The Canadian departs Vancouver in Real Time

In my youth, back when it was still run by Canadian Pacific in its original maroon livery and beaver-topped shields, I had the good fortune to make several trips across Canada on The Canadian. Many years later in 2012 I decided to make it the subject of some footage I was shooting with my brand new video camera.
Not content with just a single clip, I shot more footage and before I knew it I had accumulated a quite lot of material, which gave me the idea to put it all together and fill in the gaps so I could have a record of its entire journey as it left Pacific Central Station here in Vancouver and made its way through Burnaby, New Westminster, and across the Fraser River.
It turned out to be a lengthy project. The train departs Vancouver at 8:30PM, so shooting was only possible for a few weeks before and after the summer solstice when the sun sets late enough. Combine that with weather challenges, late departures and other issues, and it ended up taking six years to collect enough footage to document the entire run of about 30 minutes.
So here is the result: a presentation of the journey of The Canadian, with the original recorded sound, in approximately real time from when it leaves Pacific Central Station to it's crossing of the Fraser River in New Westminster.
Although edited to look like the continuous journey of a single train, it is of course composed of shots captured over several years - so there are countless "continuity" issues: different cars and locomotives in the consist, differences in the cars or lack thereof being deadheaded at the front end of the train, routing via different tracks, and even different livery as Via Rail introduced their "Prestiege" class cars.
For the curious, this was shot on the following equipment:
Pansonic X900M camcorder
GoPro Hero 3 Black
Sony RX100 Mark 2 and 4
Panasonic GH3 and GH5

[@dpohunter]

Thank you for not cluttering up this excellent footage with a music score like too many others do!

[@WorldOfTransit]

Totally agree, it's not something you'll find on any of my videos

[@drawingroom]

Yes, I thank you as well. For 90% of rail enthusiasts' videos I have to turn the sound off because the "soundtrack" is onboxious to my taste. To hear the engines, the squeal of wheels on rails, the horn, etc. is all that is needed.

[@gunelhaciyeva-ec8tt]

​@@drawingroom tttt😂t😂 😂t 😂 😂 t😂 ütjeü,ghtyui>pmmn,vcxc ijjjjjmjklkkokkkkkkkkkkkkkkk😊ğ~😊😊ğ~😊😊ğğ¹

[@merc340sr]

LOVE this train! Went on it several times, as far back as when it was CP Rail. Only did Sudbury to Winnipeg, but next time, it's going to be Toronto to Vancouver!

[@berkshirepete5189]

Great video! I’m planning a trip on #2 in 2023....can’t wait!

[@neilpatton2280]

In 1995 my sisters and I gave our parents a round trip from Toronto to Vancouver on this train. It was for their 50th anniversary. They are gone now so this was a great memory. Thank you.

[@darickymeister]

Well done. I took the train from Vancouver to Sydney, NS in 1968, when I was 6, with my mother. I think it was called the Canadian then, but it was run by CP. I still remember the train ride.

[@irelandbloke]

Great video !

[@cats0182]

Those Budd cars look like they were built yesterday!!!!

[@United1158]

They take such good care of them :)

[@dontown1531]

I too rode the original 'The Canadian' in 1964 from Ottawa-Vancouver. Am planning my 21st round-trip in Nov. (8 nights on train) I understand all this month they are running 30 car trains because of Canada150. That means using 3 platforms in Vancouver for loading passengers! Great composite video.

[@XENONPLASMA]

This is on my bucket list! Toronto to Vancouver by train.

[@twofoottaylor1]

We rode this train from Toronto to Vancouver and back in 2005 and again in 2023, was going to do it again in 2024 but came down with COVID and had to cancel. Amazing trip.

[@WestCoastWheelman]

Don't stop now! You must follow the train across the country now and finish this project! Seriously though, awesome work and I can't believe the effort that must have gone into this. Well done!

[@seannelson1545]

Ha! If I set up a Patreon page will you fund me? 😉

[@samtrak1204]

@@seannelson1545 Yes, if you include interior shots to match your superb exteriors.

[@jimholder6656]

Superbly filmed & assembled! Thank you!

[@cbi-ju5mi]

Terrific video! Memories...came here as a 4 yr old toddler by ship from Hong Kong docking in San Fran. Got on a train from there to Vancouver, then hopped on the Canadian to Toronto. Then in 1971, traveled from Toronto to Vancouver by train on the old Continental! Man that was long ago...😢

[@ricardosuarez8023]

Brilliant! I do appreciate your time and effort. Thanks for posting.

[@geoffreylee5199]

Well done, fabulous five year odyssey.

[@jerrysmith7449]

Beautiful video - thank you so much for making and uploading it! Made the westbound trip once and boy it was both fun and relaxing, primarily because of the crew’s superb professionalism and courtesy. Great job VIA Rail Canada!

[@briankonar7754]

What a beautiful train trip you envisioned out of all your many efforts to capture the departure. Loved it.

[@amtrak49]

Great work! This is an amazing video of a great train!

[@sergelebel3135]

Very nice video! Amazing work. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@historyman5058]

You did an excellent job! It is truly a gift to those of us who wanted to see this train but have never had the good fortune to witness this. Keep up the superb work and thanks again!!

[@misransiano6265]

Amazing footage, thanks

[@grahamstokes2696]

Thanks for this, Sean. I watched every frame and enjoyed it.

[@alduswong]

OMG! You took this all by yourself!!!! The scene, timing matches so well!!!! I caanot use any word to describe my joy! And if there are award given, will be this video.

[@Landsend-Railroad]

Very well done. I enjoyed every minute of it. In 1959 I made the trip from Montreal to Vancouver with CN. This segment represents the last 30 minutes of the trip and for me it brings back pleasant memories. After our train crossed the Fraser River there was still a New Westminster Station. We were ready to get out, only to learn it's still 1/2 hour to Vancouver. This is nostalgia pure.

[@merc340sr]

In October 2021, I finally did Vancouver to Toronto on the Canadian. Loved it! Not once was I bored. I would happily do it again in either direction. This time I'll see if I can get a Sleeper Plus Deal.

[@TimLeeLetsGo]

Well done Sean! I just went on this trip the other way... Nice to see how things are setup for departure 🙂

[@jradnor]

Excellent video work!

[@MikeWiggins1235711]

I came across this video and thought I would watch it for a few minutes then go on to something else. That was 35 minutes ago!! As others have commented far better than me, this was the work of a great cinematographer and editor ... and an obviously avid train enthusiast. I especially liked your "pacing" shots and the shots where we see a screen graphic naming the town the train was going through, then, within a couple of seconds, seeing the same name appear within the "film" on a gantry or sign (ex. Piper). That was good planning. I hope to see more in the future. Again, good job!

[@peterjarvis4882]

When you don't want a video to end ..then its great one !!so well done ,thankyou .Peter Yorkshire UK

[@LowLightMike]

Fabulous work, Sean. Very enjoyable and educational to watch. This filled in many gaps in my understanding of the landmarks and route scenes. I recently saw most of this same route from on board Rocky Mountaineer, and spent hours editing my own video of this area, so it was great to see the same area from a multiple different perspectives. Thanks for all your time and skill in doing this.

[@danielkennedy7845]

Beautiful!!! well done!

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Wonderful fid this journey to Calgary 1982

[@alanwells4752]

Wonderful Sean. Thanks for the effort. 👍

[@RodBourne]

Great Video ! Love it.... One of the best Train Vids I've seen on You tube...

[@donlevy2010]

Great video! Well done! I've ridden The Canadian (both CP original and VIA) from Vancouver through to the Fraser Canyon and beyond many times. Great pace shot at Sperling, and nice finish at Fraser River Bridge.

[@cascaderails9340]

20 passenger cars is a lot. Very unique train and a nice vid!

[@bryanwong1420]

Absolutely beautiful. Amazing work, must have taken a lot of time to edit and get the right shots.

[@jamesrivis620]

Hell of a job timing and filming this !! Brought back many memories of my crossing on CP from Montreal to Van in mid April 1966 after emigrating by boat from Liverpool in a nasty storm arriving a day late giving me only a 3 hr time slot to get from dockside to station. What with seasickness and constipation I was a basket case by the time I arrived.

[@VrindaS175]

Thanks for the gift.

[@beet10]

Beautiful! Thank you!

[@dwightd.topolinsky8330]

My wife and I will depart from Niagara Falls to Kamloops Oct. 03rd/17. We can't wait. Thanks for am enjoyable "ride" video! :)

[@johnmoore8016]

Outstanding video. maybe one time before I get put in the ground I can take a ride on a passenger train. (Mississippi Gulf Coast, USA)

[@gragor11]

You have some fantastic shots in here. Well edited and great sound track. Now I remember how long it actually takes to get into Vancouver. After coming all that way from Toronto I was always amazed how long it took to get from Hope to Van. Thanks for making and posting this video. It really is a work of art.

[@pops1507]

Good trip! Loved it.

[@nazmulhossain9824]

Beautiful country Canada.

[@amtrakharry]

Thank you for sharing !!! Excellent !!! :):):)

[@netrhyda8761]

Haha You have to keep going!! But nicely done though. This brought back fond memories all the way back to 1966 when I rode this train from Kamloops to Montreal. I believe at that time it was called the "CN".

[@johnmacedward3112]

Great video Sean. I was a sleeping car porter on the CP Canadian in 1959 or 1960. The route out of Vancouver was from the CP Station (now Waterfront Station on the Sky Train) then east along Burrard Inlet through Port Moody and the north side of the Fraser River. I believe the Canadian used the same coaches back then as they do now, only they have been refurbished over the years.

[@bike756]

I often see this train from my balcony in Toronto starting its journey in the other direction. It's such a long train that the engines are noticeably louder than the other VIA trains as it gets up to speed leaving downtown. I run out to have a look whenever I hear the windows rattle :-)

[@kansasstatealerting2424]

I love that VIA still uses their old F40s and old passenger cars.

[@scoobycarr5558]

Imagine having the equivalent of a 57 Chevy on a railroad today. With 70s era locomotives.

[@davidlisowski5245]

The VIA f40s were among the last produced (1986-89) so they're not much older than Amtrak's P40s.

[@heatherallan2695]

such a glorious train hub as i call it when we left on our rocky mountaineer trip we did what this train did that was the start of our 10 day adventures

[@juniorfsonline]

Great video and idea thanks

[@JayJr2007]

Some cool shots! J

[@chrisbeaumont6728]

I love the train been on it about a dozen times now

[@fabioandrade8983]

Perfeito .Muito bem filmado .Cada ângulo mais interessante que outro .Belo trabalho.Obrigado e parabéns.

[@RobbertClack]

Great job on video

[@davids423]

She's just simply elegant. Love how quite those engines are as well.

[@sirxavior1583]

Thanks for the upload. I have the HO Scale Version of the Canadian from Rapdio Trains Inc.

[@greghuang2314]

This train looks so much more luxurious than Amtrak's long distance trains

[@worldoftransportation1936]

Superb.

[@barontaylor7139]

I have always wanted to do this trip between Vancouver BC and Melville SK.

[@hilaryren]

I love trains

[@paulusintas8627]

My wife and I did this trip in January 2013 ... to Toronto. THANKS so much for this gorgeous video!

[@robertramsay5963]

Awesome vid. One of the Park cars appeared to have the rear roof patched with tar.

[@kyookatomeaki9600]

This's Great!! I've ever taken the trains from Shangahai-Beijing-Moscow-Kiev-Berlin-and-to-Hamburg via the Trans Siberian Railway in March 31 years ago, and the train "The Corridor connecting The Canadian" from Montreal-transfering-in-Toronto-stopping-over-Edmonton-and-to-Vancouver of VIA RAILdu Canada en avril il y a 30 ans. Next time Ing'd like to the Canadian again from Vancouver to Montreal. Merci, Thank.

[@jerryschloetter2668]

I took this train 2 years ago. We were late leaving Vancouver and by the time we got to the Rockies it was too dark to see anything. We kept getting later and later and finally arrived in Toronto 25 hours late. I had a one person sleeping compartment. They did have enough food aboard to feed us an extra day. Every time we came to a siding, we had to let a 150 CN freight go by. Several times we had to stop at a siding while a new crew took over because they had done their maximum time.

[@davidlisowski5245]

My first time on the Canadian in 84, we rode in Christie Manor. You had to remember the car names and not numbers to know which was yours.

[@navy57]

We rode The Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver in early November of 2009.It was the greatest railroad journey we've ever made. The service was impeccable. The dining car provided delicious dishes from breakfast through to dinner. The Park Car was relaxing and was a wonderful platform from which to see Canada's natural beauty.. If you havan't experieced he Canadian, you should try do so at your first opportunity.

[@Greatdome99]

Very nice video of the very best train. Track between the depot and the Fraser River was built by the Great Northern, now owned, maintained and controlled by BNSF (Warren Buffett). Grandview Cut used to be called Great Northern Cut.

[@evelynbyrd4961]

Slow to go, picked up speed at Boundary and we're really moving at Willington. Couldn't stop on a dime at Douglas. Damm the torpedos, full speed ahead after Piper!

[@teddawg327]

i want to ride this!!!!!!! bucket list

[@karanS0206]

I’m gonna take this train one day!! 🤞🏻

[@markgilbertson4917]

That's what I said. Had everthinng set for Oct 2020, but then Covid-19 came and #2 was eliminated and our trip was canceled.

[@alexanderip1003]

I Took that train once (One way, Destination: Vancouver) Out by Rails Back by Wings

[@hodges-hg6ck]

Do you know if there is an advantage in taking the train in one direction over the other direction?

[@United1158]

Hodges4770 going Toronto to Vancouver is better than the other way because you are scheduled to go through the entire Rocky Mountains the 4th day meanwhile going the other way makes you go through half the Rockies at night

[@scoobycarr5558]

I ❤ Canada!

[@zapper302]

The building on the right side of the track at 27:20 that says New Westminster, used to be the old CN Rail station.

[@abandonedrailwayscanada3271]

Cool Video

[@WhiteCamry]

It seems that #2 leaves Vancouver at about 7 PM Pacific Time. That would jibe with #1 leaving Toronto at about 10 PM Eastern Time.

[@MidnightVisions]

I wish Via would split the Canadian into two trains, one for going via Edmonton and one for going via Calgary. It would increase the passenger loads. Good work!

[@richardditchburn3853]

Up until the mid eighties or early nineties, I'm not sure, VIA did run two separate routes across Canada. One route (ex Canadian National) was Toronto up through Northern Ontario to Winnipeg, then from Winnipeg through Brandon "north" to Edmonton and Jasper then down on the north side of the Fraser Canyon to Vancouver. The second route (ex Canadian Pacific) followed the contour of the Great Lakes to Winnipeg, then Winnipeg through the actual town of Brandon to Calgary and Banff then down the south side of the Fraser Canyon to Vancouver. I had the great pleaser of doing this trip on VIA before the southern route was dropped. My own reasoning on this was part the duplication of service, the low passenger loads and the Canadian Government not wanting to subsidize train travel. At the risk of offending car, bus and air travellers, the government is quite willing to spend millions of roads and making the Trans Canada Hwy four lane. They are not willing to spend money on passenger rail travel. Every other country subsidizes their trains to some extent.

[@jimbobogie8204]

I think the problem-at least between Calgary and Vancouver-is that the Rocky Mountaineer probably has exclusive passenger rights-except for the few times that CP breaks out the "classic" vintage train. The folks in Brandon, Regina and Calgary get screwed. So do folks from Sault Ste. Marie to Winnipeg who live along Lake Superior-another incredibly scenic run through Thunder Bay.

[@colinbarrett3016]

Absolutely, Came from Eastern Canada to Edmonton, then had to take a bus to Calgary

[@JuanSanchezGuerra]

@@jimbobogie8204 RMRX lost its exclusivity rights in the late 1990s. VIA could run small, 12 car consists on an alternating basis on both the CN and CP routes west of Winnipeg, with locals running the CN route east of Winnipeg.

[@ES-hr6vg]

Very well made. Some day maybe they’ll be some grade separation at Rupert, Renfrew and Boundary.

[@jamesdevine1005]

Academy award ..that you.

[@spitfirenutspitfirenut4835]

Nice

[@teddawg327]

Nice video. Would like a trip on this. But, the train changes its consist

[@michaelgamble296]

Excellent compilation and some stunning photography, Sean. Well done! Is that very odd-looking car at 22:29 a "Prestige" class car? Your continuity shots through the outskirts on Vancouver are excellent. The whole 'trip' up to the Fraser River Bridge with that superb sunset lighting is evidence of your skills as a photographic artist. Well done - and thanks. I must now find a railway map which shows this route! The footage at 8:19 shows the track to be in very poor condition - I appreciate this was a c/u shot. Michael.UK

[@seannelson1545]

That's an observation car - it's much newer than the 1955 Budd cars that comprise the rest of the train and IMHO it detracts from The Canadian's classic look. It's my understanding they run that car only between Vancouver and Jasper, removing it there from the eastbound trains and adding to the westbound ones. The 'Prestiege' cars are the last two or three cars in the consist, including the boattailed 'Park' dome car. You can spot them by their brownish stripe along the top of the car, which contrasts with the blue 'Via' stripe on the other cars.

[@wallochdm1]

Great job!! How to you get to the BNSF yard in New Westminster? Kind of hard to railfan that area since access seems really difficult. I know they were doing some work to the yard down near the Quay, but that's CN, right?

[@RicciChoi1109]

TIL a large portion of SkyTrain tracks were built next to CPR tracks

[@dougberry1011]

Good video. You must have done this over a fair amount of time judging by locomotive changes up front. I still find it ridiculous that VIA didn’t leave Vcr in the morning so it travels the Fraser Canyon in the daytime and arrive in Toronto. In the dark. No comparison on scenery.

[@ArunTripsNTalks]

Great video, how did you manage to shoot across so many locations 👍

[@onthewater4020]

In Japan they measure delays in half seconds. In Canada we measure delays in half years.

[@karintippett753]

Rode this train from Winnipeg to Toronto in 2019 in economy class

[@birksPL]

this is my dream

[@trav4oilers]

Hey Sean anyway I’d be able to contact you About using some of your clips here in an upcoming via Documentary I’m Working on? Some seriously awesome stuff

[@daveboydell2896]

I wonder how many miles those Budd cars have on them?

[@anetajohnson8446]

Tried to count how many coaches the train had. scenes to short! Canada has some long long long passenger trains! 22cars? 24cars??? From Vancover to Toronto, is it two @half days ride? for a delux sleeper, well over a grand?

[@rileysanesh5203]

Where was the via rail train heading to and when did it depart Vancouver

[@michaelbess7447]

we got to ride in from Vancouver to Toronto

[@scoobycarr5558]

Does Canada charge extra fare if you wanted a reservation in a dome car?

[@BC_Geoff]

How on earth did you manage to capture all those shots?!

[@seannelson1545]

It was a lot of outings over a lot of time...

[@travelingtom923]

At 32:25 it looks like they replaced that impressive wood trestle with a boring concrete structure.

[@seannelson1545]

Yep. I think I was a year too late to capture footage of the train going over the old trestle.

[@RossJohnsonVIA1]

how many trips in total Sean Nelson have you completed since you first started riding The Canadian?. Im about to do my 80th trip next month and Im in the planning stages of my 81st and 82nd segment in March of 2018. I only started riding the Via Rail Canadian in 2005

[@seannelson1545]

Wow, Ross - that is a LOT of trips!!! I've only done perhaps 5 or 6 round trips, but the most recent one was over 38 years ago in February 1979 to see the eclipse north of Winnipeg. I'd like to do another , but I'm not sure when yet...

[@RossJohnsonVIA1]

YOU can ride with me? how does $630 lower berth toronto - vancouver sound?

[@vidwilzvids9587]

Absolutely wonderful. I noticed NO rolling shutter effects on the pacing shots. May I ask which camera you used for that?

[@seannelson1545]

Those were shot with my Panasonic GH3 and with a Sony RX100 Mark IV (one pointing forward and one backward as I drove along beside the train).