Video

16 inches across the tracks, about 4 ft high and 10-12 feet long for the loco and cars. I didn’t measure anything, but you can figure it out by the video. How many it fits, etc. Some people here gave more details. Thanks for watching my video.

Merci, Cher ami. Je suis un “pure laine” de Montréal, exilé à Calgary depuis 1983; csuse: Trains dans les Rocheuses

@@MrMASSEYJONES Coool, Vous travaillez sur le Canadien ou le Rocky Maontainer ?

@@MrMASSEYJONES Merci M. Et merci pour votre service pour ce pays. Bonne retraite.

Go to REM info online to find a few more details; there’s also a great many more details in French; because the bulk of the work is carried in Québec; where French is the prime language; but is shouldn’t be a great problem if you know the basics of the tunnel. My understanding (and I read and read fluently in both languages (we used French at home); that yhe work started from both ends; although much of the improvement will be at the south (downtown end), with an additional station within the tunnel and elevator(s) to the street. Now living in Western Canada, I don’t keep up with the progress much, except through TV news en français, as well as on line news in La Presse and others, as well as occasional research about the tunnel construction, to keep me updated.

I also found more material (in English) about the demolition at a website called HATCH But start at REM (which stands for Réseau express métropolitain ((English: Metropolitan Express Network), where there will be countless details and videos, many in English.

those shuttered foot passages underneath the CPR and Jean-Talon Street (subways), one for each CNR platform -- it's bound to be congested once again above them once neo-barons set about mothballing trucking, right... and -- pardon me -- the rotten calibre of corporateers _stewarding_ the likes of the REM/MEN appall.......

Go to “The Gazette”; which is Montreal’s English language daily newspaper, for updates. You’ll be amply rewarded. The Gazette is available online as a free app.

what must've become wong with you? why would a member be so keen as to ditch their sm tool hereabouts by pottering over to some statically stale e-billboard for some matter that'd have failed newsworthiness at the early-Eighties..pray tell?

kindly thoughtful update 🍸 I don't remember this line being that busy -- loving all that lively nattering ... I wonder whether those stabled boxcabs must've still been coupled to those old, ever enchanting, cowboy cars...

@@trainrover I can answer this one for you… somewhat. A couple of the cars were trailers on the Deux Montagnes, and I believe at least 1 was formerly a motor; the pantograph was removed before the car was sold. One car is APXX 6747 “Val Royal”; who,at one time a long time ago, was CN T9; I didn’t look up its lstrr CN number

Sorry about the typo, I couldn’t’t back out to correct it. I looked up some more. APXX 6747 was CN 6747 ex-T9 6744 was CN 6744 ex T5 and 6741 was CN 6741 ex T2 So where on the roster in the 1990s, as I recall, there was also an ex CN motor; the pantograph was removed. Coming up, I have 3 Alberta Prairie videos taken in 1990; one is about Trip # 3 or 4, arriving at Rowley; the other 2 are at Meeting Creek and Rowley, where AP 41 switches grain hoppers from alongside the local elevator, to get to the front of her train from the mainline; and then puts them back. Lots of switching, little excursion; it’s mostly aimed at rail fans.

I noticed the side benching on the trailer you filmed and couldn't remember -- I'd taken the line evenings, and the rush-hour loco-hauled consists being Edwardian had clerestory rooves throughout, marvelously spellbinding being full of character they were and damn solid at that (the EMUs were rusting, e.g.) Your filmings are very cool, you must be proud 🍸

I nearly lost my life riding along that tunnel -- dangling down the slippery stepwell watching rock bulge in and out cozily flipping on by me, praying that nobody open the cabin door to which its handle I was clasping for dear life while 1st revolving and then uprighting myself...

Actually; this one has been a political football for about 20 years on both counts. First of all; Canadian Pacifiic wants to keep the corridor for themselves and freight service, Second, there are well over 100 crossings along the line; I was on the last Dayliner run Calgary to Edmonton and the whistle was almost consistently sounding. Thirdly, the price is too steep $65+; and present ridership studies do not indicate that people are interested. Fourth, the corridor is a study by itself; 3 of them have been proposed that do not use the CP Red Deer sub. It involves purchasing a lot of farmland and laying steel; the latter amounting to a couple of billion dollars today, and climbing. Next to the Windsor-Québec corridor in Eastern Canada, this is the busiest and a high speed train (TGV) has been tested on this line. The cost of fare, the track and crossings have made it impractical, and CP is not keen either. Electrification is another factor that will add to the billions. The point is that “right now”; “the end doesn’t justify the means” BUT As with the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988; money was suddenly found to improve transportation and politicians might suddenly come to some form of agreement about a new electrified line between Calgary and Edmonton which will have frequent service at an affordable cost; the CP and then VIA Dayliner only ran once each way morning and evening during the week (one Daylliner each way; they met near Red Deer (Tuttle). In the end, it was a losing proposition. Some flew between the 2 cities, but the airports are not handy to downtown, especially in Edmonton, where it is not within city limits. So for now, thousands, either drive or take a selection of inter-city buses; Greyhound has now left Western Canada. Conclusion: Don’t hold your breath for at least the next 10 years.

When Ishot this video, there was only one choice on the TTC subway: Union Station to Ellington. Nothing else. Plus all the PCCs, of course. Later, I shot more TTC, mostly in 35mm slides, but then moved with the RCAF and never got a chance to shoot the new generation of streetcars or subway. Even more so today, as I live in Calgary, the home of big trains and Light Rail Transit. Been a juice fan since age 4 in Montreal, and I also like buses. Now 87.

That's WHY I like to document these things, because, some day, they will no longer be there. Actually, I took a 360 view of the station, but chose to only put a small portion here, due to time and general interest. In hindsight, I wish I would have put more of the station, but mostly conventrated on the mu and tunnel. Thanks for the update; I spent countless hours in Central Ststion, both as passenger, or simply to see the world go by. Same at Windsor station.

Andwering your question, I haven't been to the Spirals for some time; but a simple snswer would be to park the car in the visitor area (make sure you lock everything), and then go straight up as I did; it's a fairly easy climb; aroynd 500 ft or so. While the track in CPR property, the surrounding mountain is not; just make sure you stay away from the right-of-way. There are open spots trackside, where you can photograph the train coming directly out of the top spital (many fans go there); but I was on a rock outcropping. For the lower Spiral, there's a trail nesrby, that will allow good closeups. Word of cautionhere, is that some (most) locos are no longer in pristine paint. Average is about I train per hour in either direction. Most trains are at least a mile long (no more pasenger, except The Rocky Mountaineer (may-September) snd they sre timed to arrive in Calgary from Vancouver in early morning both ways. Good time to get a train is between 10 am and 4 pm, after which the light isn't good. Also be aware that the weather changes quickly and that, up to June and starting in September, there will be snow at the Upper Spiral. Early morning and late night, you may encounter wildlife (wolves, bears); be aware of your surroundings; this is definitely not city railfanning.

In answer to your question about the CPR pavillion YES. I was a Police volunteer and replaced a CPR cop at the entrance, cheching admission by invitation only to an event, where guests were pulling an FP locomotive for $10 each, as a group for charity. It was then pulled back to the other end by a roadrailer for the next group. Ther’s only a single track insise, about 300-500 ft long. I posted some real good photos of the interior, some years ago, at: yourrailwaypictures.com The webmaster put it on the “stations” page for Alberta. There’s only one shot inside, some taken during construction as well. I checket a site, and the pavillion is 152 metres long and can house 8 vintage passenger cars and up to 3 1959 diesel locomotives (quoted). I remember seeing only one track. Check the pictures

I took a long second look at the photo I took inside the pavilion. I could vaguely spot a second track to the right, but at the time, concentrated on the one on which the Fp unit was standing. So, it has 2 tracks; not a whole bunch. The Royal Canadian Pacific board the train outside and I saw one boarding, where they were piped-in by a bagpiper and a Red Coat Mountie. RCMP people in these parts, are not actors, but the real thing and police various small towns. Apologies for the misinformation about the tracks. Most eeddings ect are usually held at the othrr end (under the rotunda) and catered by the interconnecting Fairmount Palliser Hotel. Cost to rent the pavilion and catering. $$$$ and probably another $.

Phone CP at their HQ and find out. It helps to be well connected, like a railroader. My late father-in-law, was a legend in local CN and CP circles, and he is the one who invited me. Plus, I've been a railfan (but never a foamer) for 60 years.

No, the LRT won't be run by EXO, or at least not OWNED by them. That whole project is spearheaded by the Caisse, who's supposed to invest Quebec Pension Plan money. And this video just said "a couple of years." If only that were true, will; be more like 4 years AT LEAST.

Thanks for the update. Actually, even though I moved out West in the land of big trains, I keep abreast of the progress, through the Gazette and La Presse amongst other sources. Been interested in transit since I got “lost” in the Montreal Tramways loop in Ahuntsic at age 4 (now 87). Periodically, I go online to see if there are more engineering videos about the tunnel and so far, am aware of the extra station being constructed, ventilation, etc. Looking avidly for the opening date and I will probably fly to Montréal to ride the rails then. No problem with abything, I straddle both cultures, but pure laine.

I still have the original sign-up sheet for the trip; the fare was around $600 for the entire trip. On that sheet, there was never any intention of doubleheading 6060 west, and then having her come back light to Jasper; that's WHY the trip was called "Grand Homecoming 6060"; seen on some available souvenirs for fans; I purchased a T-shirt, now im my collection. We won't go into politics, but let's state that the derailments, cost CN a lot of manpower (cranes etc) , and scheduling problems; draw some conclusions WHY she never again, ran excursions on the CN.

Many thanks. To be frank, the video was very specifically aimed at those along the Deux Montagnes line; and most particularly at the younger set, who never experienced those creaky EMUs. I get no financial reward for posting here, and do it for the satisfaction of getting positive comments, such as yours.

Excuse me, what?

Your comment touched me. At 86, been a juice fan since about age 4, liking anything under a wire. Anyone who ever rode on these lurching old relics; knows the personal feeling more, than can be seen and heard in this video.

Same here… years of taking the train from Roxboro in the 80s and 90s to go to school. My dad worked too for the CN (conductor). Such nice memories!

Taking that train was sure a Toonerville Trolley experience, never to be forgotten, as the train lurched about on the otherwise well-kept track; every part seemingly hitting some other part underneath during a trip that seemed lacking lubrication. Then, there was the almost constant sounding of the bell and, if the operator wasn’t too smooth on the controller, a lurch upon departure from the station; we see some of it here. Add to this the darkness in the tunnel for 3 miles (now greatly improved and more to come), and it was a stark reminder of the 50s. But it got you there!

Thanks for your kind comment. I shot the video for my personal use, along with slides, because I am interested in history, particularly of Canadian rail events. Glad to have been able to share, and that a few of you liked it.

Your kind comment touched me, as an ex-Montréalais from the other side of the Main (now 85), who started to visit TMR at age 14. There, I shot CN motive power from bridges over the track, and acquired most of the motive power in 35mm slides, from 1960 to 1980, before retiring to Calgary to shoot big trains in the mountains. Once, from one of the TMR bridges, I caught a CN extra; of s Z-1, pulling a single car, which I knew had P.E. Trudeau on board.

What to make of your lol? The land is a National Park (Yoho Park). Draw some conclusions here.