Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Canada
Reload this Page >

Why Taking the Train Across Canada Changed Me

Why Taking the Train Across Canada Changed Me

Old Feb 2nd, 2006, 04:37 PM
  #21  
wow
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi, Dan! I have not been here on a regular basis for quite some time. How wonderful to return & see a report from you. You are my favorite travel writer! Thanks once again...keep travelling, keep writing.
wow is offline  
Old Feb 3rd, 2006, 02:51 AM
  #22  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the report. I took the trip Toronto-Vancouver back in 1989 I guess it was when there was talk of cancelling the train entirely. I wanted to do it then before the thing became a part of history. Fortunately, that hasn't exactly happened and I'm actually going to do it again in late May this year.

Your report makes me look forward to it all the more. Thanks again for posting.
Intrepid1 is offline  
Old Feb 4th, 2006, 08:57 AM
  #23  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Wow, Scarlett, Intrepid, Sally Canuck for your very kind words. Made my day! I still reminisce on the journey and look forward to the next trip (not sure when that will be)!

Here's to Canada and this diverse, fascinating Earth that is the true bearer of many great travel stories and discoveries! DAN
Daniel_Williams is offline  
Old Feb 4th, 2006, 04:04 PM
  #24  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Daniel,
What a wonderful report; it brought back memories. I used to do this trip from Halifax to Chilliwack, BC every year back in the '50's. Five days on the "steamers", then four after they put the diesels on, around 1956.

Really wonderful food then - always Winnipeg Gold Eye on that section.

Just one little correction: it's Jasper National Park, not provincial. One of the 34 wonderful national parks we are blessed with. David
ticophile is offline  
Old Feb 15th, 2006, 06:32 AM
  #25  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What does "always Winnipeg Gold Eye on that section" mean?
yeadonite is offline  
Old Feb 16th, 2006, 04:29 PM
  #26  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wheeee! Our VIARail tickets came today! Didn't really think - when I posted a thank you to you, Daniel, last summer for your report, that we'd actually be embarking on this journey.

But we are! We will pick up the train in Winnipeg for the journey to Vancouver, in mid-July. And am I excited!
tuckerdc is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2006, 08:44 AM
  #27  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,501
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>>>>>>What does "always Winnipeg Gold Eye on that section" mean?<<<<<<

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/zone/underw...aquaiche_e.htm
Judy_in_Calgary is offline  
Old Feb 17th, 2006, 12:48 PM
  #28  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Judy_in_Calgary,
I am embarrassed tell you where I was born. I will ask my Dad if he know what a Winnipeg Gold Eye is.
Connie
yeadonite is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 04:30 AM
  #29  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
TuckerDC,

I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did. I also hope you've planned a few days in Winnipeg & Vancouver at either end, to experience two of Canada's interesting urban centres (if you've not been before).

Being a train aficionado, if all goes well with my job this spring, as a reward, I'm toying around with going cross-country again this summer, this time mostly across the USA, Toronto to Chicago to San Fran; I've never been to the latter two, so I'd spend a day or two in Chicago and 5 days in SF at the end.

Bon voyage! DAN
Daniel_Williams is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 06:41 AM
  #30  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hope you can make that USA trip happen, Dan. And don't forget about the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles north....that's really the quintessential US train trip.

We'll have an overnite in W'peg and several days in V'couver.

I come by my train fondness naturally - my dad was a locomotive fireman and engineer (first steam, then diesel).
tuckerdc is offline  
Old May 9th, 2006, 04:53 AM
  #31  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Valuable help for those in the planning stages now.
Great report, so thought I'd bump.......
TobieT is offline  
Old May 11th, 2006, 09:13 AM
  #32  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Two weeks from today and I'll be on it!
Intrepid1 is offline  
Old May 12th, 2006, 12:32 PM
  #33  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Intrepid1,
When you have a trip report can you let us know on this thread? I would love to read about it!
yeadonite is offline  
Old Aug 6th, 2006, 03:25 AM
  #34  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Canadian did not disappoint! We made the trip from Winnipeg to Vancouver in mid-July and loved it. Highly recommended for relaxation and wonderful scenery. Food (included for Silver/Blue class)was good and service was excellent.

Be warned however: The compartments are quite compact - (and the pullman corridors even more so)- and even in a 'double bedroom,' two people doing morning ablutions requires some cooperation and careful stepping! (And that was after having lucked into an F compartment that was almost a foot wider than compartments A,B,C, D.) Also, I was told by a woman traveling solo in a "single" bedrooms that the berth is lowered over the toilet, making any middle of the night potty calls pretty prolematic.
tuckerdc is offline  
Old Aug 6th, 2006, 06:13 AM
  #35  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
tuckerdc,
Thanks so much for the update!!! Are you posting a trip report?
yeadonite is offline  
Old Aug 6th, 2006, 11:37 AM
  #36  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We picked up the VIA in Hornepayne, Ontario last year and did the round trip to Vancouver.
It sure did surpass the Empire Builder.
I "lived" in the observation car and enjoyed the non-stop wonderful scenery of Canada.
cedar is offline  
Old Aug 6th, 2006, 12:47 PM
  #37  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Dan - What an enjoyable and interesting report! I've always wanted to see our beautiful country via train and now I'm motivated to start doing some research into a cross-Canada trip!

Looking forward to your comments on Vancouver.

Best,
Susan
bowen is offline  
Old Aug 6th, 2006, 06:51 PM
  #38  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
TuckerDC,

I'm pleased you were not disappointed by VIA's "the Canadian". It's a great ride (I hope you enjoyed Vancouver and Winnipeg as well). BTW I went across the US via "the California Zephyr" as planned and was blown away. One trip really does not diminish the other I found, but only serve to highlight the incredible diversity of the North American landscape. (Link below if you're interested...)

CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR TRIP
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34841682

Bowen, I'm glad you found this trip report from a year ago; I remember your kind comments from my Vancouver entries (that I list below to refresh your memory). It makes me so happy this trip report keeps floating back up, if only to give people the idea to do a trip that will open one's eyes to the truth of this great continent.

VANCOUVER REPORTS
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...9&tid=34654164
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...9&tid=34654156
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...9&tid=34654147

Happy travels! DAN

PS Cedar, I hear you about that observation car. Great place to be social, go with your knitting and just soak in the scenery! I enjoyed!
Daniel_Williams is offline  
Old Aug 6th, 2006, 08:22 PM
  #39  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Dan - Thanks for refreshing my memory (I didn't notice that you had written this one year ago!) But, I'm very happy someone "topped" your train journey report ... very worthwhile information. Again, many thanks!
Cheers,
Susan
bowen is offline  
Old Aug 11th, 2006, 11:05 AM
  #40  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Daniel, I am considering taking this train in May 2007. Do you know if it is better (scenery wise as to what you miss at night) to take it from East to West as you did or West to East?
SusieQQ is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -