One of the great cloud of readers that I'm surrounded with (hey, I'm writing this on a Sunday!) here on Trackside Treasure is Mark Charlebois of Montreal. I had the opportunity to meet Mark here in Kingston last November for a caffeine-addled sun-dappled Saturday summit, but long before that, Mark has kindly re-homed some surplus items of rolling stock that I have proudly put into service on my HO scale Hanley Spur layout at least as far back as 2019!
Recently, Mark told me about his recent trips into Ontario: first to Kingston then another to Casselman. They seemed like a great way to kick off the summer [train] travel season. Since I don't have any [train] trips planned myself, I will live VIAcariously through Mark and share his experiences here. I really liked Mark's easy-going travelogue style, mixed with food reviews(!) and his spur-of-the-moment photography and with his approval, in this post I'm presenting both in this pop-up post, in the style of Fidelak's Churchill. Here [with very few edits] is Charlebois' Kingston Casselman casse-croute!
"I hope you're doing well and enjoying the seasonal break from the layout as well as the fine weather. Was on vacation last week and decided I'd visit Kingston and later on in that week Casselman. I was craving a trip or two on the rails and these day trips were both affordable (ticket price-wise) and provided a decent amount of time in visiting city/village. The planning (what to do in town during a weekday) was ad hoc, therefore a small amount of time at destination was preferable on top of what connections home VIA had on hand.
TRIP 1 DORVAL-KINGSTON RETURN
On May 20, we Ventured into Kingston on time, VIA No 33 to Ottawa was delayed (what a shocker) when we left on No 63 around 0911. At several grade crossings, a CN pickup with technician was present to 'guard the crossing'. This happened almost immediately after Dorval and from what I could see, until Côteau. Train was slow between Cornwall and Gananoque.
We spent the day downtown, initially by the waterfront seeing Sir John A, the Ten-wheeler. The tourist centre looks like a former station [it is], but that could be my eyes deceiving me [they're not].
Lunch at Chuck's Roadhouse was not only great value but taste. We opted for ribs, wings, fingers and rings and split it. Saw on the menu a steak (maybe London or small rib eye) and a lobster tail $25. That's incredibly affordable. When outside, we saw Dianne's smokehouse and seafood place; a singular lobster roll $44. I normally do not complain about the price of food if it tastes good, however I cannot wrap my head around $44 for a lobster roll. I've had them cheaper and fresher at Auld's Cove [NS] and I do not eat my province's own overpriced lobster rolls called guédilles. I'll spend the money and get a full lobster instead.
Stumbled upon Tragically Hip Way which conveniently is where other poets gather [it's the longest street sign in Kingston and often gets bent by roadies' transports turning]. The emplacement of the street reminded me of their song "Poets" and particularly the verse "don't tell me what the poets are doing".
TRIP 2 DORVAL-CASSELMAN RETURN
On Friday May 22, we Ventured to Casselman onboard VIA No 33 and stayed there until 1630 when VIA No 28 arrived and brought us home to Dorval. Unlike Wednesday, all we saw and rode were Ventures. Not mad at that, however that HEP2+LRC mixed buffered set is something I'd like to see. At this point, I would add some sort of concluding thought on them saying probably "this is probably the last time I ride LRCs" and whatnot. However, despite the self-imposed retirement date by VIA, much like we've both alluded to previously, not convinced Feb. 2027 arrives and this equipment will be gone...[healthy skepticism].
Back to the trip! This trip was similar to what we saw on Wednesday: VIA No 63 arrived did its station stop on time and left, VIA No 33 was delayed. 
Scheduled for 0926, we finally left Dorval around 1000. This time, I spotted CN pickups with orange clad men in them from west of Dorval all the way to Côteau station. Even at rural crossings where ATVs and farmers cross the tracks, a CN pickup with an orange clad man was present. In particular, one crossing had a city concrete divider next to it with orange spray paint indicating to "Call CN before crossing". Unsure if it's locals or CN that did that.
[find the 'hidden' Siemens logo]
[Disappearing train hints - pulled windshield shades and red marker lights]
With no plan, it was an ad hoc solution to finding something to do with exploring this small town. With the bowling alley opening at 1600, our return on VIA No 28 at 1632, we needed filler and settled on Giant Tiger after patronizing the A&W for a pit stop and a snack.
Like Kingston, we wanted to patronize a local business for lunch and bring back supper. Eric's Pizza was not a choice (gf does not like the payoff of taste vs. calories) despite emanating delicious odour in a kilometer radius. We chose Mumbai Masala Grill and had the restaurant to ourselves. Really, really good - a small chain with four locations including this one and another in Ottawa. Restaurant staff was just one, thus I'd argue this was a local establishment. There are plenty examples of one-man shops, but here they are generally something like a Jugo juice stand in a mall, a bubble tea shop in non-busy hours. We patronized Casselman restaurant on the way back, they have Canadian, Italian and Chinese cuisine. Another solid choice.
Disembarking in Dorval:
BONUS - THE LDRR FLEET
Value added! Mark calls this his "unauthorized, unasked-for, citizen-compiled, potential list of candidates VIA might choose" to replace the Budd-built cars in the Long Distance, Regional, Remote (LDRR) fleet. Mark is my 'spirit animal' when it comes to trains in other countries, something about which I have no clue, "You have much to learn, grasshopper." Mark is the man-machine-poem on this topic.
The criteria: supplier must have a shell/platform listed, news article citing sale of platform/family of railcar, news article citing platform/family of railcar operators, supplier must have sleeper and food service in offering of platform/family of railcar, must respond to most of VIA's requirements. Only three of main suppliers could submit based on what I found. It's possible, the other suppliers' engineering departments tweaked the designs to comply.
Contenders:
1) Alstom — X'Trapolis (Tren Maya) - highly customizable commuter shell, wheelchair friendly, diner, cafe lounge, coach, sleepers with rooms. Negatives: no domes, hot climate, not individually coupled, no baggage car, short haul overnight service plan.
2) Siemens — Viaggio Next Level/Vectouro (Nightjet 2,+ Ceske drahy (CD) pushpull intercity sets) -multiple accommodations including pod sleeper aka modern berth, diner (Ceska drahy version), coach compartment and standard, accessible <<multimode car>>; luggage space, wheelchair space, platform, possibly adaptable to either Venture or Airo, cab car coach. Negatives: fixed trainsets, no dome, no separate baggage car.
3) Stadler -- Flirt Nex, KTZ rolling stock - couchette (KTZ), double bedroom (KTZ), generator car (KTZ), 18-seat coach with crew quarters and accessible accomodations (KTZ), Panorama dome car (different family), pod sleeper coach (Flirt Nex), bistro/cafe (Flirt Nex), lounge (Flirt Nex), both extremes climatewise. Negatives: not individually coupled, Panorama dome car is not currently in production, KTZ Russian gauge, Flirt Nex European loading gauge.
Honourable mentions:
1) Talgo -- Talgo 230. Reasons for mention: won Trafikverket (body that owns and operates SJ, Swedish national carrier) contract in April of this year, double bedroom, modern duplex roomettes and four-berth couchettes, dining car, bistro car and a salon Parisien, can operate on bad infrastructure, touted by Talgo as operable in -40C. Reasons for DQ: no domes, not individually-coupled, reputation for rough ride, European continental loading gauge, low capacity per car.
2) Kinki Sharyo - Hitachi -- E657 series. Reason for mention: diner, lounge, brand-new service (2027), announced Aug 2025, sleepers with accommodations suitable for international tourists. Reasons for DQ: no coach, trainset not individually-coupled, narrow gauge adaptable but base product is not standard gauge, low capacity per car.
Did not qualify:
CAF. Reason for DQ: no current NA product available. It's possible they still submitted with either the Caledonian Sleeper MK5 fleet or Viewliner 2 fleet as proposal with manufacturing done overseas.
So that's what I came up with. In compiling the list, I'd love Stadler to win but I would also like Kinki Sharyo. Both past and present offerings from both firms align with what VIA is asking for. Not exactly or entirely it, but close to it. Nothing to suggest they've submitted or are contending or interested in the NA market...but what Kinki Sharyo did with the Twilight Express Mizukaze is worth the gander.
Siemens would not be a bad option, however no domes. A Venture or Airo adaptation of the Vectouro could be good. The Ventures have given us good service so far. I would think, had it not been for the massive amount of bad press Siemens has received with VIA's Chargers for the breakdowns and Siemens not remedying the issues, Siemens might have been the winner or if not a very serious contender.
Time will tell. I've also done the locomotive edition. This exercise is like a breath of fresh air; it forces me to fact check and analyze what is really available. Not just, "Ooh, I like the look of this". Thus, I've done citizen-research from various manufacturers and have come up with this list. The criteria: four-axle, in production or still listed on website, in some cases a picture on website, diesel- powered mentioned or diesel hybrid, passenger loco mentioned as product description.
Candidates:
1) Alstom ALP45 DP: Unsure La Pocatière still has the machinery but they may still be making parts for Exo's fleet. Perhaps minus the pantograph and the associated electrical mode, the cost and weight can come down. I feel this is THE OPTION for VIA.
2) Wabtec ES30ACi: Six-axle is obviously a strike against it, 4250HP or 3300HP option, double cab to support VIA's inability to turn trains at certain end points. In service in Egypt, good for our heat, unsure about our cold.
3) CAF Bitrac: single or double cab, four-axle or six-axle, electric or diesel-electric. In service in Saudi Arabia as well as the double cab version in Europe.
4) Stadler Eurolight: four-axle, operates in the UK as Class 68 (previously produced by Vossloh). Used in both freight and passenger operations, double cab to support VIA's inability to turn trains at certain end points.
5) Progress Rail F125: high-horsepower, has sold on international market, only other loco on this list produced on the continent. Size of loco has potential for longer legs than F40PH-2D. This is my dark horse candidate despite higher than desired speed and poor service record. Rationale? They've learned from their mistakes with the original production run and have worked out the bugs. Wishful thinking, yes but sometimes people can surprise us.
My thanks to Mark for sharing his trips and his expertise in all things world and passenger train!
Running extra...
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers and grandfathers among Trackside Treasure's readership!
from the Book of Job:
"For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, because our days on earth are as a shadow."
VIA diner Imperial deadheaded from Vancouver on VIA No 2, and Emerald was also added at Winnipeg, thence also deadheading to VIA's TMC on June 5, then the MMC on VIA No 68 June 9. Seen in this YouTube link, running about 25 minutes late at Mi 180 CN Kingston Sub at Collins Bay, the two diners are on the tail-end of VIA's last HEP2 Corridor consist still in operation here with Business Class cars 4002-4009 behind VIA 915, then coaches 4113-4111-4115. Equipping VIA Nos 61-68, these two trains are used to deadhead locomotives and cars for the Canadian west and east, respectively. When the Corridor is all Ventures, will these cars deadhead on the tail-end of a Venture set?? Thanks to Malcolm Peakman for the heads-up.
On the same day, this RCAF Hercules landed at Kingston airport in an exercise with people acting as agitators and gun-toting perimeter security:
First past the post...
Our great country has a new Governor-General! Eminently-experienced Her Excellency The Right honourable Louise Arbour was installed this past Monday - formerly an Ontario and Federal Supreme Court Justice, United Nations rapporteur, International Criminal Tribunals Chief Prosecutor, and recipient of 42 honorary doctorates. Good weather enlightened the CBC coverage of the ceremony in the Senate and the subsequent visit to the National War Memorial and the laying of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown with two of her grandsons, then an inspection of the Governor-General's Foot Guards at Rideau Hall:
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