Buffering used to be an indication of slow internet. But now it's an indication of new requirement taking hold at VIA Rail Canada. If you thought buffer cars were for oil trains, read on...this post will tell you everything I've been able to glean in the past week. The desperate dearth of information provided by VIA or any other reliable source led me to it, likely led you here, just like the 1,700 pageviewers in the first seven days. Now, the consist thickens...
Additional posts I've published on this topic:
OCTOBER 27 UPDATE: Thanks to the National Post's Chris Selley for his
nationally-read October 27 article, using this buffer car post as a springboard to discuss other challenges VIA is facing. Chris' piece begins: "
A seemingly obscure little news item popped up recently in the rail-fan blogosphere..."
OCTOBER 28 UPDATE: Although VIA is maintaining near-absolute secrecy about it, several cars are on their way to contract shops to have their structural integrity tested. Up to: one baggage, on coach, one diner, one Park, and maybe even an RDC! Equipment to be stripped in Montreal, though testing may take place at the National Research Council's Ottawa Rail Testing Facility.
NOVEMBER 10 UPDATE: Thanks to Bernard Babin et Gilles Gagne of the Quebec news network Le Soleil for publishing
this excellent article (en francais) on the buffer-car issue. Interestingly, Gilles roots out some new information, and I like this sub-headline "Uncertainty and secrecy, worse than danger". Gilles also publishes specific questions he asked VIA Rail that elicited no response.
BUFFER CARS - AN EMERGING VIA POLICY
Despite claims from railfans that these were one-offs or some sort of conspiracy, it was an official VIA policy. It was a safety provision in event of a collision with another train or equipment. The goal seemed to be to reduction of impact energy being transmitted through a train's consist, due to a lack of structural integrity in the HEP1 and HEP2 cars to cushion the impact.
I found a complete 'cone of silence' when it came to orders or new regulations being imposed on VIA by regulatory agencies, Transport Canada, Canada Transportation Agency, Transportation Safety Board or the host railways and perhaps most surprisingly, from VIA itself! Also a 'cone of science' as to why this had suddenly become a safety concern. As some would say, after 70+ years. I began to assemble some data points as we build the case retrospectively. This corner of the 'railfan blogosphere' got busy, as the only source of information on the buffer cars!
Data Point 1: VIA's Heritage Fleet Modernization Program, which began in 2018, is an important capital equipment program for VIA Rail as it involves renovating 54 cars in its Head End Power (HEP) fleet. The HEP I long-haul cars are at or over 65 years of age and have not had any refurbishment performed in 27 years. The HEP II cars, which are approximately 70 years old, were acquired and refurbished by VIA Rail in the early 1990s with no refurbishment since that time. Structural repairs are required to this aging fleet to address identified cracks and corrosion issues to ensure continued health and safety for travellers and employees.
Data Point 2: Twitter to the rescue. This could be a start:
Data Point 3: Nearly a week after the use of buffer cars began, Trains News Wire threw us a buffer bone:
An independent consultant’s inspection requested by VIA Rail Canada management has prompted the company to immediately assign non-revenue buffer cars at the rear of all trains that utilize HEP-1 and HEP-2 stainless steel equipment manufactured more than 60 years ago. The action was taken unilaterally by VIA last week as a safety precaution, pending further examination by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and a series of more in-depth tests. Sources tell Trains News Wire that no single incident led to the company-wide inspection. But there have been isolated instances over the last several decades where cars built by the Budd Co. and other U.S. manufacturers, primarily in the 1950s, have occasionally displayed structural defects during periodic heavy overhauls. Trains News Wire expects VIA Rail Canada and the Transportation Safety Board to provide details on the next steps.
Data Point 4: An updated October 18 Trains News Wire story by Bob Johnston, with a revision: VIA shared its plan with Health and Safety Policy Committees, union leadership, and the Canadian rail safety regulator, an arm of Transport Canada (not the country’s Transportation Safety Board, as News Wire originally reported).
Data Point 5: A Globe & Mail story from October 19 acknowledges an email from VIA referring to the Hatch engineering firm report. The worst-kept secret in the rail enthusiast world - a ministerial order will be issued the same day, a week after this post was published. Perhaps better never than late! The same day the news stories were released, VIA's Instagram account showed VIA brass breaking a champagne bottle on the first of the Siemens trainsets! Buffering the news cycle!
Data Point 6 (from a much later January 2, 2023 online post by Rick Fullerton): Just arrived in Toronto from Vancouver on #2 Friday around noon. Talked to a VIA engineer about the issue with the Budd stainless steel fleet. Just to clarify, he indicated the chassis main frame of the cars is carbon steel and is mig welded to the stainless steel car shell. The problem is the main frames have been patch welded too many times, compromising the overall robustness of the car to withstand a collision incident. Hence the deployment of the buffer cars.
Therefore, I find it necessary in the interests of safe railway operations to make this order, under section 32.01 of the RSA, requiring VIA to:
1. Implement the following operational mitigations to reduce the potential consequences of a collision event:
-Position empty rolling stock directly behind the locomotive and as the last car in any train that includes HEP cars to act as a buffer.
-Ensure HEP cars are positioned as per the engineering consultant's recommendation to minimize energy transfer and impact to an occupied car.
2. Conduct an engineering simulation of predicted HEP car collision performance and provide to Transport Canada a report summarizing the assumptions and findings by October 31, 2022.
3. Conduct a tear down inspection of four HEP cars with structural defects to identify whether additional structural conditions, which are only visible in this invasive-type inspection, are present and provide Transport Canada with a copy of the inspection report and a list of recommended actions by January 31, 2023.
4. Conduct a static structural test (compression test) to the requirements of the Association of American Railroads - S034, of at least two unrepaired HEP cars, to validate the structural capacity and provide Transport Canada a copy of the test report and an assessment of how the test outcomes will inform future repairs and mitigating measures by January 31, 2023.
5. Provide the final report of the engineering simulation, incorporating findings from tear down and static structural tests required in item 3 and item 4 by March 31, 2023.
6. Conduct a static structural test (compression test) to the requirements in the Association of American Railroads - S034, of at least one fully repaired HEP car, to validate the repair methodology and provide TC a copy of the test report and an assessment of how test outcomes will inform future repairs and mitigating measures by December 31, 2023.
This Order takes effect on October 19, 2022 and will remain in effect unless it is repealed by the Minister of Transport.
-Director General, Rail Safety
TEMPORARY OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS
As of October 12, 2022 all Head End Power (that's HEP1 and/or HEP2) consists - thereby excluding LRC-equipped Corridor trains - must have an unoccupied car on head-end AND tail-end. This is a soft launch. The first effect felt by VIA Rail passengers was pet owners being notified that they would not be allowed to have access to their pet in the baggage car. No pets could now be handled in baggage cars. Passengers were sent a message telling them to have medication, or any items needed while on the train, with them in their carry-ons. Accordingly, on-board service personnel would also not have access to the baggage car, only the engineers doing baggage-handling at stops. Baggage cars would now be counted as buffer cars. These changes were termed temporary operational adjustments. Also, VIA said it was sorting through these operational changes.
BUFFER CAR CONSISTS
Then, deadhead sleepers began appearing on the tail-end of VIA's Canadian (above). All of a sudden, Corridor railfans were noting an empty sleeper tacked on the tail-end of a stainless steel Corridor consist. Examples and reports from various online and personal observations since October 12:
- VIA No 76 with Craig Manor trailing
- VIA No 71 with a sleeper trailing
- VIA No 73 with Manor car
- VIA No 1 with Carleton Manor trailing
- VIA No 601/603 with Chateau Rigaud and 8109D trailing
October 14:
- VIA No 62/52 with illegible name Manor car at head-end
- VIA No 55 with unlit coaches at either end
- VIA No 1 with Chateau Marquette at head-end and Carleton Manor at tail-end
October 15:
- VIA No 2 with Chateau Marquette at head-end until set out at Winnipeg, and Cameron Manor following Laurentide Park
- VIA No 55 with a Manor car at head-end
- VIA No 692 with unoccupied Evangeline Park on tail-end
- VIA No 693 with a coach following the Park car
October 17:
- VIA No 1 with coach 8134 following the Park car
- VIA No 2 with Monck Manor at head-end and Carleton Manor at tail-end
October 18:
- VIA No 693 with Chateau Marquette as eighth and last car
- VIA No 41 with LRC car 3329 at head-end and 3361 tail-end
* * * * * C O R R I D O R P A R T O N E * * * * *
Here are the six buffered Corridor consists in use: date observed, train number, locomotive and cars (D=refurbished 'D&H' scheme) Part I up to October 29, (see Part Two below for October 29-November 4):
October 14 No 62/52: 908-XX Manor*-4009D-4103-4100-4114D-8110D
October 15 No 60/50: 901-4107-4002D-4119-4106-4116-(4121 added October 21)
October 15 No 41: 904-3455-4008D-4110D-8102D-4104-4121**/***/****
October 15 No 62/52: 6421-8129D-4007D-4117-8123-4105D-8103*****
October 15 No 40: 9xx-4000D-4004D-4108-4122-4115D-4112D******
October 17 No 61: 6412-3329-4003D-4113D-4101-4120-3361*******
**4121 was replaced by 4005D by October 21
***4008D was replaced by 4001D as of October 24
****3455 was replaced by 8122 on October 29, after 8122 was deadheaded to Toronto on an LRC consist
*****8103 was replaced by 4113D as of October 17, until taking its place back from 4113D by October 27!
******4112D replaced by 8116 as of October 27, until taking its place back on October 28.
*******3329/3361 were replaced by 8106/8129D on October 29
October 21:
- VIA No 2 with 8134 at head-end and Thompson Manor tail-end
- VIA No 601 with Chateau Rigaud at tail-end
- VIA No 603 with 8109D at tail-end
- VIA No 40: 904-4107-4002D-4119-4106-4116-4121-4001D-6431 (longest Corridor consist yet)
October 23:
- VIA No 1: Carleton Manor at tail-end
October 24:
- VIA No 60/50: 6415-4107-4002D-4119-4106-4116-4121-919-3455-4001D-4110D-8102D-4104-4005D (double-buffered consist!)
- VIA No 693 with 8127 as eighth and last car
- VIA No 2 Cameron Manor at tail-end seen at Banff and behind Laurentide Park - photo below kindly shared by Bernie Goodman at Washago, ON.
October 28:
- VIA No 601 with Chateau Rigaud at tail-end
- VIA No 603 with Chateau Iberville at tail-end
- VIA No 2 with Christie Manor at tail-end
* * * * * C O R R I D O R P A R T T W O * * * * *
An updated record of the six corridor consists, from October 29 to November 4. (See Part Three below for November 4 and thereafter):
October 29 No 41: 908-8116-4009D-4103-410x-4114D-8110.
October 29 No 60/50: 6415-4107-4002D-4119-4106-4121-4116.*/**
October 29 No 62/52: 6436L-8126-4003D-4113D-4101-4120-8109D.***
October 29 No 40: 916-4000D-4004D-4108-4122-4115D-4008D.
October 30 No 50: 918-8122-4001D-4110D-8102D-4104-4005D.****
October 31 No 41: 6414-8129D-4007D-4117-8123-4105D-8103.*****/******
*consist remarshalled and 4116 replaced on tail-end by 4112D by Oct.30
**4106-4107 removed, two 33xx on tail-end behind 4112D by Oct. 31; two 33xx removed, 4103 added by Nov. 3
***4120 removed by Nov. 2
****consist minimally remarshalled, 4005D removed by Nov. 4
*****8123 removed Oct. 31
******4120 added by Nov. 4
October 29:
- VIA No 63 with 4109-8122 (shades down) deadheading at tail-end of four-car LRC consist, and added to October 30's No 50! None of the three LRC buffer cars are still in use
- VIA No 185/186 with 6250 (baggage) and 6105 (buffer) bracketing occupied 6217.
- VIA No 692 with 8127 at tail-end. ( below - Mark Perry photo of 8127 on 693 in Winnipeg)
October 31:
- VIA No 63 with 8112 (half-shades) deadheading at tail-end of four-car LRC consist
- VIA No 692 with Chateau Lasalle at tail-end
- VIA No 2 with Thompson Manor at tail-end
November 1:
- VIA No 42 with 8113 (half-shades) deadheading at tail-end of four-car LRC consist
* * * * * C O R R I D O R P A R T T H R E E * * * * *
An updated record of the six corridor consists, from November 4 to November 11. Having established a good pattern in these three parts of Corridor listings, I'll only post updates occasionally now.
November 4 No 41: 912-8129D-4007D-4117-4105D-4120-8103.*
November 4 No 52: 918-8122 shades down-4001D-4110D-4104-8102D. (5 CARS)**
November 5 No 50: 910-4121-4002D-4119-4112D-4116-4103.***/****
November 5 No 52: 6436L-8126-4003D-4113D-4101-8109D. (5 CARS)****
November 5 No 40: 911-4000D-4004D-4108-4122-4115D-4008D.
November 8 No 41: 908-8116-4009D-4109-4100-4114D-8110.*****
* 4007D replaced by 4005D; 4105D replaced by 4107 [sometime] between Nov 4 and Nov 7; 8129D replaced by 8110D on Nov 10
**4110D replaced by 4105D on Nov 5
***4103 replaced by 4101 between Nov 6 and Nov 8
****4112D replaced by 4106 Nov 9
*****4101 replaced by 4103 between Nov 5 and Nov 8
******8110 replaced by 8105 between Nov 5 and Nov 8
November 5:
- VIA No 2 with Cameron Manor at tail-end, apparently being menaced by a CN freight (below - photo by Tim Kent at Hornepayne, ON):
November 6:
- After being in Corridor service since the beginning of the buffer-car era, 8123 headed west at the head-end of VIA No 1. Thompson Manor at tail-end.
November 7:
- Check this postscript for more on the testing now underway, and watch that postscript for an upcoming press story for which I was interviewed.
November 13:
- VIA No 1 with Christie Manor at tail-end. (Still in use February 3)
November 14:
- VIA No 692 with Chateau Marquette at tail-end.
- VIA No 2 with Cameron Manor (still in use December 25) at tail-end - 8120 at head-end VCVR-JASP then 8137 WPEG-TRTO on tail-end. Prestige Chateau Denonville and 8517 were deadheaded at head-end as well. 8137 and 8517 trailed VIA No 42 east on Nov. 22. On November 28, 8137 and Yoho Park deadheaded west on VIA No 63. Photo below kindly shared by Patty Moss, taken from the lounge in Prestige Class Laurentide Park:
November 15:
- VIA No 2 at Toronto - Brock Manor at tail-end (still in use January 18, 2023)
November 20:
- VIA No 1 departed Toronto with two tail-end cars - a Manor followed by a diner, likely Frontenac that was deadheaded into Toronto after interior refurbishment and now on its way to Vancouver. (Video capture below by CJ Burnell):
November 22
- VIA No 603/601 had buffer cars Chateau Iberville/Chateau Rigaud, respectively.
November 29
- VIA No 5 appeared to have Assiniboine Park. After the Park car!
December 2
- VIA No 1 had Christie Manor and 8140 at the tail-end
December 4
- VIA No 1 had Yoho Park 'backwards', likely for Churchill service, trailing Christie Manor at tail-end. Yoho Park had arrived at TMC from MMC on November 28's No 63.
December 4 and 6
- For the first time since the very early implementation of buffer cars, two Manor cars have been used in Corridor service. Craig Manor trailed No 50 on December 4, and though largely illegible on the other side, No 63 on December 6. Blair Manor trailed No 50 on December 6, returning that evening on No 645. Blair Manor trails No 50 on December 8 (image courtesy Railstream, LLC):
December 10
- VIA 603/601 each operate with baggage, coach and Chateau buffer car: Iberville and Laval (both still in use/Feb 1.
- VIA No 40 had Drummond Manor as tail-end buffer car.
December 11
- VIA No 1 had Revelstoke Park backwards, deadheading at head-end, with Cameron Manor-8134 at tail-end. Revelstoke Park had been on December 9's No 51.
December 12
- VIA No 692 with Chateau Lasalle at tail-end.
December 13
- VIA No 2 had Christie Manor-8142 at the tail-end. On December 22, 8142 trailed VIA No 42's LRC consist.
December 14
- VIA No 41 had Lorne Manor as tail-end buffer car, having joined Blair Manor, Craig Manor, and Drummond Manor as the fourth Manor car in the Corridor consists.
* * * * * C O R R I D O R P A R T F O U R * * * * *
With the use of three Manor cars in the Corridor, it's time to list the Corridor buffer-car consists used from December 13 until January 7/23. (It seems to me that there's a coachyard numerologist at work. Notice how five consists had two or three cars (Business Class and at least one coach) that end with the same numeral!
December 9 No 41: 6406-8110D-4007D-4117-4107-4120-8103D */**/***/****
December 12 No 40: 908-4000D-4008D-4108-4105D-4100-4122+
December 12 No 44: 900-8122-4005D-4115D-4116-8129D-Craig Manor
December 13 No 41: 6411-8116-4009D-4109-4114D-4112D-Drummond Manor*****/******
December 13 No 50: 913-8126-4003D-4113D-4106-8105-Blair Manor*******
December 13 No 52: 912-4121-4002D-4119-4110D-4111D-4001D********/++/+++
*8103D replaced by Lorne Manor by Dec. 14
**4107 replaced by 4103 on Dec. 15
***8110D replaced by 4101 between Dec. 23 and Dec. 30
****4117 replaced by 4104 between Dec.16 and Dec. 30
*****8116 replaced by 8109D on Dec. 19; 8116 deadheaded east trailing No 42 on Dec. 20
******8116 replaced by 8109D on Jan. 6/23
*******Blair Manor replaced by Bliss Manor on Dec. 19
********4002D replaced by 4004D Jan. 2/23
+4008D removed, 8116 head-end on Jan. 6/23
++4119 replaced by 4117 between Jan. 1 and Jan. 7/23
+++ 4001D replaced by 4107 between Jan. 3 and Jan. 6
Here's Craig Manor at the tail-end of VIA No 45 on December 13, taken at Kingston with car line number 211 near the vestibule door:
December 17
- VIA No 41 had Drummond Manor at tail-end, in snow (image courtesy Railstream, LLC):
December 18
- VIA No 1 had Brock Manor and 8140 at tail-end.
December 19
- VIA No 50 had Bliss Manor at tail-end - the fifth Manor seeing Corridor buffer car service in December
December 23
- VIA No 2 had Brock Manor at tail-end.
December 31
- VIA No 692 with Chateau Levis at tail-end.
January 1, 2023 buffer cars are entering a new year:
- VIA No 1 has Cameron Manor at tail-end.
January 3, 2023
- VIA Banff Park was set out from No 2 at Jasper, joining Kokanee Park on the Skeena.
January 4, 2023
- VIA Lorne Manor trailed No 41 at a bleary-eyed nought seven forty:
January 6:
- VIA No 2 ex-Vancouver was trailed by Cameron Manor-coach 8106 for Prince Rupert. On January 11, coach 8100 was deadheaded at head-end of No 1 west from Jasper, perhaps replaced by 8106.
* * * * * C O R R I D O R P A R T F I V E * * * * *
Numerous changes to Corridor consists were made during the Christmas holidays. It's been three months since buffer cars, and now four Manor cars, were introduced. Here are the consists in use post-January 4, 2023:
- January 4 No 41: 907-4101-4007D-4104-4103-4120-Lorne Manor.
- January 5 No 52: 910-8122-4005D-4115D-4116-8129D-Craig Manor. Video of consist.*
- January 6 No 52: 900-8126-4003D-4113D-4106-8105-Bliss Manor.**
- January 7 No 41: 913-8109D-4009D-4109-4114D-4112D-Drummond Manor.***
- January 7 No 50: 6427L-8116-4000D-4108-4105D-4100-4122.****
- January 7 No 40: 919-4121-4004D-4117-4110D-4111D-4107.*****
*4115D replaced by 4111D on Jan. 10; 4005D and 8129D replaced by 4009D and 8109D between Jan.14 and Jan. 16; 8122 replaced by 8103 Jan. 22; 4001 replaced Craig Manor Jan. 28 after 4001 not observed since January 6.
**8126 replaced by 4000D Jan. 22; 8105-Bliss Manor replaced by 4119-Blair Manor Jan.25; 4003D replaced by 4008D Jan. 29 after 4008D not observed since Jan. 6.
***Drummond Manor replaced by 4118 on Jan. 13 but back on Jan. 17; 8109D replaced by 8110D and 4009D replaced by 4005D between Jan.16 and Jan. 26
****4000D-4108 replaced by 4002D-4117 on Jan. 9.
*****4117 and 4111D replaced by 4119-4115D on Jan.10; 4119 replaced by 4118 Jan. 24; 4115D replaced by 4108 Jan. 23 after 4108 not observed seen since Jan. 9.
January 9
- VIA No 692 with Chateau Lasalle at tail-end (still in use January 21)
January 17
- VIA No 2 departed Vancouver behind 6445-6440 with Brock Manor at tail-end and Skyline 8505 ahead of baggage car. Arrived Toronto behind 6440-6449 with 8127-unknown Manor cut in ahead of 8505.
- VIA No 2 departed Vancouver with Abbot Manor at tail-end (still in use January 31).
January 22
- VIA No 1 with Prestige Class Chateau Lauzon at head end; Abbot Manor-8142 at tail-end.
January 27
- Blair Manor is back as a Corridor buffer car, replacing Bliss Manor. (Bliss had replaced Blair as of December 19) and Craig Manor has left the well-Manor'd buffer car pool.
It's not that the passengers don't want to see the south-side scenery! The drawn shades are a giveaway that 8103 is a buffer car, immediately behind 911 on January 28's VIA No 40 (above - image courtesy Railstream, LLC).
* * * * * C O R R I D O R P A R T S I X * * * * *
To start off a new month, and to mark the expected delivery of the structural testing results to Transport Canada (oh, and because there have been almost complete turnovers in some of the consists - more turnovers than Pepperidge Farm!), listed below are the six Corridor HEP consists in use as of January 30, 2023 (D="D&H/ refurbished" scheme, L=Love the way wrap). Interestingly, VIA's normal equipment cycle was disrupted at this time, with HEP sets unusually used on trains 61 and 65, instead of the usual morning parade of Nos 41/60/50, 62/52, 42 that often rate an HEP consist:
Jan.30 No 41: 909-4101-4007D-4104-4103-4120-Lorne Manor.*
Jan.30 No 65: 911-8103-4009D-4111D-4116-8109D-4001D.
Jan.31 No 41: 909-8110D-4005D-4109-4102-4112D-Drummond Manor. +***
Jan.31 No 50: 902-4000D-4008D-4113D-4106-4119-Blair Manor.
Jan.31 No 61: 901-8116-4002D-4117-4105D-4100-4122.
Jan.31 No 52: 915-4121-4004D-4118-4108-4110D-4107.******
*4101 replaced by 8122 Feb.1
***4109 replaced by 4114D Feb.1
+4102 had deadheaded west on VIA No 51 on January 25. Previously not observed since November, 2021, this was perhaps a trial trip!
******4107 replaced by 4101 Feb.2
ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Prestige Class Park Car - If you have to ask, you can't afford it. I was only a Prestige poseur, not a pampered passenger. So, my travel in the Park car was confined to one evening eastward on the Canadian in June, 2019 (top photo and above). But from the cut of my fellow Prestige (actual) passengers, they were there for The Experience. Maybe The Experience included rhapsodizing about the receding track as we rolled into the night (already being lamented on Youtube. Maybe it was not, and they were A-OK with looking out the side window. Or occupying the dome. No diaphragm in sight here, just the day sinking like a sunset. On October 25, VIA sent emails (and a subsequent retraction email) to Canadian Sleeper and Prestige passengers denying access to the Park car! Apparently intended for Skeena passengers instead. Oops. Consists reduced to 15 cars at end of October.
RDC Redundancy - The Sudbury-White River RDC run has even employed buffer RDC's. Three cars: baggage-passengers-buffer.
Skeena Sadness - On the Skeena, not only was access to the Park car suspended, so was snack and beverage service. Or, as one sad passenger put it, 12 hours without food, drink or Park car access. Perhaps there would be Red Cross parcels provided? As of November 23, a buffer car was being sent for use on the Prince Rupert run. Assiniboine Park was the buffer car on November 29. Kokanee Park arrived in Jasper on No 2 on January 3. One of few instances of two Park cars running together in VIA's history.
Churchill Churlishness - On the Winnipeg-Churchill train, there will also be an unoccupied Park car until buffer cars can be deadheaded to Winnipeg. Then a coach following the Park car when coaches became available. Later a Chateau at tail-end, following the Chateau.
Jonquiere Junkets - Even the Montreal to Jonquiere train 601/603 to Senneterre are included, with the 601 gaining a Chateau car on October 12 and a refurbished coach on 603, later a Chateau for each.
Ocean Okay - Since the Ocean is no longer turned at Halifax, the bidirectional contest has four ex-CP cars on one end, including a baggage, as well as an unoccupied Renaissance car on the opposite end. Buffer cars need not apply!
Corridor Content - Six HEP consists are operating in the Corridor. LRC cars have been added as buffer cars, one Manor car which quickly left the Corridor consists, or just another stainless steel coach on currently stainless-steel consists. This operational adjustment may not look all that different here. At night, passing trains can be seen with no lights and/or no passengers in head-end and tail-end coaches. Manor cars entered Corridor buffer-car service in December.
STAY TUNED...LATEST UPDATE JANUARY 31, 2023!
I'll update this post as reliable information becomes available, or the adjustments change. This post will remain a record of 'remember when buffer cars started?' and is already the longest-running post in Trackside Treasure history! We might still be wallowing in buffer-car nostalgia months from now when they're still in use.
