I got up
and got dressed. I went to the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast. After
breakfast, I finished packing and then checked out of the hotel. Garth came a few
minutes later. We then headed to the West Edmonton Mall. I wasn’t going to make
the same mistake that my friend Mark and I made on our
I initially
left my bathing suit in Garth’s car so I wouldn’t be carrying it around the
whole time. I learned that both the
Garth told
me to meet him at a Chapters book store in the mall when I wanted to go to the
Just before
Click to see a photo of the Mindbender roller coaster.
I went on another roller coaster that was added some point after my Western Canada trip. This roller coaster was different because the car body actually rotated as the ride progressed. After I got off the ride, I photographed it.
I saw they were running a train on the Mindbender, but it still wasn’t open yet. I noticed the Space Shot ride was open. The Space Shot is similar to the Pile Driver ride on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls. I rode the Space Shot and then photographed it.
Mindbender was finally open. I got on the first ride of the day. After, I rode another roller coaster which is tamer than Mindbender and photographed it.
Next, I rode the Sonic Twister which is similar to the Psyclone at Canada’s Wonderland. However, I started feeling dizzy on the ride. I photographed Sonic Twister before I rested for a few minutes.
Galaxyland has a train ride running around the park. I photographed the train.
I decided to go on one more ride: Swing of the Century. After I got off, I felt a little dizzy. I photographed the ride.
I decided that I was done at Galaxyland. I then went to the food court and bought lunch. After lunch, I went to Chapters and met with Garth. We went to his car and I got my bathing suit. I saw there was also a zip line so I bought a ticket for the water park and the zip line together. I got changed and went to the water park.
I rented an inner tube and went in the wave pool. I noticed the waves in the pool seemed to have been toned down a bit from when I last went to the water park in February of 2003.
Some new water slides had been built as well. One of which had a loop. Unfortunately, it was closed. That slide plus two other slides which were open had a different form of entry. You got into a box a little bigger than a phone booth and the floor drops out from under you.
After awhile, I left the water park and went to the zip line. The zip line actually goes over the wave pool at the water park. I went down the zip line. As we passed over the water slide with the loop, I saw that water was going down the slide. After I got unclipped from the zip line, I took a photo of it.
I then asked if the water slide with the loop was open. I was told it would open at 4:30 pm. I had lost the receipt to get back into the water park, but the person who I bought my ticket remembered me so I didn’t have to pay again. I then attempted to rent another locker, but had some problems with the locker and had to call a tech in twice but I eventually got my stuff stored and I went back inside the water park.
I didn’t rent a tube this time. I went up to the waterslide with a loop. It was a little extreme but enjoyable. After, I went into a slide where you spin around a funnel and drop out the bottom into some deep water.
The third slide was one where you went down on a sled. There used to be a similar ride at Canada’s Wonderland which was removed over 10 years ago. The slide ends at a shallow area and if your sled is going fast enough and you avoid the sides of the pool, you can make it to the other end without going into the slash pool. The people in front of me fell off the sled in the pool after they had slowed down to a safe speed. When I went down, I was able to make it to the other end without falling off by shifting my body weight. While I was in my bathing suit on this day, when I first visited the water park at the West Edmonton Mall 15 years ago, I actually saw someone so confident that he wouldn’t fall off the sled he went down in a business suit! He made it across without falling off.
I then went on three more waterslides before I decided I was done again. I got changed and left the mall. Garth had my stuff, but I would be meeting up with him later. I then walked to the bus terminal. I took one more photograph of the mall.
I then got to the bus terminal. If you read my Western Canada trip report, you’ll have noticed that when Mark and I were there last, we photographed LOTS of fishbowls. Unfortunately, like the trolleybus era, the era of the diesel GM fishbowl had ended. However ETS held on to a couple fishbowls as historic buses that do run occasionally.
I decided to look for the oldest buses which are New Flyer D40LFs numbered in the 200 series. I was trying to decide which bus to get downtown the fastest when by pure luck one such bus; #257 showed up on route #100 which was heading downtown! I photographed it before I got on.
I rode #257 downtown to the Corona LRT station. I photographed what used to hold the trolleybus wire on Jasper Avenue before I got off #257. After I got off, I photographed #257.
I then filmed the bus pulling away and took one more photo of #257 with the old trolleybus wire hangers in the foreground.
I then went to the LRT and bought a day pass. Corona has a chandelier hanging above the platform which I photographed.
Since I was last in Edmonton, the LRT had been extended south. The eventual plan is to have it extended to the airport.
However, right now, a second line is being built and is to open next year. It will serve SAIT’s sister college NAIT.
I boarded a train of newer SD160 cars and rode to Century Park, the southern terminus. I photographed another 200 series D40LF and the train I arrived on.
I saw on the opposite side a train of older U2 cars. The southern most car was #1019, the first car I ever rode on the LRT line. I photographed it.
I had hoped to ride on 1019. Car #1019 had been refurbished and was in the new ETS livery as with the other U2 cars. However, the train departed before I could ride it. I decided to ride the train I had come in on to the Belvedere station which is the second last stop on the line.
Once I got to Belvedere, I got off and filmed the train pulling away. I took one more photograph of it.
I waited for a few minutes. The train I rode in on came back without any U2s heading towards Century Park. I photographed another train of U2s heading to Clareview, the end of the line.
I saw the station was near the CN main line. I photographed a freight train.
I figured that I would ride past there on the Canadian when it departed Edmonton. I decided to stay up until then.
I decided that the train with 1019 had gone out of service at Clareview since the yard is right there. I boarded a train and rode to Clareview and filmed the yard as I went past. At Clareview, I photographed the train.
The train with #1019 had gone out of service. Plus the car that led the train to Clareview was uncoupled from the other three cars on the train since rush hour was pretty much over. I photographed the car which had been uncoupled.
I noted this was the first time in over 10 years I had ridden to Clareview. I saw there were posters with a picture of the C-Train in Calgary. There was also a poster with a picture of former Toronto PCC #4612 at Fort Edmonton Park! Needless to say, I photographed them both.
I then boarded the front car of the train I had arrived on and rode two stops to Coliseum station. When we passed the yard, we stopped to pick up some ETS employees. At Coliseum station, I got off and photographed the train.
I then transferred to the route #8 bus and rode a couple stops to a Taco Bell. I saw at the Taco Bell a mirror image of a CLRV streetcar from Toronto which I photographed.
The sun went down. After supper, I walked back to Coliseum station. It wasn’t raining during the walk, but when I got to the platform, it was pouring. I had lucked out that I had good weather until this. However, I would be leaving Edmonton in a few hours on the Canadian anyway. When my train arrived, I ran for the front car and got on. I rode the train back to Corona. Once I got to Corona, I filmed the train pulling away.
I then left the station. The rain had pretty much stopped. I phoned Garth and arranged to meet him at a Starbucks a block away. While I was walking, I took one last photo of a trolleybus wire hanger.
I then got to Starbucks and waited for Garth. He arrived a few minutes later. We headed back to his place for a little while. I went online for a few minutes. I found out directions of how to get to the VIA station from Garth’s place.
We left around 10:15 pm and stopped at a 7-11 a block away from Garth’s place. We then headed for the VIA station. The Canadian wasn’t there yet. I got my stuff out of Garth’s car and we went inside the station.
Although the Canadian does not have Wi-Fi, the Edmonton station does. I logged in for a few minutes and worked on this report some more.
The Canadian is scheduled to arrive into Edmonton at 11:00 pm. However, at 11:15 pm, the train was still not there. I went outside to wait for it.
The train arrived 27 minutes late. The train had two F40PH-2s and 21 coaches including an ex BC Rail Panorama coach. For the past few years, VIA has been running the three ex BC Rail Panorama coaches on the Canadian between Vancouver and Edmonton. The Panorama car would be set off before the train would depart Edmonton. This is reminiscent of how until the early 1980s, VIA would run the ex Milwaukee Road Super domes on the Super Continental between Vancouver and Edmonton.
Since the Edmonton VIA station is on a wye off the main line, the train ran past the station before reversing up the wye into the station. I photographed the train as it backed in.
I saw the Park car was Banff Park. I had seen Banff Park previously and the car is identifiable as it has a blue stripe that is darker than the other HEP1 cars in VIA’s fleet for some reason. I also saw there was at least one refurbished Skyline car in the consist. I photographed the Panorama car.
I went into the station to check in. Soon, it was time to board. Garth was allowed onto the platform, but not on the train. A VIA employee though Garth was my dad!
I was in Room 3 in sleeper “Laird Manor”. The HEP was shut off since the Panorama car was being set off. When the power was restored, I walked to the nearest Skyline car. However, I saw a sign blocking off access to a dome. Apparently, the window was broken and they couldn’t replace it in time for departure. I then walked to the nearest dome for sleeping car passengers which was a refurbished Skyline car. I went into the dome and was the only one there since it was midnight.
September 18, 2013:
The train departed 20 minutes late. As we passed the Panorama car on a siding, I filmed it.
We passed the large CN yard on the north side of Edmonton. We were running parallel to Yellowhead Trail. I watched a couple CN trains doing some switching as we passed the yard. We stopped briefly to line a switch. We were underway again a few minutes later.
I stayed in the dome until after we passed the LRT near the Belvedere station just as I though we would. I went back to my sleeper. I noticed my foot was aching a little bit. Once I got back to my room, I called it a night.
I woke up after 7:30 am. I got dressed. I went to the dining car for breakfast. I noticed I was constantly thirsty which is indicates that I’m going to catch a cold in the next few days. I noticed that most of the other sleeping car passengers were at least one generation older than me. Many of them were on a tour package which had gone on the Rocky Mountaineer luxury train days earlier.
After breakfast, I made my way to the Skyline several cars behind my sleeper and bought a Coke. I returned to my room a little while later. I learned that the train was running two hours late.
The train stopped in Saskatoon. This was a smoke stop. I used the stop to photograph the train.
Here’s the Skyline with the duct tape covered window.
I then got back on and the train soon departed. I saw a Westjet Boeing 737 on approach to land at Saskatoon’s airport.
Just outside of Saskatoon, we passed a derailed hopper car on its side. Unfortunately, I was unable to film it. We soon were in the Central time zone.
A little while later I had brunch in the dining car as they were not going to serve lunch today. A few hours later, we stopped at Melville, Saskatchewan. This was a smoke stop. I photographed the train there.
I then got back on board and the train departed a few minutes later. I watched Unstoppable on DVD in my room and went to the Park car. I eventually returned to my room.
A little while later, I was in the dome again. The train sped past a brushfire. I photographed the brushfire.
The train crossed into Manitoba. I went to the dining car for dinner. The sun went down. The train stopped at Portage la Prairie. I went to the dome.
A little while later, we were approaching Winnipeg. I returned to my room. Even though I had two tickets to ride the train from Edmonton to Winnipeg and Winnipeg to Toronto, I was able to remain in the same room for the entire trip. Winnipeg was also a service stop and the train would be there for over an hour. As we got near the station, we ran alongside Winnipeg’s version of the Transitway.
As the train pulled into Winnipeg Union Station, I saw VIA F40PH-2 #6454 by itself on another track I photographed it.
I then stepped off the train and took some photos.
I wandered around the area and bought some Halls from a vending machine. I went outside and saw some Winnipeg Transit New Flyer D40LFrs in service though I didn’t photograph them. I eventually lined up to board. When servicing was complete, I got back on the train. I was planning to wait until the train departed Winnipeg before going to bed, but I was feeling tired and a little sick. I called it a night but I opened the window blinds as the train departed Winnipeg. I then closed the blinds and went to sleep.
September 18, 2013:
I got up around 8:00 am and got dressed. I went to the dining car for breakfast. After breakfast, I went to the Skyline for coach passengers since I still couldn’t get into the dome of the Skyline closest to my room. We were in Ontario. A little while later, we crossed into the Eastern Time zone. I returned to my room. The train stopped at Nakina. I saw a CN caboose at Nakina. I photographed it.
The train soon departed from Nakina. We were running through forest. At one point, we passed a derailed tank car, but I was unable to film it. Throughout the day, I would go to the various domes that were open. I eventually went to the dining car for lunch. While I was having lunch, the train stopped at Longlac which is by a long lake.
After lunch, I went to the dome again. After 2:45 pm, I made my way to the Park car and went into the dome. I took some photos of the train going around various curves.
I was waiting for the Westbound Canadian to pass. It passed shortly after 4:00 pm. I filmed the train passing and took one more photo of the train heading off into the distance.
Less than 20 minutes later, the train stopped at Hornpayne. Hornpayne was a smoke stop. I used the time to photograph the train.
At one point, the moved the train a few car lengths ahead. I filmed the move. It reminded me of how I filmed the westbound Sunset Limited moving ahead a couple car lengths and the Cardinal when I rode it in 2010.
I then went to the rear of the train and photographed the Park car and took a picture showing how the stripe on Banff Park is darker than on the other Hep1 coaches.
This shows how Banff Park’s stripe is darker than the rest of the Hep1 fleet.
I then got back on the train. The train reversed a few car lengths and stopped again. I photographed an old coaling tower and CN freight with an ex Union Pacific Dash 8.
The train eventually departed from Hornpayne. We had made up a lot of time. A little while later, I went to the dining car for dinner. While I was having dinner, the train stopped in Oba. Oba is served by the Canadian as well as the Algoma Central (CN) passenger train that runs between Hearst and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. However, the two trains don’t really run in a way to connect between them. I have never ridden that train, but my friend Karl in Chicago has. We departed Oba and were soon in the wilderness again.
One of the people I was seated was from Japan. Another was from Britain. After dinner, the sun went down. I went to my room until 9:30. I decided to lay down since I wasn’t feeling well. At one point, I opened my window blind and saw a couple work trains with camp cars. They were doing track work and the train was passing slowly.
At 9:30, I got up and went to the Skyline car. There wasn’t a whole lot to see except when we passed a freight train. I stayed there until I saw we passed through Gogama. I had ridden the Canadian to Gogama in 2006 on my second trip to Timmins. I had now ridden the Canadian on the entirety of its route; mind you not all at once. I then got some milk and went back to my room. I set my alarm for the next morning and called it a night.
September 19, 2013:
I got up just as the train was leaving Washago. I got dressed and headed for breakfast in the dining car. After breakfast, I returned to my room and finished packing in preparation to get off in Toronto. I then headed to the dome.
A little while later, we were approaching York Region. We passed under highway 404. At the extreme north end of Richmond Hill, I saw a yard was being built for the intention of storing trains on the Richmond Hill GO train line so they won’t have to deadhead from Toronto. A few minutes later, we passed Elgin Mills Road and the Richmond Hill GO station. It felt good to be almost home. I stayed there as we passed the Langstaff, Old Cummer, and Oriole GO train stations. At one point, we took a siding to let a GO train pass. We were soon underway again. I left the dome and returned to my room. We were running through the Don Valley.
At one point, we passed the area where back in July a GO train had been caught in a flash flood and passengers had to be rescued by boats. I was downtown at the time to pick up the tickets from my previous trip. Thankfully, I wasn’t on the GO train that was caught in the flash flood but the subway was messed up. I took another GO train that had some rare (for GO) mileage.
The GO train that got caught in a flash flood was caught around here.
Outside of Union station, we stopped to let a couple trains pass. One was a GO train with two F59PHs bracketing the cars which I photographed.
Another was VIA train 56 which was led by F40PH-2 #6459. #6459 was originally #6403 but was renumbered after the Canadian government used a picture of 6403 leading the Canadian on Canada’s new $10 bill (which I have yet to see in person). I am not sure why using #6403 on currency would necessitate VIA renumbering the unit, but that’s what happened.
I also saw the train wasn’t running as a J-train with #54 but the train has two trains running back to back. It indicated that VIA was bussing passengers between Brockville and Ottawa for a reason. I would later learn that the day before, a VIA train had collided with an OC Transpo Double Decker bus which had killed some people on the bus.
Despite running two hours late in Saskatchewan, the Canadian arrived into Union station on time. I got off and photographed the train.
I then made my way to the west end of the station and photographed the train again.
I then walked a couple blocks and perched rail side to film the Canadian deadheading to VIA’s Toronto Maintenance Center. While waiting, I filmed VIA train #84 arriving from Sarnia. A few minutes later, I filmed the equipment for today’s train #85 to London arriving followed by the Canadian. I then took one last photo of the Canadian.
I then phoned my mom to let her know I was back in Toronto. I then walked back to Union with my sore foot. I then phoned my dad.
Next, I got on the subway and rode to Finch. I then met my dad and we headed home.
Conclusions:
Aside from catching a cold and getting a sore foot on the Canadian, this trip was great aside from missing a change to ride a fishbowl in Calgary in revenue service by 30 minutes. Don’t you just hate “Murphy’s Law”?
Even though, the charter was great and it felt good reliving my memories of riding fishbowls in Calgary between August of 2002 and April of 2003. I wish we had taken fishbowl #1046 back to Rundle as I had believed.
It is sad knowing the fishbowl era in Calgary like so many cities is about to end. However given the fact they are getting old and are not wheelchair accessible, it’s inevitable. I can only hope Calgary keeps some fishbowls as historic buses and or some fishbowls from Calgary are preserved.
Visiting Edmonton was both good and sad. It was sad seeing Jasper Avenue and other streets where trolleybuses once ran without their overhead wires. I was glad to visit both the amusement park and Water Park at the West Edmonton Mall. I was also glad to be able to ride PCC #4612 at Fort Edmonton Park and get better photos of it then when I first visited in 1998. I was also glad to see former Toronto PCC #4367. In addition, I have now ridden all the PCCs in the 4600-4618 series that have operated regularly since 1996 although PCC #4608 in Tucson only briefly operated on a day. However, the next PCC in the series that will operate will most likely be PCC #4614 in Dallas, Texas which is now undergoing restoration.
I am also unsure if what David said about plans to run a trolleybus line from Fort Edmonton Part to the South Campus LRT station and use the BBCs is true or not. If he’s right and it does happen, I’ll have to go back!
I am pretty much done traveling for 2013. So far, I’ve only got one trip planned for 2014, but that won’t happen until late May. Until next time…
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