2030.

 

            The TTC had intended to close the Scarborough RT in November and run shuttle buses until the subway extension opened. However a few weeks prior to the trip, a train on the RT derailed. As a result of this derailment, the TTC may not reopen the line.

 

            However since the Ontario Line is being built as a subway line, this may allow seamless replacement of the stock built for the line when the time comes.

 

            I went up to Central station and logged in. I was looking for electric buses belonging to not just STM, but STL in Laval. I saw only two electric Nova LFS buses were running on route 36 Monk including the bus I rode earlier.

 

            I did decide to ride the other one. I went to the Metro and rode to Square-Victoria and walked to where the route #36 boards. I saw electric LFS #39-901 charging. I photographed it.

 

 

            The bus finished charging and pulled up to the stop. I got on and rode past Gare Central. I got off and filmed the bus pulling away.

 

            I went inside and after buying a Pepsi from a nearby food court, I went back to Gare Central. I logged into the VIA Wi-Fi and saw some more STM and some STL electric buses were out. I decided to go after the STL buses.

 

            I had thought I’d find them on routes running out of the Cartier Metro station so I boarded a train heading in that direction.

 

            I got off at Cartier and checked the map. It ended up going to the completely wrong area. However I could still get there. I bought a STL day pass to head off the electric buses. I got off too early. I ended up riding a Nova LFS to Cote-Vertu Metro station. On the way, I passed one of STL’s electric buses but was unable to photograph it. I wasn’t too worried because I knew a second was out on the same route.

 

            Once I got to Cote-Vertu, I waited around for an STM or STL electric bus. Eventually STM Flyer #40-928 showed up heading east on route #171. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            Transit properties in the province of Quebec have been given incentive to purchase buses from Nova as their factory is located in the province which is why Nova LFS buses are as common as dirt in the province. As a result, it’s rare to see buses built by other manufacturers being operated by transit properties in Quebec but not unheard of.

 

            Both STM and STL got together and bought 40 New Flyer XE40 buses with 30 going to STM and 10 going to STL. This is a theory based on observations in Toronto. I believe these Flyers are long range battery buses. The electric Nova LFS buses run by STM are short range and thus have to be constantly recharged on route while the long range buses can go a lot longer between charging. This is why in 2019 TTC did not get any electric Nova LFS buses when they bought a total of 60 long range electric buses from three different manufactures. Of the three companies they ordered, the electric buses they deemed the best were from New Flyer.

 

            I rode #40-928 a few stops before I got off and filmed the bus pulling away. I took one more photo of the bus.

 

 

            I then crossed the street and waited for a bus to head back to Cote-Vertu. Eventually I boarded a crowded Nova LFS articulated bus back to Cote-Vertu. Once I got there, I decided to wait around and hope one of STL’s electric Flyers would show up.

 

            While I was waiting, I photographed STM electric Flyer #40-907.

 

 

            Eventually STL electric Flyer #2056 arrived. The bus went for a lay over for several minutes. I photographed it while I waited for the bus to hopefully go into service.

 

 

            #2056 did go back into service on route #144. I photographed the bus before I got on.

 

 

 

            I was the first passenger to board. It reminded me of when I rode STL Classic #6010 back in 2010 during the TTS’s Transportation Weekend in Montreal.

 

            The bus departed and crossed into Laval. I rode for a few minutes before I saw what looked like an okay restaurant for dinner before I got off and filmed the bus pulling away.

 

            The restaurant was not open for dinner so I ended up walking several blocks until I found a strip mall where I managed to find a place for dinner. After dinner I walked back to catch an STL bus back to Cote-Vertu. While waiting for my bus, I saw Flyer #2056 again heading in the opposite direction. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            I was wondering what kind of bus I would ride back on. I hoped it would be the other STL electric Flyer I had seen earlier (#2052 for those wondering). It turned out to be a Nova LFS. I boarded the bus and sat down for a ride. On the bus, I photographed an ad about a documentary of the 2013 Lac-Megantic train disaster where an unmanned oil train ran away and derailed in the middle of Lac-Megantic killing 47 people.

 

 

 

            I got to Cote-Vertu and got on the Metro. I rode to Vendome station hoping I could catch an Exo commuter train to the area I was staying. However it would be over an hour before my train. After checking if there were any EXO bus routes that went anywhere close to where I was staying, I reluctantly got on the Metro and rode to Angrignon and boarded the route #195 to Dorval. That was the route I had taken in the opposite direction the previous year after I returned my rental car at the airport.

 

            While the bus left a few minutes I ended up getting to Dorval shortly after the commuter train would have arrived. I had just missed a connecting bus.

 

            I waited several minutes. I considered riding the route #204 bus but the driver suggested I wait for the route #202 which would take slightly less time. I reluctantly waited and the route #202 came and I rode to my hotel. It was only a few minutes faster than if I had ridden the route #204.

 

            I then walked back to the hotel and went online. My Mom had looked for driving directions to Exporail as I had planned to take my parents to the ball park the next day and drive from there to Exporail. I eventually called it a night.

 

Click to read about my trip to Exporail:      Exporail 2023