Quebec Winter Carnival 2023:

 

Prologue:

 

            As it was in 2020, the Canadian National Exhibition was cancelled in 2021. Due to this, I decided I would also go back to the Quebec Winter Carnival in 2023 as I did in 2022. I decided to go from the first Monday in February to the Thursday after; much like I did back in 2008 when I first went to Quebec.

 

            My plan was to ride VIA train #62 to Montreal and connect to train #26 to Quebec City. I would spend two whole days in Quebec City with one day dedicated to the Carnival and the other to transit riding. I would then take VIA train #23 to Montreal and connect to train #67 to Toronto. The trip unfolded as follows.

 

 

February 6, 2023:

 

            I got to Union Station at 7:48 am, 44 minutes before train #62 was to depart. I joined the queue line. Boarding began around 8:12 am. I was seated in LRC coach #3359. The exterior of the car looked a little tired. However the LRC coaches are nearing retirement. The train left on time.

 

            As we passed the TTC’s Greenwood subway yard, I filmed it. I noticed that a fourth mainline track was under construction. The track was previously used to deliver subway cars to Greenwood Yard. However, the track hasn’t been used in years. The Toronto Rocket subway trains were delivered by truck to TTC’s Wilson yard.

 

            I went to log into VIA’s Wi-Fi. The train stopped at Guildwood. We stopped at Oshawa a little while later. As we departed Oshawa, I photographed a train with two G&W locomotives switching at the old auto plant.

 

 

            East of Oshawa, my ticket was taken. A westbound VIA train passed, but I was unable to film it. The train had a P42 hauling a few HEP2 coaches and a HEP1 car at the rear.

 

            VIA has begun putting buffer cars (empty HEP1 coaches) on the ends of all HEP2 and HEP1 trains including the Canadian. As a result, one can no longer look out the rear of the Park car. The reason is the structural integrity of the Budd coaches has been brought into question on what would happen if there was an accident. VIA is now considering replacing the HEP 1 coaches as well which would bring an end to the ex CP stainless steel equipment.

 

            The train stopped at the west end of Newcastle and then started moving slowly. We stopped again. The train crew announced they were inspecting the train. We were soon underway. We were soon moving at a fast pace.

 

            The train passed through Port Hope. East of Port Hope, I saw a westbound CP Intermodal freight. We stopped in Cobourg a little while later. We soon departed Cobourg. We were running 12 minutes late due to having to stop to inspect the train. Hopefully the train will be able to make up at least some of the time.

 

            East of Cobourg, I photographed a CN local led by a Grand Trunk GP38 still in the Grand Trunk Western livery.

 

 

            A westbound CN intermodal freight passed. I attempted to film what was left of the Memory junction museum with an ex CP caboose being the only visible piece of railway equipment.

 

            The train stopped at Belleville. As Belleville, I filmed VIA train #61. Both trains soon departed. We then began overtaking an eastbound CN freight train.  We overtook another eastbound CN freight. We also passed as westbound CN intermodal.

 

            VIA train #51 passed, but I was unable to film it. The train stopped in Kingston. We departed Kingston a few minutes later. I went one car back and photographed the locomotive that was on train #52 to Ottawa.

 

 

            I had seen the locomotive was F40PH-2 #6436. That F40 was on train #52 to Ottawa when I went to Quebec City last year.

 

            I went back to the last coach. VIA train #63 passed, but I was unable to film it. A little while later, I filmed VIA train #45. The CN local passed by and I filmed it.

 

            The train passed a CN local with three locomotives and four tank cars. I photographed the locomotives. I saw the second locomotive was a GP38 from a lease company seemingly now owned by CN.

 

 

 

 

            The train stopped. I watched train #62 being separated from train #52. I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Train #62 soon departed. I returned to my seat. The train passed through Brockville without stopping. At one point, we passed the local I saw before the train was split from #52.

 

            VIA train #65 passed, but I was unable to film it. We stopped in Cornwall a little while later.

 

            The train began to overtake an eastbound CN freight. We later passed several empty stack cars on a siding covered with snow looking like they had been there for awhile.

 

            The train crossed into Quebec. I saw an airliner having taken off from Montreal’s airport not to long ago.

 

            We were running parallel to the CP main line and passed a westbound EXO commuter train. The train stopped at Dorval a little while later.

 

            I saw a CP freight with four locomotives. We passed a CN locomotive running light as well as a westbound freight. VIA Train #67 passed on the opposite side of the train so I was unable to film it.

 

            We were getting close to Montreal Central Station. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.  I photographed some stored EXO coaches.

 

 

 

 

            We soon pulled into Montreal Central Station. We were 18 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then went up into the station. I headed for the Metro. I had decided to take the chance to have lunch at Gibeau Orange Julip. I boarded an Orange line train and rode to Namur. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

            I filmed the train pulling out. I then headed up to the street. It was a bit awkward pulling my suitcase up multiple flights of stairs, but I managed.

 

            I walked three blocks to Gibeau Orange Julip and photographed it.

 

 

            As I said previously, actor William Shatner previously worked at Gibeau Orange Julip before he got famous. He was fired from there at one point. I then bought lunch. While waiting for my lunch, I phoned home. When my lunch came, I headed back to Namur station. I ate some of it at Namur and the rest on the train.

 

            I photographed the next Orange line train when it arrived.

 

 

            I rode back to Bonadventure. I got off and filmed the train pulling out. I headed back to Central station. On the way, I photographed some photos of the early days of the station.

 

 

 

 

 

            I then got back to Central station. I had about an hour before VIA train #26 was to depart. I got a coke from the McDonald’s in the station.

 

            Train #26 is supposed to leave at 4:40 pm. However, it kept slipping. First it was 20 minutes late; then 35 minutes late. I phoned home and let my mom know what was going on.

 

            The train’s arrival and departure kept slipping back to 45 minutes late. I began wondering if VIA would put us on train #28 or bus us.

 

            Finally train #26 pulled in over an hour late. It had to discharge its passengers before we could board. Finally, we got to board. I was seated in LRC coach #3342. The train departed 71 minutes late.

 

            We reversed out of Central station and passed a freight train. VIA train #28 actually slid past us before we could leave. We soon headed forwards and crossed over the St. Lawrence Seaway. VIA train #39 passed. The train stopped at St. Lambert.

 

            I bought dinner. The conductor then checked my ticket. The train stopped at St. Hyacinthe. We soon departed. I worked on this report some more.

 

            As we got near Drummondville, we stopped to let a westbound CN freight pass. The crew said passengers would get a credit towards future travel because we were over an hour late. Ironically, I didn’t get any credit when the Ocean was six hours late on my last trip.

 

            The train then stopped at Drummondville. East of Drummondville, we stopped to let VIA train #29 pass. We were underway again. The train crew gave us updated arrival times into Charny, Ste-Foy, and Quebec City.

 

            The train stopped at Charny a little while later. We departed and crossed over the Quebec Bridge. We stopped at St. Foy a few minutes later. The stop was short and we soon departed.

 

            We were soon getting close to Quebec City. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            Train #26 arrived 83 minutes late at Gare du Palais. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then walked to catch a bus to my hotel. I was staying at the same hotel as last year. I walked to the bus stop and caught a bus on route #800. I rode 11 stops and got off. I saw my connecting bus was not serving the stop so I ended up walking to the next stop. The bus soon came and I rode to my hotel. I checked in and phoned home to let my parents know I was in Quebec City at my hotel. I went online for a bit before I called it a night.

 

February 7, 2023:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I walked to a nearby convenience store and bought a bottle of Coke and a day pass for RTC. I then went back to my hotel and got breakfast. As in the case of last year, my hotel served breakfast in a prepackaged bag. I took a bag back to my room. I had breakfast and went online for awhile. After some time, I decided I was going to go to the Carnival today. I walked a couple blocks and boarded an articulated Nova LFS bus on route #802. I rode to the end of the route and transferred to the route #801.

 

            I rode to Place D’Youville and got off. I saw the ice-skating rink. I photographed the bottom of the “Glisse Urbaine” which is a 500-foot tube slide.

 

 

 

            I was waiting by a booth to buy a ticket for the carnival. However, the stand didn’t open. I headed to another booth up the hill. I took some more photos of the Glisse Urbaine.

 

 

 

            I was able to buy a ticket for the carnival and went into place Lotto-Quebec. I took some pictures in and around Bonhomme’s ice palace.

 

 

 

 

This may not show it clearly, but the people in the center of the photo are playing an ice xylophone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I would try to see Bonhomme Carnival again at some point. In the meantime, I headed to another location whose name translates to “Camping with Bonhomme”.

 

            I went down an ice slide and photographed it.

 

 

 

            I saw they had a large block of ice for people to try ice climbing much like rock climbing. I photographed it, but made a hard pass not to try it.

 

 

I made a hard pass at trying this.

 

 

            I had lunch before I headed back to Place Lotto-Quebec. I saw a line for people lining up to Bonhomme Carnival.

 

 

            I joined the line. While waiting, I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I then met Bonhomme Carnival. I like to think Bonhomme Carnival is to Carnival de Quebec as Mickey Mouse is to Disneyland.

 

 

 

            I then headed to ride the Glisse Urbaine. I had to wait several minutes because they only let people go down in groups of two. I eventually joined up a group of five teenagers. However, when we got to the top and was about to go down the person that I was with got left behind and I ended up sliding down by myself! I did end up going down backwards like a waterslide.

 

            At the bottom, I eventually dropped my tube off near a truck to drive the two blocks to the start of the slide.

 

            I walked back there and got my backpack as I didn’t want to risk breaking my camera and Ipod. I took some photos as the truck arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

My tube may be one of the red tubes in the truck.

 

            I then headed to Place D’Youville and took some more photos of the slide.

 

 

 

 

            I then saw an RTC bus on route #11 that was going to the ferry docks. I quickly got on. I rode to the docks to the ferry to Levis. However, I wasn’t going on the ferry. I was going to ride the funicular that I rode last year that I forgot to ride in 2008. Unlike last year when I rode it downhill, I was going to ride it up. I photographed the funicular from a couple blocks away.

 

 

            I looked in a couple stores on the way to the funicular. I paid $4.00 and got on. I took some pictures from the funicular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I got to the top and found myself near the Chateau Frontenac. I looked to the west and saw a toboggan run. It was the Dufferin Terrace toboggan run. I was aware of this when I first learned about the winter carnival back in Grade 4. I had assumed it was part of the carnival instead of being something completely separate. This attraction has been in operation since 1884; almost 100 years before I was born!  I also thought it was replaced with the inner tube slide at the carnival.

 

            I photographed a statue of Bonhomme Carnival as well as the bottom of the toboggan run.

 

 

 

            I bought a single ride ticket and then got a toboggan and went up. I then slid down reaching a speed of 40 MPH. I got to the bottom safely and returned the sled. I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

            I then left and stopped in a Starbucks and bought some cake pops. I took some photos of a statue and some ice sculptures.

 

 

 

            I stopped in the Chateau Frontenac for a few minutes. I took some photos.

 

 

 

            I then walked though the old town and photographed some ice sculptures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then boarded a Nova LFS in the old RTC livery. I rode the bus to the south side of the city. I photographed the bus before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to the south side of Quebec City and got off. I filmed the bus pulling away. I saw RTC Nova LFS #0604 going the other way. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I knew that this was one of the oldest buses in the fleet. I rode the bus for a few stops. I got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

            I filmed the bus pulling away. I got on an articulated Nova LFS on route #804. I rode it to where route 804 meets route 802. I got off and photographed a Nova LFS in the old livery (which was the new livery when I first went back in 2008!)

 

 

 

            I then boarded a bus on route 802 and got off near a McDonalds. I saw I was near the Fleur-De-Leys mall where I ate dinner at the last night of my trip last year. I ate at the McDonalds then stopped at a store in a gas station next door. I then caught a route #802 bus back to my hotel. I went into my hotel and went online. I worked on this report some more. I eventually set my alarm and called it a night.

 

Click here to read about the next two days of my trip:        Quebec 2023 part 2