The "Ocean" VIA Overnight Sleeper

VIA's Ocean crosses the St. Lawrence River on the historic Pont de Quebec to serve Quebec City at the suburban Sainte-Foy Station.

https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-re ... d=13400#i1

Here the westbound Ocean has arrived in Joffre Yard at 6:30am and with the F40s leading....heads forward through Charny and out across the Quebec Bridge to Sainte Foy on the northshore.















Arriving at Gare Sainte-Foy for a 15 minute servicing stop and operating crew change.....

(VIA provides a shuttle to/fr Gare du Palais downtown)

Now to return to CN's Halifax-Montreal mainline on the southshore of the St. Lawrence.....we have to back-up 3 1/2 miles to Joffre Yard. Here a crew member takes a rear seat in the Park Car's Bullet-Lounge for the move:













At Charny we take the east leg of the wye. The track on the right goes to West Junction and is used by the eastbound Ocean and all Quebec <> Montreal corridor trains.

After Levis Station closed in 1998 and until 2012 when the Ocean started running over to Ste.Foy.....Charny was the stop for Quebec City and the Ocean just backed into or out of Charny using that track on the right.

We continue backing around the wye and into Joffre Yard.





Now we head forward.....passing the east leg of the wye we just used......then on through West Junction....across the Chaudiere River with the tops of the bridges and skyline of Quebec in the distance and onto Montreal.

Thanks for the terrific and informative photos. Brought back memories of a speeder trip we took from Sainte Foy to Shawinigan and return. Trip coordinator tried to get us a side trip across the bridge but that didn't work out.

BAR
Williamsburg, VA

Your post prompted a question. How does the train from Montreal to Quebec City operate in crossing the bridge and serve both Saint Foy and Quebec City? It seems that there must be a backup move involved in order to serve both stations.

Thanks for any information.

BAR
Williamsburg, VA

BAR wrote: ↑Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:49 pm Your post prompted a question. How does the train from Montreal to Quebec City operate in crossing the bridge and serve both Saint Foy and Quebec City? It seems that there must be a backup move involved in order to serve both stations.

There is no backup involved. A train from Montreal crosses the Bridge to Sainte-Foy then makes a wide loop......13 miles north and east around the city to Gare du Palais downtown:

NS VIA FAN,
Thanks for explaining how Via travels from Sainte-Foy to Quebec City. Very helpful and I was able to trace the route on a map.

When we were on our trackcar trip in 2009 I think I recall going through a tunnel somewhere when we were in the Quebec City area. Our eventual excursion route took us to Trois Rivieres and then on to Shawinigan. I wish I had kept better notes on the excursion. I know we saw several Via trains come through Sainte Foy while we were setting the trackcars on the rails and we also looked at an outdoor model railroad there.

BAR
Williamsburg, VA

BAR wrote: ↑Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:57 pm When we were on our trackcar trip in 2009 I think I recall going through a tunnel somewhere when we were in the Quebec City area. Our eventual excursion route took us to Trois Rivieres and then on to Shawinigan. I wish I had kept better notes on the excursion. I know we saw several Via trains come through Sainte Foy while we were setting the trackcars on the rails and we also looked at an outdoor model railroad there.

A little googling....and I think this might have been your trip:

(scroll down to Sept 5-7 2009, St Maurice Valley Railway)

https://www.narcoa.org/excursions/2009trips.html#SEP

You mention a tunnel in Quebec: This was probably the Wolfe's Cove Tunnel. It links the CPR mainline (now Quebec Gatineau Rwy) down to the harbour front. Canadian Pacific's Transatlantic Empress Liners once docked here and connecting Boat Trains ran to/from Montreal through the tunnel.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tra ... uebec-city

So just guessing here......your route was probably east from Ste-Foy on the CN line to the docks along the St. Lawrence River.....then up through the tunnel under the St-Sacrement area of the city to a jct with the Quebec Gatineau Railway and west to Trois-Riviere.

I revised the map here....adding a few more labels....



And this might be of interest.......just west of the VIA Ste-Foy Station is a massive trestle at Cap-Rouge. It's on CN's former National Transcontinental Railway to northern Quebec. It sees limited service (no passenger)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPZi8hWsMpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSBHiDGHqzc

NS VIA FAN,

Thanks very much for your reply along with the photos, video and annotated map. You answered all of my questions. Since it was so long ago I didn't think about checking the NARCOA website for past excursions. In any case you jogged my memory and I really thank you for your efforts and sharing your knowledge of the area.

After looking at the photo you sent it was definitely the Wolf Cove Tunnel that we went through. As you correctly surmised we started the excursion by heading east from Sainte Foy along the St. Lawrence, through the tunnel, and then west toward Joliette where we spent the night. Next day's travel was east to Shawinigan and then south to Trois-Rivieres where we overnighted. Last day was back to Sainte Foy and shortly before arrival we crossed the impressive Cap Rouge Trestle. Great trip.

Thanks once again and all the best.

BAR
Williamsburg, VA

VIA's Ocean is set to resume on August 11

https://media.viarail.ca/en/press-relea ... -august-11

And as VIA has already said...... when the Ocean returns it will be a hybrid mix of both Budd and Renaissance equipment. As the Ocean can no longer be turned in Halifax....the F40 Locomotives will be placed back to back and just run around the train to the opposite end at the station. Here's the proposed consist I've seen posted elsewhere:

2 F40s running back to back.
Ren Baggage** (North American coupler on one end)
Ren Accessible Coach
Ren Accessible Sleeper*
Ren Service/Lounge
Ren Diner
Ren Service/Lounge Car
Ren Transition (North American coupler on one end)
Budd Sleepers (up to 5)
Budd Skyline Dome***
Budd Coaches (up to 5)
Budd Baggage**

* A Renaissance Sleeper must be included in each consist as it provides the only Accessible Accommodations

** Note the Baggage Car on each end so it will always be next to the Locomotives as the 2nd Engineer in the Cab also handles baggage duties.

*** Skyline Dome – Initially there will be no Dome as VIA has said.....

”In the current context where VIA Rail offers essential services, dome cars have limited use for the Ocean service and will not be available in order to limit interactions on board the train and ensure the safest travel experience for all. VIA Rail will continue to monitor the evolution of the pandemic closely and will, when conditions permit, review and adjust its service offering."

A Skyline Dome was shown in the proposed consist I've seen and as noted above VIA will "review and adjust its service"........there is still hope!

VIA is also now saying that initially Sleeper passengers will be served all meals in their rooms and a Cart service will be provided for Coach/Economy passengers. This will change once social distancing requirements are eased.

After nearly 17 months......here's the first run of VIA's Ocean making it's way west through Truro, Nova Scotia this afternoon..... August 11, 2021.





The Ocean now uses a hybrid mix of Budd and Renaissance equipment. As the train is no longer turned in Halifax it will operate with a bi-directional consist and the power will just run around to the opposite end. Previously the F40's had run 'Elephant Style' (nose to tail) They are now back to back.




The train has a baggage car on each end now so one will always be adjacent to the locomotives and convenient to the 2nd Engineer in the cab as he also does baggage car duty.

and I am guessing since the wye in Halifax is gone the Park Car is done for good? I am also guessing that Via won't bother to put a plain-old dome on either.

Back in 2016 my Renaissance sleeper was great, but I still spent most of my time up in the dome. The full moon and snow made it spectacular.

Bob Roberts wrote: ↑Fri Aug 20, 2021 7:32 pm and I am guessing since the wye in Halifax is gone the Park Car is done for good? I am also guessing that Via won't bother to put a plain-old dome on either.

Yes the Park Car is gone but a proposed consist I saw of the reconfigured Ocean did include a Skyline Dome which I assume will be added when Covid restrictions are eased. Even on the Canadian right now access to the Park Car and Skyline is not permitted and there is limited service in the Diner.

On the Ocean......the Diner is also off-limits to all. Meals are delivered to your room in the Sleepers.....and a Cart service is provided in the coaches.

Until today the usual consist of this weekly train has included two Renaiassance coaches, four Ren. sleepers, two HEP coaches and four Chateau sleepers. For the foreseeable future there only Renaissance sleepers on the train according to Reservia.

The second Ocean starts in early December and the third weekly run will start in June.

I thought the Renaissance sleepers were being retired (save for accessible accommodations) in favor of the Budd sleepers.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk