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  • Orford Express

  • Discussion of present-day CM&Q operations, as well as discussion of predecessors Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) and Bangor & Aroostook Railroad (BAR).
Discussion of present-day CM&Q operations, as well as discussion of predecessors Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) and Bangor & Aroostook Railroad (BAR).

Moderator: MEC407

 #593476  by jhdeasy
 
The Orford Express has acquired a former Northern Pacific dome sleeper built by Budd in 1954. Some or all of the bedrooms and roomettes have been removed from the car's interior, allowing it to be used for dining. The car (OEXX 310) was in Winnipeg last week and will head east on CP freight trains for interchange with MM&A at St Jean.

Here are some historical photos of the car: http://www.trainweb.org/web_lurker/NP310/

I asked a friend who works for CP if he thought Orford Express would use their two RDCs to tow the dome car. He told me he believed they intended to use a diesel locomotive, probably a switcher or smaller road-switcher.
 #701333  by jhdeasy
 
The August 2009 issue of RAILPACE magazine has a picture of a three car Orford Express train, with the dome cut-in between the two RDCs, crosssing a trestle.

Can anyone post a good picture of the dome in its new Orford Express paint scheme?
 #1088051  by MEC407
 
Nice shots!
 #1402010  by MEC407
 
Photo by Michael Berry:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/590129/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1405785  by MEC407
 
Photos by Steve Arnot:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/592814/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/593090/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1405904  by MACTRAXX
 
Ridgefielder wrote:
MEC407 wrote:Photos by Steve Arnot:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/592814/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/593090/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
An FL9 towing an RDC- shades of Conrail ca. 1979! :-D
...Or MBTA (without the Dome Car) during the 1980s with their "collection" of RDCs from various places...

MACTRAXX
 #1406100  by MEC407
 
Photo by Steve Arnot:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/593298/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1406319  by MEC407
 
Photo by Dannick Fournier:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/593570/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1408057  by Tadman
 
Do the RDC's still have motors or functional cabs? It seems the train usually runs with bracketed power but not always.
 #1554378  by Pensyfan19
 
It gives me great sadness to announce that the Orford Express has permanently shut down due to financial stress caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. This luxury train leaves behind a Pullman dome car, an ex-CP and ex-CN Budd RDC, an EMD FL9, and a MLW M420TR. It will truly be missed by us railfans. :( (Especially with their decorated interiors and classy liveries)

http://railfan.com/quebecs-orford-expre ... -it-quits/
SHERBROOKE, Que. — Quebec’s Orford Express tourist train is calling it quits. On Thursday, the train’s owner announced that it was ceasing operations permanently because of losses resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The train ran between Sherbrooke and Magog, Que. When the operation began in 2006, the line was owned by the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic. In 2014, after the MM&A went bankrupt following the Lac-Megantic oil train disaster, it became Central Maine & Quebec. Earlier this year, the route was purchased back by its original owner, Canadian Pacific Railway. Over the years, the train used an FL9, an M420TR and a number of RDCs. The train did not run this year due to the pandemic.

“Over the past 14 years, some 350,000 people have visited the Eastern Townships region aboard the train,” the owners stated in a press release. “We have much to be proud of!”
 #1554382  by backroadrails
 
While the Pandemic did have a effect on business, the death blow was the CP buyout. I know in the Canadian Rail Observation group, one of the managers for the train said that there was a good chance operations would cease (This was back in January) due to the sale. I guess CP was going to require them to get their own crews (From what I understand they used CMQ crews for a fee), and were going to require the Orford express crews to attend CP rules classes, as well as requiring the company to have better insurance. In the end I guess it was too much. The same guy also said that there were a few people in CMQ management who were trying to get CP to accommodate the train, since it has a large economical impact on the area. It would be nice to see the train relocated to Sherbrooke on SLQ (G&W has been fairly accommodating for tourist ops in the past as long as they don't interfere with freight ops). But either way I hope that the equipment finds a good home.