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Canadian Pacific {graphic above courtesy shane stewart} {ad above from ebay/AT}

In July 1954, CP received the first of 36 "Scenic Domes" from Budd, 18 sleeper - observation - Lounges, and 18 coach - buffet - lounges to equip the "Dominion" and the new "Canadian". 33 cars were on the property in 1954, with the final 3 coaches (515-517) delivered the following year. The Canadian required 7 trainsets to serve Montreal - Vancouver, and the Dominion, due to a slower schedule, required 8 sets. Also, each train operated a Toronto-Sudbury section that was also dome equipped, thus the 18 car orders. The "Park" series observation cars (each named after a Canadian park) were built with 3 double bedrooms, a drawing room, an under-dome cocktail bar and a lounge. The 18 mid-train dome coaches are known as "Skyline" cars and normally provide dome space for coach passengers (in busy season they are also used to augment sleeper dome space). These dome-coffee shop cars were named as such in paying a tribute to the famous (at least in Canada) "Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies". This group was founded during 1933 and was comprised of a number of avid ("foamers"?) mountain climbers/hikers. Currently operating on VIA Rail, these very popular cars have the word "Skyline" on the side along with their 85XX series number. As orginally configured they featured 26 coach seats (removable), a lounge for 17 and 24 dome seats. Under the dome section was a 6-seat buffet and a kitchen. When acquired by VIA Rail, they were reconfigured in the 1980's by removing the coach seats and replacing them with fixed cafe dining tables, seating 24. The 6-seat buffet was replaced with a snack take-out counter. Therefore, they were no longer "dome coach - buffet - lounges" but now "dome café - lounges". Reports during the 2001 season said that the dining tables had become lounge areas, and that they Skylines were being "paired" with diners and not being utilized as diners per se. All cars except the scrapped 15405 became VIA property in August 1978 (5 months after VIA began). In November 2009 VIA shipped the first 2 (of 4) "Parks" to Avalon Rail in the USA to begin conversion to "Luxury" cars with larger bedrooms and other amenities. The first 2 were KOOTENAY and LAURENTIDE. photo below: operating as CP {Randy Masales/Brian Switzer*}

"Park" series
sleeper observation lounges

CP 15401 - Algonquin Park, VIA 15501, stored unrebuilt at Montreal - sold late 2003/early 2004 to Bill Harman. Moved to Owosso MI for timeshare charter use

CP 15402 - Assiniboine Park, VIA 15502, VIA 8702 - in revenue service.

CP 15403 - Banff Park, VIA 15503, VIA 8703 - in revenue service.

CP 15404 - Evangeline Park, VIA 15504, VIA 8704 - in revenue service.

CP 15405 - Fundy Park, crushed 1959 at Gull Lake Saskachewan on train #8 "Dominion" - rear ended by train #6 (diesel powered mail and baggage train) - scrapped.

CP 15406 - Glacier Park, VIA 15506, VIA 8706 - in revenue service.

CP 15407 - Kokanee Park, VIA 15507, VIA 8707 - in revenue service.

CP 15408 - Kootenay Park, VIA 15508, VIA 8708 - in revenue service. Pulled from service 11/09 and shipped to Avalon Rail in USA for "luxury" conversion including larger bedrooms.

CP 15409 - Laurentide Park, VIA 15509, VIA 8709 - in revenue service. Pulled from service 11/09 and shipped to Avalon Rail in USA for "luxury" conversion including larger bedrooms.

CP 15410 - Prince Albert Park, VIA 15510, VIA 8710 - in revenue service.

CP 15411 - Revelstoke Park, VIA 15511, VIA 8711 - in revenue service.

CP 15412 - Riding Mountain Park, VIA 15512, stored unrebuilt at Montreal - sold late 2003/early 2004 to Harry Purnell. Sold 6/05 to Adrian & Blissfield RR (Michigan) for dinner train service. Car will be restored to CP livery.

CP 15413 - Sibley Park, VIA 15513, stored unrebuilt at Montreal - offered for sale 2003, but not sold. Obtained by Canadian Railway Heritage Association Museum at Delson QB and first displayed at "Exporail" 8/04.

CP 15414 - Strathcona Park, VIA 15514, VIA 8714 - in revenue service.

CP 15415 - Tremblant Park, VIA 15515, VIA 8715 - in revenue service.

CP 15416 - Tweedsmuir Park, VIA 15516, VIA 8716 - in revenue service.

CP 15417 - Waterton Park, VIA 15517, VIA 8717 - in revenue service.

CP 15418 - Yoho Park, VIA 15518, VIA 8718 - in revenue service.

"Skyline" series
coach/food service cars

CP 500 - VIA 500/8500, leased to Delaware & Hudson 1970's as D&H 35 "Willsboro Point". back to VIA - in revenue service.

CP 501 - VIA 501/8501, derailment damage Biggar Sask 9/97 - repaired & back in service 7/98 - in revenue service.

CP 502 - VIA 502/8502, derailment damage Biggar Sask 9/97, repaired & back in service 7/98 - in revenue service.

CP 503 - VIA 503/8503 - in revenue service - wreck damage Stewiacke NS 4/12/01 - rebuilt by scrapping out 514/8514 - returned to service in 2002.

CP 504 - VIA 504/8504 - wrecked 1/31/05 Evansburg AB in collision with logging truck. Repaired and noted in use in 2006.

CP 505 - VIA 505/8505 - in revenue service.

CP 506 - VIA 506/8506 - in revenue service.

CP 507 - VIA 507/8507, leased to Delaware & Hudson 1970's as D&H 36 "Bluff Point", back to VIA - in revenue service.

CP 508 - VIA 508. wrecked Terrace Bay ON 4/17/65, stored in Winnipeg - retired 1982 after VIA cuts - sold to Mandak Metal Processors Selkirk MB during a VIA "housecleaning" 12/83 - scrapped.

CP 509 - VIA 509/8509 - in revenue service.

CP 510 - VIA 510/8510 - in revenue service.

CP 511 - VIA 511/8511 - in revenue service.

CP 512 - VIA 512/8512 - in revenue service.

CP 513 - VIA 513, wrecked Hinton AB 1/86, scrapped.

CP 514 - VIA 514/8514, damaged by fire 12/97 near Halifax, unrepaired at Montreal as of 5/2001 - scrapped for parts to repair wreck damaged 503/8503 in 8/8001, as heat/flame damage made car unrebuildable.

CP 515 - VIA 515/8515 - in revenue service.

CP 516 - VIA 516/8516 - in revenue service.

CP 517 - VIA 517/8517 - in revenue service.

Please e-mail us any additional info or corrections. Additional info: Roy Wullich, PTJ, Brent Best, Eric Langeland