The Canadian
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2008-06-21T04:06:25Z
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[[Image:TheCanadian RouteMap.png|thumb|400px|right|Old (red) and new (blue) route maps of ''The Canadian'']]
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:TheCanadian with elk.jpg|thumb|300px|right|VIA Rail Canada's ''The Canadian'']] -->
'''''The Canadian''''' is a [[Canada|Canadian]] transcontinental [[passenger train]] originally operated by the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]. It is currently operated by [[VIA Rail Canada]] (as the '''''Canadian''''') with service between [[Union Station (Toronto)|Union Station]] in [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]] and [[Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)|Pacific Central Station]] in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]]. Before the current transcontinental service, the name "The Canadian" had been used on CPR's overnight Montreal / Chicago trains.
==Canadian Pacific==
[[Image:VIADiningCarA79.JPG|thumb|left|200px|[[Dining car]] interior on ''The Canadian'' (2005)]]
{| {{Railway line header}}
{{BS-header|Via Rail – ''The Canadian'' route}}
{{BS-table}}
{{BS2|||Distance|Station}}
{{BS|KBFa|0|[[Toronto, Ontario]] ([[Union Station (Toronto)|Union Station]])}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|143|abbr=yes}}|[[Washago railway station|Washago]]|<sup>1</sup>}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|241|abbr=yes}}|[[Parry Sound]] ([[Parry Sound railway station|CP station]])}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|422|abbr=yes}}|[[Sudbury Junction]]}}
{{BS|BHF|{{km to mi|444|abbr=yes}}|[[Capreol]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|493|abbr=yes}}|[[Laforest, Ontario|Laforest]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|494|abbr=yes}}|[[McKee's Camp, Ontario|McKee's Camp]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|521|abbr=yes}}|[[Felix, Ontario|Felix]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|527|abbr=yes}}|[[Ruel, Ontario|Ruel]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|547|abbr=yes}}|[[Westree, Ontario|Westree]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|583|abbr=yes}}|[[Gogama, Ontario|Gogama]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|683|abbr=yes}}|[[Foleyet, Ontario|Foleyet]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|739|abbr=yes}}|[[Elsas, Ontario|Elsas]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|859|abbr=yes}}|[[Oba, Ontario|Oba]]}}
{{BS|BHF|{{km to mi|921|abbr=yes}}|[[Hornepayne, Ontario|Hornepayne]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|989|abbr=yes}}|[[Hillsport, Ontario|Hillsport]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1046|abbr=yes}}|[[Caramat, Ontario|Caramat]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1084|abbr=yes}}|[[Longlac, Ontario|Longlac]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1133|abbr=yes}}|[[Nakina, Ontario|Nakina]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1222|abbr=yes}}|[[Auden, Ontario|Auden]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1265|abbr=yes}}|[[Ferland, Ontario|Ferland]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1273|abbr=yes}}|[[Mud River, Ontario|Mud River]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1314|abbr=yes}}|[[Armstrong, Ontario|Armstrong]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1348|abbr=yes}}|[[Collins, Ontario|Collins]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1401|abbr=yes}}|[[Allanwater Bridge, Ontario|Allanwater Bridge]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1421|abbr=yes}}|[[Flindt Landing, Ontario|Flindt Landing]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1440|abbr=yes}}|[[Savant Lake, Ontario|Savant Lake]]}}
{{BS|BHF|{{km to mi|1537|abbr=yes}}|[[Sioux Lookout, Ontario|Sioux Lookout]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1621|abbr=yes}}|[[Richan, Ontario|Richan]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1652|abbr=yes}}|[[Red Lake Road, Ontario|Red Lake Road]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1682|abbr=yes}}|[[Canyon, Ontario|Canyon]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1720|abbr=yes}}|[[Farlane, Ontario|Farlane]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1735|abbr=yes}}|[[Redditt, Ontario|Redditt]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1758|abbr=yes}}|[[Minaki, Ontario|Minaki]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1780|abbr=yes}}|[[Ottermere, Ontario|Ottermere]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1784|abbr=yes}}|[[Malachi, Ontario|Malachi]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1788|abbr=yes}}|[[Copeland's Landing, Ontario|Copeland's Landing]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1796|abbr=yes}}|[[Rice Lake, Ontario]]}}
{{BS|eGRENZE|||[[Ontario]]/[[Manitoba]] border}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1801|abbr=yes}}|[[Winnitoba, Manitoba]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1806|abbr=yes}}|[[Ophir, Manitoba|Ophir]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1826|abbr=yes}}|[[Brereton Lake]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|1854|abbr=yes}}|[[Elma, Manitoba|Elma]]}}
{{BS|BHF|{{km to mi|1943|abbr=yes}}|[[Winnipeg, Manitoba|Winnipeg]] ([[Union Station (Winnipeg)|Union Station]])}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|2032|abbr=yes}}|[[Portage la Prairie]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|2150|abbr=yes}}|[[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon North]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|2173|abbr=yes}}|[[Rivers, Manitoba]]}}
{{BS|eGRENZE|||[[Manitoba]]/[[Saskatchewan]] border}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|2394|abbr=yes}}|[[Melville, Saskatchewan]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|2602|abbr=yes}}|[[Watrous, Saskatechewan]]}}
{{BS|BHF|{{km to mi|2702|abbr=yes}}|'''[[Saskatoon]]'''}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|2792|abbr=yes}}|[[Biggar railway station|Biggar]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|2885|abbr=yes}}|[[Unity, Saskatchewan]]}}
{{BS|eGRENZE|||[[Saskatchewan]]/[[Alberta]] border}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|3017|abbr=yes}}|[[Wainwright, Alberta]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|3089|abbr=yes}}|[[Viking, Alberta|Viking]]}}
{{BS|BHF|{{km to mi|3221|abbr=yes}}|[[Edmonton]]'''}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|3331|abbr=yes}}|[[Evansburg, Alberta|Evansburg]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|3430|abbr=yes}}|[[Edson, Alberta|Edson]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|3518|abbr=yes}}|[[Hinton, Alberta|Hinton]]}}
{{BS|BHF|{{km to mi|3600|abbr=yes}}|'''[[Jasper, Alberta]]'''}}
{{BS|eGRENZE|||[[Alberta]]/[[British Columbia]] border}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|3721|abbr=yes}}|[[Valemount, British Columbia]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|3814|abbr=yes}}|[[Blue River, British Columbia|Blue River]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|3923|abbr=yes}}|[[Clearwater, British Columbia|Clearwater]]}}
{{BS|BHF|{{km to mi|4038|abbr=yes}}|'''[[Kamloops, British Columbia|Kamloops North]]'''}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|4117|abbr=yes}}|[[Ashcroft, British Columbia|Ashcroft]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|4240|abbr=yes}}|[[Boston Bar, British Columbia|Boston Bar]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|4305|abbr=yes}}|[[Hope, British Columbia|Hope]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|4355|abbr=yes}}|[[Chilliwack, British Columbia|Chilliwack]]}}
{{BS|HST|{{km to mi|4380|abbr=yes}}|[[Abbotsford, British Columbia|Abbotsford]]}}
{{BS|KBFe|{{km to mi|4466|abbr=yes}}|[[Vancouver]] ([[Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)|Pacific Central Station]])}}
{{end}}<!-- end of {{BS-table}} -->
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In the years following [[World War II]], passenger trains on the CPR consisted of a mixture of prewar heavyweight and pre- and post-war lightweight cars, even on their [[flagship]] transcontinental ''[[The Dominion]]'' and its eastern extension, ''[[The Atlantic Limited]]''. While these cars were serviceable, [[United States|American]] trains of the early 1950s, such as the ''[[California Zephyr]]'', had already adopted streamlined all-[[stainless steel]] consists featuring [[dome car|domed]] [[observation car]]s. Following an evaluation in 1949 of the dome cars featured on the [[General Motors Diesel|General Motors]] / [[Pullman Company|Pullman Standard]] demonstrator ''Train of Tomorrow'', CPR management, including then Vice-president [[Norris Roy "Buck" Crump|Norris Crump]] resolved to upgrade their rolling stock. In 1953 CPR placed an order for 155 [[stainless steel]] cars with the [[Budd Company]] of [[Philadelphia]] that included 18 rear-end dome cars (''Park'' series), 18 ''Skyline'' mid-train dome cars, 30 [[Coach (rail)|coach]]es, 18 [[dining car]]s and 71 [[sleeping car]]s (''Manor'' and ''Chateau'' series). A subsequent order for 18 baggage-crew dormitory cars brought the final to total to 173 cars, sufficient for establishing an entirely new transcontinental service and partially re-equippiping ''The Dominion''. The [[interior design]] of these new cars was contracted to the Philadelphia [[architecture|architectural]] firm Harbeson, Hough, Livingston & Larson (a company known for its industrial designs on other prominent passenger trains such as the ''[[Pioneer Zephyr]]''), and the resulting furnishings and pastel-shaded colour schemes were widely acclaimed. After deciding to name the ''Park'' series dome cars after famous Canadian parks, leading Canadian [[artist]]s, including members of the [[Group of Seven (artists)|Group of Seven]], were commissioned to paint suitable murals for these cars. When the decision was made to add budget sleeping cars, the Budd order was supplemented by 22 existing heavyweight sleepers that CPR refurbished in its own Angus Shops, each fitted out with Budd-style stainless steel cladding. To complement the new rolling stock, the CPR ordered [[General Motors Diesel]] [[EMD FP9|FP9]] [[locomotives]] to supplement an existing fleet of [[EMD FP7|FP7]]s. Although these [[EMD F-unit|F-units]] remained the preferred power for the train, it was occasionally pulled by a variety of motive power, including [[Montreal Locomotive Works]] [[MLW FPA-2|FPA-2s]], and, as late as 1959, [[Steam locomotive]]s.
CPR christened their new [[flagship]] train ''The Canadian'' and service began on [[April 24]], [[1955]]. Although CPR competitor [[Canadian National Railway]]s began its own new transcontinental service, the ''[[Super Continental]]'', on the same day, CPR was able to boast honestly that ''The Canadian'' was "The first and only all-stainless steel 'dome' stream-liner in Canada" — it was not until 1964 that the CNR acquired dome cars.
CPR operated the train in two sections east of [[Sudbury, Ontario]]. The section operating between Montreal and Vancouver (also serving [[Ottawa, Ontario|Ottawa]]) was known as train 1 westbound and train 2 eastbound, with a connecting section to or from Toronto splitting or joining at Sudbury (this section was known as train 11 westbound, and train 12 eastbound). Matching its streamlined appearance, ''The Canadian's'' 71 hour westbound schedule was 16 hours faster than that of ''The Dominion''.
Although initially successful, passenger train ridership began to decline in Canada during the 1960s. Facing competition from [[airlines]] and increased automobile usage following construction of the [[Trans-Canada Highway]], the CPR cancelled ''The Dominion'' in 1966, and petitioned the [[Government of Canada|government]] to discontinue ''The Canadian'' in 1970. Although this petition was denied, CPR during the 1970s attempted to remove itself from the passenger service market. ''The Canadian'' was operated at reduced levels, with the government subsidizing 80 percent of its losses.
==VIA Rail==
[[Image:Thecanadian with canoe.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''The Canadian'' picking up a canoeist in central Ontario]]
The federal [[Crown corporation]] [[VIA Rail Canada]] formally assumed responsibility for CPR's passenger services on [[October 29]], [[1978]], although the VIA identity wasn't assumed by the trains themselves until the following summer. Following the takeover by VIA, the ''Canadian'' became the company's premier transcontinental train, and initially operated over its old CPR route. It was supplemented by the former CN ''Super Continental'', which operated over the parallel, but more northerly, CN route. The ''Canadian'' continued to be operated in two sections east of Sudbury and provided daily service west to Vancouver and east to Toronto and Montreal.
In the aftermath of the deep [[Canadian federal budget|budget]] cuts made to VIA Rail on [[January 15]], [[1990]], the ''Super Continental'' service was abolished and the ''Canadian'' was moved from the CPR route to the ''Super Continental's'' CN route. This maintained transcontinental service and allowed VIA to operate its government-mandated service to small communities along the line. The CN route is widely acknowledged to be less scenic, particularly in the sections through the [[Rocky Mountains]] and north of [[Lake Superior]]. Service was also reduced to 3 days per week. Today, VIA Rail continues to operate the ''Canadian'' using the CN route with rebuilt ex-CPR Budd passenger equipment.
While some rail travel and heritage purists no longer consider this to be the true ''Canadian'', VIA retains the name, train numbers, and equipment of the original.
==Gallery==
{{commonscat}}
<gallery>
Image:The Canadian at night.jpg|At [[Jasper, Alberta]].
Image:The Canadian's observatory.jpg|The observatory ([[dome car|dome]]) car.
</gallery>
== References ==
* ''Classic Trains'', Spring 2005, Kalmbach Publishing, ISSN 1527-0718 pg. 58–69
== External links ==
* [http://www.viarail.ca/trains/en_trai_toja.html Via Rail's Official Site]
* [http://photos.jonmasters.org/Trans_Canada_Canadian_20050715_to_20050719 A collection of photos from a journey on The Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto in July 2005]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of Canada|Canadian]]
[[Category:1955 introductions]]
[[Category:Canadian Pacific Railway passenger trains]]
[[Category:VIA Rail routes]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in Quebec]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in Ontario]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in Manitoba]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in Alberta]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transport in British Columbia]]
[[de:The Canadian]]
[[fr:Le Canadien (train)]]
[[fi:The Canadian]]
[[ko:캐나디언]]