August 1, 2018:

 

            I got up and had breakfast. After breakfast I got dressed and finished packing. I soon left the apartment. I just missed a bus on route #105, but they ran frequently. I waited for the next bus which came less than 10 minutes later.

 

            I rode to Vendome Metro and got off. I photographed the bus and filmed it pulling away.

 

 

            I then took a picture of the station because the way it was painted made it look like a VIA Hep1 coach.

 

 

            I then got on the Metro and rode to Bonadventure. I filmed the train pulling out. I then went to Central station getting there at 8:00 am; an hour before my train was scheduled to leave.

 

            I messed around the station before I joined the line for train #33 to Ottawa. The reason why I was on train #33 was that taking #33 to Ottawa and connecting with train #47 was the cheapest option I had coming back.

 

            Boarding began around 8:45 am. I was seated in HEP2 coach #4117. Train #33 consisted of a P42, an LRC Business class coach, two HEP2 coaches, and HEP1 #8101; an ex CP coach which I rode in on my 2006 trip to Timmins.

 

            The train left on time and backed out of Central station. The reason we backed out was that the train had started its journey in Quebec City bound for Ottawa.

 

            As we backed out, I filmed Amtrak’s Adirondack. I also filmed a couple EXO commuter trains.

 

            As we passed a yard, I photographed some retired Galley cars in the yard.

 

 

            I then photographed VIA train #22 coming out of the wye at VIA’s Montreal Maintenance Center preparing to head east to Quebec City.

 

 

            We backed onto the bridge over the St. Lawrence River. I photographed what looked like a new bridge under construction.

 

 

            I filmed train #22 passing. We soon headed forwards and I filmed the equipment in the yard and an EXO train deadheading into the yard. We stopped a couple minutes later and let a late VIA train #63 pass us. I filmed #63 passing. We were soon underway and stopped at Dorval. We departed Dorval and turned north. At one point, we slowed as we passed over the CP main line. A Montreal bound VIA train passed, but I was unable to film it.

 

            The train stopped in Alexandria. West of Alexandria we passed the area where the van was stopped on the railway crossing back in 2004 delaying my VIA train and I met that girl Ruby who kept asking me for a word search book. By now, Ruby is at least 17-18 by now and is hopefully more mature wherever she is.

 

            Awhile later we were approaching Ottawa. I filmed OC Transpo’s St. Laurent garage as we passed. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            As we pulled into the station, I saw VIA train 34 lead by F40PH-2 #6434. #6434 is significant because last year it was part of the consist of a VIA train that was stranded in Churchill, Manitoba after floodwaters damaged the line. The train sat in Churchill for months while the province and the railway argued over who should pay for the repairs to the line. VIA wanted their train back, but it couldn’t be moved until the line was fixed. Eventually, VIA ended up shipping the train back to Quebec by ocean! The VIA equipment is back in service, but the line still hasn’t been repaired yet.

 

 

            Train #33 arrived into Ottawa on time. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

 

            I also photographed a couple VIA trains.

 

 

 

            I then went into the station. I heard an announcement for VIA train #53 which would leave for Toronto in 20 minutes. I briefly thought about seeing if I could get on #53 and get back to Toronto a bit sooner, but decided against it.

 

            I phoned home and let my dad know I was in Ottawa. I then photographed an OC Transpo double decker.

 

 

            I then went to the east end of the station and photographed train #34 and filmed it departing.

 

 

            I then went to the west end of the station and filmed train #53 departing. After, I went towards the future LRT station wondering if I would see some LRT cars being tested. I photographed the station building.

 

 

            I then filmed a VIA train pulling into the station. It had a P42 and F40PH-2 bracketing five LRC coaches. I went inside the station and photographed the model steam locomotives on display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I noticed the train I had filmed pulling into the station would be my train #47 back to Toronto. It would board at the platform closest to the station building which has recently been rebuilt as a high-level platform.

 

            Boarding began at 12:11 pm. I was seated in LRC coach #3340. The train would run with the Business Class car towards the rear instead of behind the locomotive leading.

 

            The AC outlet at my seat wasn’t working. I wasn’t pleased as this was the second trip in a row where I wasn’t able to get power at my seat. I mentioned it to a VIA employee who said they might be able to reset it. The train left on time.

 

            As we passed close to the Hurdman bus terminal, I photographed it.

 

 

            The train stopped at Fallowfield. After leaving Fallowfield, my ticket was taken. I told the conductor about the AC outlet not working at my seat. He was able to fix it. I went online and worked on this report some more.

 

            Train #52 passed and I attempted to film it. We passed non-stop through Smith Falls. I bought lunch. Between Smith falls and Brockville, we stopped at a signal. We were underway a few minutes later. We then took a siding to wait for an Ottawa bound VIA train. When the train passed, I filmed it. We were soon underway again.

 

            The train stopped at Brockville and Gananoque. An eastbound VIA train passed, but I was unable to film it.

 

            We stopped at Kingston a little while later. We departed Kingston and passed non-stop through Nappanee. West of Nappanee, the sky grew dark. It started raining. However, the rain let up before we stopped at Belleville. We departed Belleville.

 

            We passed through Trenton. As we passed Brighton, I filmed the Memory Junction museum. An eastbound VIA train passed, but I was unable to film it.

 

            We passed non-stop through Cobourg. Another eastbound VIA passed without me being able to film it.

 

            The train passed through Port Hope. A couple eastbound CN freight passed. We stopped in Oshawa. It was good to be back in GO Transit territory again. As we passed through Pickering, an eastbound VIA train passed.  We passed a GO train a few minutes later. We then stopped at Guildwood. West of Guildwood, we overtook a westbound GO train. While we were overtaking the westbound GO train, an eastbound GO train slid by on another track. VIA train #68 passed. As we passed, I filmed it.

 

            As we passed the TTC’s Greenwood subway yard, I filmed the equipment in the yard.

 

            We were soon nearing Toronto. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off. Train #47 arrived into Toronto 11 minutes late. I got off and took some photos.

 

 

 

            I then went downstairs to the GO Transit ticket booth. There were some people meeting for dinner at a Swiss Chalet in Aurora that I was hoping to get to. I would if I could make a 5:35 pm GO train.

 

            I joined the line. The people in front of me were taking a lot of time, but I was able to get a ticket and get on the GO train with less than four minutes to spare.

 

            From the GO train, I attempted to photograph train #47.

 

 

 

            The GO train departed on time. When we got to our first stop, the crew announced the train in front of us was being held at Rutherford; two stops down the line due to a police investigation and we would hold at the next stop; York University.

 

            When we got to York University, we sat and sat. The crew said the investigation would take 20-30 minutes. I realized that with this delay, I wouldn’t be able to make it in time and started thinking about getting off at Rutherford myself. However, 2-3 minutes later, the crew announced the investigation was complete and we would be leaving shortly which we did.

 

            We departed and a little while later, we got to Aurora. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

 

            I then boarded a YRT bus thinking it would take me to where I was going. It didn’t go there and I ended up getting a transfer and getting off and Yonge Street and catching a bus on route #96 to where I was going instead. I was able to make it to the Swiss Chalet in time and had dinner. After dinner, I caught a VIVA bus back home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            Aside from the circumstances behind this trip and the problems checking into my Airbnb, I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Everything worked out with being able to retake 100% of the photos I inadvertently deleted.

 

            Having taken three trips to Montreal in a row, I can say I’m done with Montreal for the next little while. The next time I go to Montreal would be if there was a charter or if I had an opportunity to go to Exporail once MR-63 #81-502 arrives.

 

            As for me, I hope to get back to San Francisco in September. Until next time…

 

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