In two weeks I am due out of Toronto on The Canadian to Vancouver, and CN has just had its fourth!! derailment in Northern Ontario blocking the line used by Via. Within the past week, CN has managed to foul its main line due to their own mishaps and now CN has announced that its line has been blocked by three snowslides between Kamloops and Vancouver. At Union station in Toronto, The Canadian has been posted as "Cancelled." No information as to the fate of the passengers who are presumably stranded at various points across Canada.
I am supposted to connect in Vancouver with the Cascade train to Seattle and from there to Los Angeles on #11. I just saw on another site, that due to mudslides, there are no trains between Seattle and Portland, and that #14 was being terminated at Eugene. Perhaps I should attempt taking the Lake Shore out of Buffalo and the SW Chief to L.A. Oh the joys of winter railroading.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
If you do that may I suggest that you check the weather in Buffalo because according to our weathercaster they are having lake effect snows there not an unusual occurance!!! How about Toronto to NYC or Philly or DC.From there to Chicago and L A/ Would that work?
Posted by royaltrain (Member # 622) on :
According to Amtrak, the only connection available on the dates that I must leave Buffalo (19,20 or 21 Dec) would be Lake Shore out of Buffalo, Empire Builder to Portland and the Starlight to Los Angeles. This would cost me an extra $1000 even when I factor in cancelling The Canadian. I just hope the train gods will be smiling upon me come the 18th of Dec (my Toronto departure). As for going eastbound to N.Y or Phily as suggested by Trainlady, that is really out of the way and besides those lake effect snows may still cause problems for N.Y. bound trains.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
According to my time table the lake Shore doesn't go to Buffalo. Am I missing something?
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
The Late Shore Limited stops at Depew a few miles east of Buffalo. When people say they're taking the train to Buffalo they really mean Depew.
It's usually there that train toilets become backed up and overflow, and that's how Depew got its name.
I had this on good authority from a guy I met in the lounge car. He had had a few martinis.
Posted by royaltrain (Member # 622) on :
There are two stations for Buffalo. The timetable for the Lake Shore indicates Buffalo-Depew. All the other trains for Buffalo use both Depew and Exchange St. Stations.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Submitted to perfect Mr. Kisor's posting...no further comment.
Henry, thanks for pointig that out to me. I reread the time table and discoveed the first time around my eye simply skipped tht town. Very interesting Gi. Once again you prove to be a storehouse of information.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
Well apparently my fingers joined my eyes in skipping as in lfor Gil,n in pointing,- an r in discovered and a in that. That is what happens when one does not proof a reply.
Posted by David (Member # 3) on :
CN has had another derailment, but this time it was in Alberta - just east of Edmonton. It has been reported on another site that the Canadian departed Toronto today (Tuesday) as a shuttle train. There was one stainless steel coach, three LRC cars, a Skyline and a Park car - but no sleepers. It is assumed the "real Canadian" will be met in northern Ontario as has occurred several times at Capreol.