Zounds...it was the Sounder... I was surprised

rsn48 Apr 1, 2001

  1. rsn48

    rsn48 TrainBoard Member

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    So there I was, sitting in Mc Donalds eating my fat free lunch when I hear the rumble of a train about to pass this restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia. And lo and behold, it is the Sounder from Seattle heading into the old CP station down at the water front location (which has incredible scenery).

    Now we have two trains coming up from the state of Washington (Amtrack and the Sounder)... with Via, West Coast Express, Rocky Mountain Railroad, and the occassional appearance of the American Orient Express, we are starting to get some decent passenger service going here. Now if the bloody manufactures would start making some models of these goodies (in N scale), it would be F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!!
     
  2. CPRailfan

    CPRailfan TrainBoard Member

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    rsn,

    I wish I was in Vancouver. Tons of awesome trains, and let's not forget the Canucks [​IMG]
     
  3. BCAmtrak

    BCAmtrak Guest

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    Yeah, Is there a early morning train from Vancouver BC to Seattle (Amtrak or Sounder)
     
  4. rsn48

    rsn48 TrainBoard Member

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    Amtrack in Vancouver is set up for Americans coming from Seattle, not Canadians going to Seattle or further. So the daily Amtrack arrives around 11:30 AM and leaves at 6:00PM in the evening. One time I thought it would be great to take Amtrack to Portland from Vancouver (round trip). Well do you know how long it would take, with a zero stop off in Portland (round trip)? FOUR days!!!!!!

    You see Amtrack gets into Seattle in the evening. So the Amtrack to California doesn't leave until the next day. No one seems to care that it isn't co-ordinated.

    However, this isn't a slam against Americans. Amtrack wants to send a second train running on a schedule that would work for Vancouverites. It is our stupid government that has kibashed it. I think one comes up but stops at the border where passengers are bussed into VAncouver.

    I don't know the Sounder schedule as today was the first time I knew about it coming here....and I saw it. But having said that, I think it parrallels somewhat the Amtrack schedule above, as I saw it going the restaurant at around 12:15.. (noon)...something like that...so it to is designed for Americans coming up, not Vancouverites going down.
     
  5. rsn48

    rsn48 TrainBoard Member

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    Okay, I'm suffering from premature excitement. It is confirmed I saw a sounder, but apparently it was a charter deal. So I guess it will be only putting in guest appearances. I thought it was weird that a second train would come up from Seattle (not Amtrack), without Amtrack kicking up a fuss.
     
  6. BN9900

    BN9900 TrainBoard Member

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    The second Amtrak train goes only as far north as Bellingham and Gray hound does the rest. The train lays over in the EX Milw now GP yard south of Bellingham. The train leaves for the south at 10:15 am and reterns at 7:00 pm. [​IMG]
     
  7. rsn48

    rsn48 TrainBoard Member

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    The reason for the bus stupidity meeting Amtrack is due to our British Columbia government, I'm embarrassed to admit. I forget the reason, but I know it our fault.
     
  8. rsn48

    rsn48 TrainBoard Member

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    The BC goverment does not want to supply the canadian cutums agents needed to run the train from Seattle to Vancouver as they would have to pay a cab to get them from the airport to the train station. If they can have Billion dollar fast ferries, can't they afford a cab? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

    Happy Railroading!

    Dane N. :cool:
     
  9. N TRAINing

    N TRAINing New Member

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    Speaking of the Sounder… I saw an HO scale engine decorated with this cool paint scheme in a local hobby store display case last week. I did not get a chance to ask who the manufacturer was because the store was too crowded, and I did not want to wait… But it looked good.

    [​IMG]

    THE PROBLEM is that I am an N scaler… Has anyone seen this in N yet? I feel that having this train is a requirement since I do live in the Pacific Northwest.

    Also, for anyone interested, the new passenger station for Sound Transit in Everett is coming along nicely and would make an AWESOME model! I will try and get some pics when it is a little further along.

    Here is the link to the Sound Transit Sounder Info Page Sound Transit

    [ 22 December 2001: Message edited by: N TRAINing ]
     
  10. cthippo

    cthippo TrainBoard Member

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    Actually, the problem is part financial, part engineering, but mostly political. A friend of mine used to be the BNSF New Westminster sub (USA-Canada border to Vancouver) trainmaster and explined it to me. In short, the problem is that there are no sidings between the border and CN's Thornton Yard, a distance of 30 or 40 miles. Because of this, only one train at a time can be in the "block" and so no trains can run between the northbound and southbound Amtrak, or between 1100 and about 1800. BNSF has done the engineering for a 6,000 foot siding, but doesn't want to spend the money just so Amtrak can run more trains. Amtrak would love to pay BNSF to build it, but doesn't have the money itself. The state of Washington would like to see it happen, but can't spend the money for trackage in Canada. The province of British Columbia doesn't really care one way or the other if the Americans run another train to Vancouver each day. The other interested player in this is the UP, which has trackage rights over the line to Vancouver, but can't use them because BNSF and Amtrak keep the line so congested that there is very little remaining room. At this time, UP carfloats their Canadian National interchange traffic from Seattle to CN's yard in North Vancouver.
     

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