May 27, 2012:

 

            I got up shortly after 9:00 am and got dressed I went downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, I went back upstairs and finished packing. I went downstairs and checked our around 10:00 am. I walked over to the ferry terminal. I photographed the power from the CN switch job from the previous night parked in the yard.

 

 

            After paying my fair and obtaining a transfer, I learned the first ferry on Sundays doesn't depart until 10:30 am. However, it was still plenty of time before the Ocean departed. I was able to get on the 10:30 departure after a bit of waiting. The ferry set sail across the harbour.

 

            As we neared Halifax, I saw an old steamship presumably owned by the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. I photographed it from the ferry.

 

 

            We soon arrived at the Halifax ferry terminal. I got off and walked three blocks to Barrington Street to wait for a bus to the VIA station. While waiting, I photographed Classic #958 in service on route 20.

 

 

 

            My bus came a few minutes later and I got off a couple blocks from the VIA station. I walked through a park where I saw a group of people preparing to have a walk to fight depression. I donated $5 to them. They were thankful.

 

            I got to the VIA station over an hour before the Ocean was scheduled to leave. It had two rebuilt F40PH-2s and 10 Renaissance cars. I photographed the train.

 

 

            I then walked over to near the Tim Horton's and photographed the locomotives of the Ocean. The train was led by 6418 and had 6448 trailing. I photographed the front of the train.

 

 

            I then made my way back to the VIA station. I bought a Caramilk bar and a bottle of Pepsi from some vending machines in the station.

 

            I eventually checked in for my sleeper and chose to have lunch at the first seating at 12:30 pm. I was also allowed to board the train at the time. I was in room 7 of Renaissance sleeper #7520. I plugged in my laptop and worked on this report some more. The Ocean departed on time. As we departed, I photographed the ferry from Newfoundland.

 

 

            I mostly stayed in my room until it was time for lunch. At one point, we passed a CN GP40-2W.  I made my way to the dining car. After lunch, I return to my room and stayed there. I noticed that once again, chimes the same as the Scarborough RT and the Hawker subway trains played just before the crew made an announcement.

 

            At one point, I saw someone filming the train as we passed through a railway crossing. As we stopped in Truro, I filmed the murals on the station. After we departed, I went to the service car two coaches ahead because I knew that before the next stop, we would pass the Halifax bound Ocean. After awhile, we pulled onto a siding and stopped. After several minutes, the Halifax bound Ocean passed. As it passed, I filmed it. We were soon moving again. I went back to my room and worked on this report. The train stopped in Amherst and Sackville. At one point, I watched Unstoppable.

 

            I worked on my report until we stopped at Moncton which was our first smoke stop. I used the opportunity to photograph the train.

 

 

            I got back on the train and we departed six minutes late. I received a text from Mike Cormier saying that he had hoped I had a good trip and that he saw my train as he was on the CN GP40-2w we had passed shortly after leaving Halifax. I replied to him then headed to the dining car for dinner.

 

            After dinner, I headed back to my room. As the train stopped at Rogersville, I filmed the mural on a building across the street from the station. We soon departed Rogersville.

 

            I continued to work on this report. At one point we stopped in the middle of nowhere. We were on a single track line, so we weren't waiting for a train to pass. We were soon underway a few minutes later. The train stopped at Miramichi. We departed a few minutes later.

 

            After awhile, I went to the service car. I wish the train had a dome. I stayed in the service car for several minutes. At one point, we stopped for a few minutes before we resumed. No other trains passed. I bought a bottle of milk. We stopped at Bathurst a few minutes later. We departed a few minutes later.

 

            I watched one of the Titanic DVDs I bought on my last trip. At one point, we had picked up speed. A few minutes later, we stopped at Petit Rocher. We soon departed and picked up speed. The sun started to go down. Throughout the trip, I noticed the Renaissance cars were once again making their choking sounds.

 

            It was dark out soon. At one point, we were passing through a town. We passed by a bonfire. A little later, we stopped at Campbellton. This was a smoke stop. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            When I was done, I boarded the train through the coaches and made my way back to the sleeper.  We departed Campbellton on time. Shortly after we departed, I reset all my clocks back an hour. I went to the service car.

 

            The train stopped at Matapedia. I didn't think it would be a long stop since this is not a day the Ocean combines with the Chaleur. However, we sat there for awhile. I asked a VIA crew member how long we would be there. I was told 15-30 minutes, so I made my way to the front of the train and stepped out onto the platform and photographed the train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then got back on the train and made my way back to the sleepers. I decided to go as far back as I could. I made it to the last Renaissance sleeper, but saw the transition car was closed off. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I returned to my room.

 

            The train departed Matapedia on time at 10:29 pm. Back when I first rode the Ocean in 2006, the train didn't even stop at Matapedia. Though VIA has obviously changed the schedule since then. It seemed likely the train would arrive into Montreal on time. I eventually lowered the bed and called it a night.

 

May 28, 2012:

 

            I got up just before 7:00 am and got dressed. The train had stopped on a siding to let an eastbound freight pass. I made my way to the dining car for breakfast. While waiting for my breakfast, we were passed by VIA train #21 from Quebec City to Montreal. Train 21 consisted of a P42, a business class LRC car, a refurbished LRC coach, an unrefurbished LRC coach, a Hep2 coach, and one more unrefurbished LRC coach. I guess it would take less time at Drummondville than the Ocean. We started moving again. I paid for my breakfast and made my way back to my room where I started packing.

 

            The train stopped in Drummondville and departed a few minutes later.

 

            East of Saint-Hyacinthe, we passed VIA train #20 which had stopped to let us past. I was able to film it. Train #20 consisted of a P42, a LRC business class coach, and two refurbished LRC coaches.

 

            We stopped at Saint-Hyacinthe a few minutes later. We had arrived there early, so we had to sit until 8:20 am. Saint-Hyacinthe is the last stop on the Ocean in which passengers are allowed to board the train.

 

            Just west of Saint-Hyacinthe, we passed a stopped CN freight. A little while later, the train crew announced we were 40 minutes outside of Montreal. We were soon running in AMT territory.

 

            At one point, I saw an RTL Nova LFS third gen bus. A few minutes later, we stopped at Saint-Lambert. We made a double stop. I finished packing in preparation to get off in Montreal.

 

            After we departed Saint-Lambert, we crossed over the St. Lawrence Seaway. We crossed on the main bridge as the secondary bridge was in the process of being lowered after a ship had passed.

 

            The Ocean arrived on time into Montreal.  As we pulled into the station, I filmed the Adirondack awaiting its 9:30 am departure to Montreal. I got off and photographed the Ocean and train 57 which I would ride to Toronto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I went upstairs to await boarding of train 57. I phoned my mom at the store because my cell phone's battery was low and I didn't pack my charger. I let her know I was in Montreal. I then went to await boarding of VIA train 57.

 

            Boarding began around 9:45 am. I was seated in Hep2 coach #4108 which was the last car in the train. The HEP was out when I boarded. However, the Wi-Fi service was working and I logged into the internet. A woman saw the commuter cars for AMT's Deux-Montages line and told a VIA employee she hadn't seen trains with those type of seats. The VIA employee told her it was a commuter train what they were.

 

            Train 57 left on time. A minute after we left, the HEP came on. I worked on this report some more.

 

            The train stopped at Dorval. We left a few minutes later. My ticket was taken after we left Dorval. A little later, we passed through Coteau non-stop.

 

            VIA train 52 passed, but I was unable to film it. A few minutes later, we stopped at Cornwall. We departed a few minutes later. At one point, we passed and eastbound CN freight.

 

            A little while later, we stopped at Brockville. At Brockville, I saw two highway coaches. At the time I took this trip, CP Rail employees were on strike. As a result, VIA is bussing passengers between Brockville and Ottawa because the line crosses the CP at points. The Sudbury-White River RDCs have also been affected. However, I was unaffected because both the Ocean and train 57 runs completely on CN tracks.

 

            We departed Brockville a few minutes later. We passed a CN GP38-2w and a GP40-2w doing some switching west of the station. I also saw what looked like maintenance equipment in the yard. Trains 56 and 54 passed being led by VIA F40PH-2 #6453. I was unable to film it. I could tell it was 6453 because that is the only VIA F40PH-2 that hasn't gone in for rebuild yet. I bought lunch.

 

            A few minutes later, a CN freight passed. A few minutes later, we stopped at Kingston. We left a few minutes later.  The train passed non-stop through Nappanee. We slowed down and an eastbound CN intermodel train passed. Train 57 stopped.

 

            Several minutes later, the VIA crew announced we were waiting because of train traffic congestion. A few minutes after that, we started moving again.

 

            East of Belleville, VIA train 60 passed, but I was unable to film it. I saw it consisted of a P42, some Hep2 coaches, a baggage car, and lastly another P42 bringing up the rear. Train 57 stopped in Belleville a few minutes later. In March, a new station opened in Belleville next to the old one. The new station is bigger than the old one and it kinda resembles the Amtrak station in Utica, New York.

 

            We departed Belleville a few minutes later. We passed the old Belleville station which was closed up but the building was still standing.

 

            The train passed through Trenton Junction non-stop. A few minutes later as we passed the Memory Junction museum, I filmed it.

 

            A few minutes later, we stopped in Cobourg. We departed a few minutes later. A little while after that, we passed non-stop through Port Hope. The train stopped for a couple minutes outside of Oshawa. We were soon under way again. We overtook a CN freight.

 

            We passed by Durham Region Transit's Oshawa bus garage and saw some Orion 5s parked in back and out front. I saw that fishbowl #112 which had been parked out front for years was no longer there. I don't know what happened to it.

 

            The train stopped at Oshawa a few minutes later. It felt good to be back in GO Transit territory. We departed Oshawa a few minutes later. We overtook another CN intermodel. A few minutes later, we passed an eastbound CN freight.

 

            VIA train 64 passed as the train passed through Pickering, but I was unable to film it. East of the Rouge Hill GO station, an eastbound GO train passed. A few minutes later, VIA train 46 passed, but I was unable to film it. We stopped in Guildwood a few minutes later and soon departed.

 

            As we passed the TTC's Greenwood subway yard, I filmed it. I got my stuff ready in preparation to get off at Union Station.

 

            As we approached Union Station, the train slowed down and then stopped. We soon started moving again before we arrived into Union Station 32 minutes late. I got off and took some photos of train 57 and a Renaissance train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then went downstairs and sprinted to the GO concourse. I knew there was a GO train to Langstaff leaving in less then 10 minutes! I was able to buy a ticket and make it to the train.

 

            Once I was on the train, I phoned my dad who said he’d pick my up at Langstaff. By this time, my cell phone’s battery was dying and I had left my charger at home.

 

            The GO train departed on time and stopped at Oriole and Old Cummer. We stopped by the CN diamond because of a freight train. However, we were soon underway and we stopped at Langstaff. I got off and photographed the GO train.

 

 

 

 

            I met my dad in the south parking lot. We then headed home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            The charter in Halifax was great and it was nice to see my friend Mike again. It’s too bad that Metro Transit’s last fishbowls were retired a few months after my 2009 trip to Halifax. However, it was good to ride some Classics both 40 foot and articulated Classics in service. Only 16 articulated Classics were built; 14 for Halifax and two for Quebec City. Hopefully when Metro Transit retires the articulated Classics at least one will be preserved. On a forum discussing the Seashore Trolley Museum, I asked if they would be interested in obtaining one. They didn’t say no; so who knows?

 

            Flying to Halifax on Porter was okay except for my ears popping on final approach. The airline is good, but I’ve never had my ears pop when I flew on any other airline. So for awhile, I’m going to avoid them unfortunately, even if I have to pay more.

 

            I never knew Metro Transit had D30LFs. My short ride on #507 was my first D30LF ride ever. My ride on the Ocean was nice, though it would have been better if there was a dome car on it.

 

            My next trip is in less than a week where I go on an overnight trip to Woodstock to attend a charter on the last fishbowl in revenue service in Ontario. Until next time…

 

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