Cornwall Classic Charter:
Prologue:
In mid August, I learned of a charter in Cornwall using a Classic. Since I’ve never ridden Cornwall Transit, I thought it would be fun. This happened a week after the Niagara Double Decker charter and the weekend before the TTS’s 2012 Transportation Weekend. My plan was to ride VIA train 56 to Cornwall the day before and mess around the area and do some transit fanning and railfanning. The next day, I would go on the charter before catching VIA train #65 back home. The trip unfolded as follows.
August 24,
2012:
My mom gave me a ride to the Langstaff GO station. I was planning on taking the 8:01 am GO train to Union. When we arrived, I saw the GO train before the one I intended to take depart. That was no big deal. I bought a ticket to Union and waited for the train. When it arrived, I photographed it.
I got a window seat on the upper level of the cab car. The GO train soon departed. Just over 30 minutes later, we arrived at Union. We actually arrived a few minutes early. As we approached Union, I saw the locomotive of train 56 sticking out. I photographed it.
I also saw the Northlander awaiting its 8:40 am departure. However I was unable to photograph it. The GO train soon stopped in Union station. I got off and photographed it.
I also photographed the equipment from VIA train #82.
I then entered Union Station. On the way, I passed a group of people. For some reason, one of them was dressed like a pirate! I joined the cue line for VIA train #56.
Boarding of train 56 began shortly after 9:00 am. Even though I had an economy class ticket, I was seated in LRC Business class coach #3472! I chose a window seat on the left hand side of the train. We departed one minute late.
As we passed the TTC's Greenwood yard, I filmed the equipment inside. I could see some retired H-4 subway cars in the yard.
West of Oshawa, VIA train 41 passed, but I was unable to film it. When we passed the DRT garage in Whitby, I saw an XD40 in the yard. We stopped at Oshawa a few minutes later. My ticket was taken after we left Oshawa.
Train 53 passed at 10:35 am, but I was unable to film it. We stopped at Cobourg.
As we passed the Memory Junction museum, I filmed it. We later passed through Trenton Junction and Belleville non-stop. VIA train #43 passed, but I was unable to film it.
We later stopped at Kingston. I gained a seatmate in Kingston. We soon departed.
VIA train #57 passed. As it passed, I filmed it. I then made my way to the last car and photographed the locomotive of train 54.
The train stopped to separate trains 56 and 54. The HEP went out. I watched the procedure from the last car of train 56. When the trains were separated, I took one more photo of the locomotive on train 54.
The power was soon restore as train 56 moved away from train 54. I filmed train 54 getting further away. I made my way back to my coach seat. We stopped at Brockville and departed a couple minutes later. East of Brockville, we overtook and eastbound CN freight train. We were getting close to Cornwall. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off in Cornwall. VIA train #61 raced past, but I was unable to film it.
Train 56 arrived into Cornwall 11 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train.
I filmed train 56 departing. I then took one more photo of the train.
I decided to walk to my motel. It took a long time, but I eventually made it. Along the way, I saw Cornwall Transit Classic #9137 pass. I checked in to my motel. I was staying at the Cornwall Lodge.
I went to my room and relaxed for awhile and I also worked on this report some more. Eventually, I decided to go out to try and ride at least one Cornwall Transit Classic. I walked a few blocks to a bus stop. While waiting, I bought a bottle of lemonade. An El-Dorado EZ-Rider showed up. I rode it to the transit center downtown. I saw a couple more EZ-Riders in service. I looked down the street and saw a Classic. It turned, but I thought it was just going to come in on a different street. I turned out to be right. The Classic was 1985 built GM Classic #8558. I photographed it before I got on.
#8558 was running on the Eastern Industrial route. I had heard that the Classics mostly run on industrial routes. I was the only passenger on the bus! As the bus left, I saw Classic #9137 was running on route 1; a regular route. However, I couldn't photograph it from #8558.
I rode #8558 a few stops before I got off and filmed it pulling away. I saw Classic #9137 a few blocks away going away from me. At first, I thought about riding back to the transit center, but I checked a Cornwall Transit map I got and realized I could ride 9137 sooner if I walked one stop before the stop I was at and I was right. When #9137 showed up, I photographed it.
The driver asked why I was taking pictures. I gave her an honest response. At least she didn't say I was not allowed to. I rode #9137 to the transit center and got off and photographed it.
I saw Classic #8558 again. I also photographed 8558.
I then filmed #9137 pulling away. After, I walked around Cornwall's waterfront for awhile. I photographed a few things while I was down there.
After awhile, I made my way back to the transit center. I took one more photo of Classic #9137.
I boarded an El-Dorado EZ-Rider and rode to a McDonald's I passed on the way to my motel. I had dinner there. After, I caught another EZ-Rider North and attempted to do some railfanning. However, I wasn't able to photograph any trains. I did see VIA train #64 pass by led by a rebuilt F40PH-2, but I was unable to film it.
I caught a bus back to my hotel. I went into the lobby and found out that since I had an economy room, I wasn't entitled to a free breakfast! I wasn't pleased with that since I've had free breakfasts at other hotels in which I've paid less per night than the Cornwall Lodge!
I looked around for a restaurant to have breakfast before I figured I could eat at an A&W near my motel. I returned to my room and worked on this report some more. I called a taxi company and booked a taxi for 10:00 am. I eventually called it a night.
Click here for the charter itself: Cornwall Classic Charter part 2
