February 11, 2022:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went downstairs and picked up breakfast. I took it back to my room. I went online for a few minutes and worked on this report.

 

            I headed out and went to the store I went to the day before to try to get a day pass for RTC. I was able to get one so the clerk yesterday didn’t understand what I wanted.

 

            I then headed out. I caught a NOVA LFS on route #80 and rode to where I boarded #1956 the day before. I then caught a bus on route #800 to Youville and went to head to the carnival. I took a wrong turn and ended up at the stop before I got off so I caught the next bus back to my stop. Prior to this I saw a local CBC news anchor reporting on a story and an ice statue. I photographed them.

 

 

 

            This time I went in the right direction. I soon ended up at the Carnival. The Carnival wasn’t open yet but would open in less than an hour. While waiting I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I lined up at the ticket booth. I was first in line when it opened 30 minutes before the Carnival. I bought a ticket. I lined up at the Cadbury Slides; a toboggan run. My mom and sister had visited Quebec City a couple months prior so my mom could stay in the Chateau Frontenac.

 

            The carnival opened up. However, people were only allowed to go down the slides in groups of two; no more, no less. Fortunately, I was able to get paired up with someone right away. We got tubes and headed up the slide. This year, the tubes were red and not yellow like they were in 2008.

 

            The person who I was paired with screamed as we went down the slide. At the bottom, I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            There were two different slides as well as a third made of ice. I decided to go down the other slide. I had to wait for a couple minutes for someone to be paired with but it wasn’t too long. I ended up being paired up with a mother named Jennifer. It turned out she was from Toronto as well! I told her that Bonhomme is to Carnival De Quebec as Mickey Mouse is to Disneyland. She agreed with my view.

 

            Jennifer and I went down the slide. After, I took some more photos.

 

 

 

 

            I then went down the ice slide.

 

 

The end of the ice slide is above the blue bin in the lower right-hand corner.

 

            I then walked over to Zone Loto-Quebec. I photographed a snow sculpture of a turtle on its back.

 

 

 

            The Carnival’s theme song was playing over loudspeakers in French. The chorus in French is as follows: “Carnaval, Mardi gras, Carnaval. À Québec c’est tout un festival. Carnaval, Mardi gras, Carnaval. Chantons tous le joyeux, Carnaval.”

 

            While I don’t remember this song playing when I visited in 2008, it did bring back memories of when I was in Grade 4 when I first learned of the Quebec winter Carnival my teacher taught us the song in French class. Some point after my 2008 trip, I learned my teacher had passed away. I looked up to the sky thinking she was there in spirit. One more thing was that my teacher had tried to discourage me about talking about trains in class as I was a railfan back then as well. She mostly failed at that.

 

            I then joined a line to take pictures with Bonhomme Carnival; the carnival’s mascot. When it was my turn to see him, I took a picture.

 

 

I didn’t have to do much searching this time for Bonhomme Carnival.

 

            Prior to leaving on this trip, my supervisor at Home Depot told me to say hi to Bonhomme. I did just that. Bonhomme said thanks and to tell him to come to his carnival.

 

            I then photographed a snow sculpture called “The Return” which is fitting as this is my return to Carnival De Quebec.

 

 

 

            I then photographed another sculpture.

 

 

 

            I then photographed Bonhomme’s ice palace.

 

 

 

 

            I then took a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

            Zone Loto-Quebec had an outdoor bar with a counter made of ice. I didn’t photograph it. I then left the area and saw some parade floats on display. The Carnival usually opens with a parade and some of the floats were on display. I photographed them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I stopped at a trailer that offered free phone charging. I left my Ipod Touch there as the battery was low.

 

            I then went to “Camp a Jos” and photographed more snow sculptures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            There was also what looked like a “Dance-Dance Revolution” area where visitors could try the game. I photographed it and other things including an axe throwing game.

 

 

 

 

            I didn’t try the axe throwing game.  I then left and was looking for a place to have lunch. I saw Bonhomme again and photographed him as he danced for a nearby child.

 

 

Hello again Bonhomme.

 

            I then photographed an ice sculpture outside a St. Herburt’s restaurant.

 

 

            I then went by the ice-skating rink and took a few photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then had lunch and then went back and collected my Ipod. I then walked to the bus stop. I was hoping to ride one more articulated hybrid LFS. As luck would have it, one showed up on route #800 going the other way. I was able to photograph the bus before I got on.

 

 

            I rode #1664 to Belvedere and got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

 

            I then filmed the bus pulling away. I then photographed a Nova LFS belonging to Levis’ transit system.

 

 

            I then boarded a bus on route #800. I rode it to the end of the route. I passed near the hotel Dan and I stayed at in 2008. I had considered staying there again but found the rates were higher than they were back in 2008.

 

            I got to the terminal and got off. I photographed Nova LFS #0925 in the older RTC livery.

 

 

 

            I boarded another articulated hybrid Nova LFS on route #802. I know the route #802 runs near my hotel. I saw the route also ran right in front of the hotel I stayed at last time compared to route #800 which is a block away.

 

            After passing some Nova LFS buses in the older livery running on route #4, I got off and waited for one to come to me. I saw one LFS in the older livery, but it wasn’t on route 4; but another route that turned away blocks before the stop I got off at. I attempted to photograph it.

 

 

            The next route #4 bus came, but it was an LFS in the current livery. However, LFS #0925 was running on route #802 right behind it. I photographed #802 before I got on.

 

 

            I rode #0925 to the Fleur-De-Lis mall. I got off and photographed #0925.

 

 

            I filmed #0925 pulling away. I then walked over to the mall and looked in various stores. I had a massage in a coin operated massage chair that also took credit cars. This chair also has USB ports for users to charge their phones and stuff while having a massage.

 

            I eventually had dinner in the food court and then bought a bottle of Pepsi from the Dollarama in the mall. I then walked back to the bus stop. I boarded a bus and rode back to my hotel. I looked into the store I had bought my pass earlier. After this, I saw an LFS in RTC’s older livery and attempted to photograph it.

 

 

 

            I went back to my hotel and went online and worked on this report some more. I had a swim in my hotel’s pool. I then packed my stuff and set the alarm on my phone for 5:45 am. I soon called it a night.

 

February 12, 2022:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went to the lobby and got breakfast. I took it back up to my room. After eating breakfast, I finished packing and checked out. I walked to the bus stop. I missed a bus on route #80 but I had plenty of time and multiple ways to get to Gare-Du-Palais.

 

            After awhile, a Nova LFS on route #1 came and I got on and rode to the station. I got off and photographed a Van Hool on route #18.

 

 

            I then got to the station and photographed the former CN/Quebec Central sign in the station.

 

 

            I then went to wait for my train. My ticket and vaccination status was checked. As when I rode down to Quebec City, there would be no assigned seating.

 

            After awhile it was time to board the train. I went onto the platform and photographed my train as well as a train on the opposite platform track.

 

 

 

            I realized this was the same trainset from train #52 I had ridden from Toronto to Ottawa on back on Wednesday. I was seated in LRC coach #3336; the exact same coach. I logged into the train’s Wi-Fi. The train left 8 minutes early.

 

            Shortly after we left, we passed the Fleur-De-Lis mall where I had dinner at the night before.

 

            The train stopped at a signal while waiting to get to Ste. Foy. We were stopped for more than 15 minutes before we started to move. The train stopped at Ste. Foy.

 

            The train crossed the Quebec Bridge and stopped at Charny. West of Charny, I saw the Provost factory and saw a Nova LFS bus in the lot there.

 

            We didn’t pass any trains; passenger or freight. I noticed the Wi-Fi was working better than it did last Wednesday. The train stopped at Drummondville. We stopped at Saint-Hyacinthe.

 

            Some point after leaving Saint-Hyacinthe, we began passing EXO commuter rail stations which meant we were getting close to Saint Lambert. I saw the line Amtrak’s Adirondack takes when heading towards New York. The train stopped at Saint Lambert.

 

            The train crossed over the St. Lawrence River. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off in Montreal. I filmed VIA’s Montreal Maintenance Center though I could only see a couple trains with F40s and LRC coaches. I also filmed the retired AMT/EXO EMU trains.

 

            I saw that the new light rail being built would pass by the Montreal Maintenance Center which is cool and I’ll be able to get a look at equipment in the yard once the line is open.

 

 

 

            I also saw two CN locomotives coupled to a caboose that was converted to a shoving platform. I photographed it.

 

 

            A few minutes later we arrived into Central station. We arrived 17 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then went upstairs and had lunch at the McDonald’s in the station. I phoned home and let my mom and sister know I was in Montreal. After lunch I photographed a couple signs pertaining to the new light rail lines in Montreal which is known as REM.

 

 

 

            I saw a sign for Amtrak tickets. I do know the Adirondack hasn’t been to Montreal for awhile now. Hopefully it will return in the future.

 

 

            I lined up to board VIA train #67. Boarding began shortly after 1:00 pm. I was seated in LRC coach #3300; the class leader. The HEP went out for several minutes until after we departed. The train left on time.

 

            Shortly after leaving, I photographed the shoving platform and the retired AMT stock.

 

 

 

 

            I worked on this report some more. VIA train #62 passed, but I was unable to film it. I bought a Kit-Kat and a Coke when the attendant came by. The train stopped at Dorval. While at Dorval, a westbound EXO commuter train passed.

 

            After leaving Dorval, my ticket was checked. We crossed into Ontario. We then stopped at Cornwall.

 

            Between Cornwall and Brockville, Train #64 passed and I attempted to film it. The train passed through Brockville non-stop.

 

            At one point we slowed through a crossing but soon sped up. The coach started rocking at one point. VIA train #42 passed, but I was unable to film it. It stopped by the time the train stopped at Kingston.

 

            After leaving Kingston, they were serving food for the last time until Toronto. I bought what would be my dinner but saved it for later.

 

            As the train approached Belleville, we passed a CN freight train with a BNSF locomotive trailing. When we stopped at the Belleville station, I saw another CN freight with another BNSF locomotive. I photographed it as we left Belleville.

 

 

 

 

            Shortly after 5:00 pm, I ate dinner. An eastbound CN freight passed. I filmed the Memory Junction Museum as we raced past. The train stopped at Cobourg.

 

            The sun was starting to dip between Cobourg and Oshawa. VIA train #68 passed and I attempted to film it. The train stopped in Oshawa a few minutes later. It was good to be in GO Transit territory again.

 

            West of Oshawa, an eastbound freight passed. We passed another VIA train which I was unable to film. We passed a GO train near the Rouge Hill GO station. The train stopped in Guildwood a few minutes later.  By now the sun had pretty much set.

 

            As the train passed TTC’s Greenwood subway yard, I filmed the yard. Soon we were approaching Union Station. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            Train #67 arrived into Union Station three minutes late. I got off and took some photos.

 

 

 

            I then went downstairs and walked over to the western part of the station and took a photo of train #67’s front.

 

 

 

            I then phoned home and let my mom know I was at Union. However, the subway was closed between Lawrence and St. Clair due to work on the Eglinton LRT. I decided we should meet at the Highway 407 station. I then boarded a subway train and saw there were packages of Pokemon cards and a few cards on the floor of the train.

 

 

 

            Shortly after leaving Union, the train stopped. A few minutes later, we were underway again. A few minutes later I learned of a security incident near Union station so I just missed it! It was like how I barely dodged a subway closure when I returned from Kitchener back in 2019.

 

            I got to Highway 407 without incident and met my mom and headed home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            This trip was just as enjoyable as my 2008 trip to Quebec City. All my connections worked out. It was cool seeing VIA’s new equipment in Ottawa and riding the Confederation Line again even though it was only one stop in either direction.

 

            Carnival de Quebec was still fun and I’m already planning on going back in 2023 since the CNE was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 as well. However, the CNE will happen this year as well so I probably won’t go in 2024.

 

            As for me, my next trip will probably be no sooner than June when I return to Sault Ste. Marie to ride the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. Until next time…

 

Click to go home.