VIA#14 with 4 locomotives & 24 cars Halifax 30 April 2015

[@Shaynegrainger]

From what I understand now currently there is no turning around like it used to and there is no longer a park car on the service, more often now there are stainless steel cars because of issues with the others from what I understand, last time I was on it was in 2018 and it was stainless steel cars, was supposed to be on the british carriages but they were out for work, got bumped up to a cabin for 3 on the train in lieu of which could not complain as they are the largest cabins on Via, but by the time we got to Moncton, it was discovered that due to mechanical issues none of the toilets in the car we were in worked, we could have been moved to different cabin that worked but it would not be a cabin for 3, we opted to stay because the cabin for 3s are at the end of each car and the toilets in the next car was right next to us. Got compensated for issues by getting bumped up to sleeping class from Toronto to Winnipeg on that trip. But because of Covid, and the change around area in Halifax, there is no park car so not sure what happens,

[@darickymeister]

Back in the good 'ole days, all the tracks were full at the station...Ocean to Montreal was cut up and backed in, The Atlantic was split up and backed up...and 3 dayliners...to Yarmouth...Sydney and St. John,NB

[@stantout4337]

David once again super film,in my operating days on British Rail we would lock the points / switches over there with point lock/clip in the event of such an operation.

[@david-othen]

stan tout That procedure is very unusual in North America. The switch stands have a notch that the handle fits into and then a padlock or a keeper prevents the handle from coming out of the notch. In the case of the Shubenacadie derailment several years ago that involved a VIA train derailing at 50 mph, a teenage had broken the lock and the lever sprung out of the notch as the train went over the switch causing it to open and direct some of the cars onto the siding. Heavier, high security locks are now the norm on main lines but the older locks are still used in freight yards.

[@SkysTrains]

i was on the ocean in 2017. it was my "first" (i had been from toronto to montreal to get to the train) train ever. it was kinda fun

[@roundandroundmyworld]

Just imagining the passengers at the rear of the train, having to walk through seven or eight cars just to reach the point where they could hop down onto the end of the platform -- and then hike the full length of the platform to get to the station.

[@northlanderdude]

I just love the sounds of those F40PH-3's.

[@david-othen]

northlanderdude Despite the wind, the rock wall makes a good sounding board!

[@theosarantis675]

northlanderdude (3fgtsfg

[@stantout4337]

Many thanks David. Come to think of in many North American videos I have seen train crew unlock at switches/points. As you may have perceived on your visits to our railways unless switches are connected to a Signal Box or Control Cabin they are free running any one could move them.

[@david-othen]

stan tout IIRC I saw that done in Didcot Railway museum and I certainly have seen it done in several videos of preserved railways.

[@Ross74h]

Wow, that really shows how small the British loading gauge is when the ex-Nightstar stock is compared to the US-built carriages, they almost look like narrow gauge coaches but in the UK they are about as big as our coaching stock can get!

[@david-othen]

Ross Chapman North America coaches get 4 passengers across in seats with arms on both side. Renaissance (Nightstar) only gets three!!

[@robwillie226]

The U.K. has an older system originally designed for small little things like the Rocket, we didn't have much of that and our infrastructure was built later.

[@david-othen]

The UK also has much tighter radius curves and much smaller clearances.

[@zackboone15]

@@david-othen North American gauge is good for an\ semi-comfortable 5 seats across, although nowadays you only find those on commuter trains, if at all.

[@goodeye03]

Great video. Looked like a big snake. I'd love to ride across Canada, what a beautiful country.

[@sunylight]

Saw the 6421 in Montreal last summer

[@johnb6333]

I went through Halifax Station in 2006, I wondered how they turned the trains round, now I know. John Bennell, London UK.

[@david-othen]

John B If the balloon track was not available, then they would have to back the train to Truro!

[@david-othen]

+David Othen Yes. It used to be Windsor Junction but now that wye is gone. I have video of the train backing up to Windsor Junction. May be I will edit it for youtube sometime. Anyone interested?

[@leob5675]

+David Othen yes!!

[@david-othen]

+Leo B See my video kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6SUqXZtqdiFkK8 and please watch and click on the adverts - google pays me a commission which I use for camera and computer equipment!

[@leob5675]

+David Othen thanks - done!

[@class8866]

the smaller waggons are formally built for British Rail, but never sold there...

[@BIGV710]

interesting video allways wondered how they turned it i might get another chance to visit canada again

[@david-othen]

Glad it answered your question!

[@anetajohnson8446]

Did this train ever get up to running speed? beautyfull videos, but seems like everything was in slow motion! everybody would be six months older at the destanation! In another video, they said it takes 16hrs to make the run,basicly because in Canada, Fraights have the right of way! and passenger trains get sided. Even the trains from Toronto to Vancover!

[@bushyconn]

To think that, in this day and age, engineers have to dismount and operate points manually at what appears to be a major operating section.

[@david-othen]

+bushyconn In the yards and often where a siding joins a main line the switches (points) are hand operated. Snow settles in the switches and can freeze preventing the switch from operating correctly. On the main line many switches have propane powered forced air heaters to melt the snow. In the yards brooms are often mounted on a stand and locomotives have brooms for the conductor to use (he checks to see if the switch has operated correctly before allowing the train over it). In some yards a jet snow blower is used - see kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnLKl4OOfZV8aKs

[@gda44256]

Awesome video

[@david-othen]

gda44256 Thank you.

[@dontown1531]

Why didn't they split the train & put rear part on 2nd track in station like they do in Vancouver when there are 28-30 cars on The Canadian?

[@david-othen]

+don town Extra work?

[@harps1974]

The lead engine 6453 and 6445 when they got back to Montreal...they were taking off and put on the LRC coaches back to Toronto...and later put on the Canadian

[@CaptainJustice166]

Great catch man!!!

[@david-othen]

Captain Justice Thank you. Fortunately I knew the train was coming!

[@CaptainJustice166]

No prob!

[@jean-michelmenard6920]

Wow I’ve never seen this

[@TheRobloxQasim]

That’s a long train 🚞

[@geoffbarry9540]

Hi David;I'm still watching, but is that the standard station accommodation for passengers at Halifax? In England (or here, for that matter, in Oz) you'd need golf carts, guides and porta-loos to get a train full of passengers down a platform like that!

[@david-othen]

+Geoff Barry There is a golf cart to take people who require assistance to the train. Toilets are in the station building and passengers are not allowed on the platform until the train is ready for boarding. This is a terminal station so people do not need to stand on the platform to wait for the train but even at run through stations toilets would be in the building and the train's arrival would be announced a few minutes in advance.

[@geoffbarry9540]

I was more thinking of the marathon walk in the Canadian elements if you were in the rear car of such a mammoth train, but I suppose you could always walk down inside the train. So the main consist is the fabled UK Eurostar coaches sold to Canada after the decision to scrap the domestic Channel Tunnel services?

[@david-othen]

+Geoff Barry Even in the snow you would walk outside the train. The corridors are very narrow and carrying a suitcase would be very slow. Yes the Eurostar coaches somewhat modified are the mainstay of the Ocean and some other trains mainly in Quebec. However they are not standing up very well to the Canadian climate and often have operational problems from doors not closing, to toilets without water, to leaking roofs!

[@gustaveportelance4490]

dramatique! magnifique !

[@david-othen]

Gustave Portelance Merci!

[@jmream2618]

+David Othen Merci mean thank you

[@j_eldridge]

Why the 3 stainless steel cars at the front? Extra space?

[@david-othen]

+Josh Eldridge They were being deadheaded to Halifax for crew re-certification - this has to be done each year as part of the VIA safety requirements. However we also used them for the train trips as part of VIA Family & Safety Day

[@georgedcarey]

David Othen a

[@akshatdhawan8119]

that's the normal size of a passenger train here in India...with just one locomotive each..😆 no offense please just a word...

[@TrailerguyGotStolen]

thug life in India the track gauge is wider, so the locomotives can be bigger and more powerful

[@anetajohnson8446]

from what iv sceen, in movies and vodeos, they have full trains inside, and as many can hang on the roof and gard rails! outside.

[@Transitfan93]

How often does this happen, like they have 4 locos and 24 cars?

[@david-othen]

Transitfan93 Once a year or less . The extra locos and cars were for the annual Family & Safety Day

[@Transitfan93]

David Othen Does Via Rail announce when the Family and Safety Day is?

[@david-othen]

Transitfan93 Yes. Usually the publicity is directed to schools but this year it was publicized more widely. I estimate about 10,000 people came and over 2000 had free train rides. See my youtube video kzbin.info/www/bejne/foSaaWOgi6-LqLs "VIA 6421 Family & Safety Day train Halifax 2 May 2015"

[@david-othen]

David Othen BTW it is normally Rail Safety Week which is usually the first week in May.

[@Transitfan93]

Oh I have seen that promoted on the Via website, I'll have to check it out next year so I can get this kind of video in my town

[@MB_Videos1]

Great video ! three P42s could do the work these 4 are doing with more usable power and better fuel economy too ! or even better 1 steamer could pull this train with little effort !