Montreal-Gander Trip report:

 

Prologue:

 

            After COVID-19 shut down international travel, I began contemplating trips within Canada that I would like to take. I decided upon Montreal again as I wanted to see the MR-63 subway car at Exporail. I also wanted to head east to Newfoundland. I knew VIA didn’t go there so I would have to fly or take a ferry. I decided to fly as seen later.

 

            I thought about taking this trip in 2020 and 2021 but didn’t because among other things the Ocean had stopped running for awhile due to COVID. Riding the Ocean would be a major part of the trip so I had to wait until it was running again.

 

            I opted to go in late September once I learned when the TTS would meet as to not conflict with it. I also was trying to avoid conflicting with my Sault Ste Marie Make-Up trip.

 

            My final plan was to take VIA to Montreal and spend a few nights there. I would rent a car one day and visit Exporail as getting there on transit was difficult. I would take the Ocean to Halifax where I would spend a night before flying to Gander, Newfoundland. I would spend two nights in Gander before flying home. The trip unfolded as follows.

 

September 22, 2022:

 

            I got to Union just before 8:00 am. I joined the line for train #62. Boarding began 15 minutes before departure. I was seated in HEP2 coach #4122, an unrefurbished coach. I had a rearward facing seat. I also got a seatmate right away. The train left on time.

 

            I was unable to film the TTC’s Greenwood yard. We stopped at Guildwood a few minutes later. After leaving Guildwood, my ticket was taken.

 

            The train stopped at Oshawa. We later passed non stop through Port Hope and stopped at Cobourg.

 

            East of Cobourg, we passed the Memory Junction Museum. As we passed through Trenton, my seatmate asked if we were going to “land” soon. I told her we wouldn’t be in Montreal for another 3 ½ hours.

 

            The train stopped at Belleville. After leaving Bellville, I photographed the locomotive of train #52 which was coupled to the rear of train #62.

 

 

            I then headed back to my seat and worked on this report some more.  A westbound VIA train passed on the opposite side of the train. We stopped at Kingston a little while later.

 

            After departing Kingston, I saw a former Kingston Transit Classic and the Kingston Transit bus garage. East of Kingston a CN freight train passed.

 

            It was raining out. We later approached Brockville. A westbound CN freight passed. I decided to watch train #62 being separated from train #52.

 

            Once again, the trains were split west of Brockville station. I photographed the split.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Train #62 was soon underway. As we passed the Brockville station, I filmed a westbound VIA train. The train actually stopped east of Brockville station, but not for passengers. We were by Brockville General Hospital. We were soon underway again.

 

            Later I went out in search of lunch as the food cart hadn’t come since 10:20; too soon for lunch. I was able to buy lunch and returned to my seat. The train stopped at Cornwall.

 

            The train crossed into the province of Quebec and over a bridge onto the island Montreal is on. We overtook a CN freight train and stopped at Dorval.

 

            East of Dorval, a VIA train passed but I was unable to film it. As we got closer to downtown Montreal, I saw a bus for the Quebec Liberal party.

 

            As we rounded a curve, I photographed retired EXO electric MU cars and two freight locomotives coupled to a shoving platform (former caboose).

 

 

 

 

            We were approaching Montreal Central Station. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off. However, we stopped for several minutes to wait for a signal. We started moving again several minutes later. I filmed another VIA train in the station as we came to a stop.

 

            Train #62 arrived 38 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then went upstairs and walked to the Metro station. I bought a 3-day pass and got on the Metro and rode to Barri-Uqam station. I filmed the train pulling away.

 

            I then walked to my hotel. I had some problems finding it, but I eventually got there. I checked in and phoned home to let my mom know I was at my hotel.

 

            After awhile I decided to head out. I walked over to Barri-UQAM station and rode three stops to Square-Victoria station. I was going to look for some electric buses on route #36.

 

            Since the last time I was in Montreal, STM had acquired more electric buses from both Nova Bus and surprisingly New Flyer as transit systems in Quebec have incentive to purchase exclusively from Nova Bus as their factory is in the province.

 

            I waited for the next route #36 bus to arrive. When it did, I saw it was a hybrid LFS; not an electric bus. I photographed it and got on regardless.

 

 

            I rode the bus to the Place-St. Henri Metro station. During the ride, we passed another LFS hybrid going the opposite way on route #36. I photographed the bus I rode at Place St-Henri.

 

 

            I waited for an eastbound route #36 bus hoping it would be an electric bus. While waiting, I filmed a VIA train as it passed by.

 

            A third LFS Hybrid showed up on route #36. I photographed it but didn’t get on. I did photograph it.

 

 

            I then got on the Metro and rode to Namur. I photographed the train and filmed it pulling out.

 

 

            I saw a woman photographing from the opposite platform. A STM employee asked me what was going on. I told him I like trains. He pointed the woman. I said I didn’t know her. He said it was a coincidence that two people were taking pictures. Nothing further happened.

 

            I walked to a nearby Toys R Us. I logged into the Wi-Fi. I looked on VIA’s website and it said that the Ocean departing tomorrow was cancelled due to Hurricane Fiona. I was concerned about my departure. However it didn’t say anything about the departure on the 25^th so it appeared I was okay. I tried to call VIA for confirmation, but couldn’t get through.

 

            I eventually gave up and walked over to Gibeau Orange Julip. I’m glad they survived the Pandemic. However, Gibeau Orange Julip mostly does take out so presumably it must have been business as usual for them at the worst of the Pandemic with customers having to social distance. I photographed the big orange.

 

 

            On my birthday, I learned my mom was familiar with Gibeau Orange Julip as she drove past there in the past. However she and I haven’t been in Montreal since I first ate at the restaurant in 2011.

 

            After dinner, I walked back to Namur and rode a subway train to Bonadventure. I went up to Central Station and asked a VIA employee if they knew if my train on Sunday would be cancelled. They said the train was not cancelled at the time.

 

            I bought some milk and jelly beans in a store in the station and took the Metro back to Barri-Uqam. I then went back to my hotel. I worked on this report for a few minutes and went online. I eventually set the alarm on my phone for 8:30 am and called it a night.

 

September 23, 2022:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went out looking for breakfast. I eventually found a place. After breakfast I went back to my room and went online for a little while.

 

            I then left and walked to Barri-Uqam station. I then boarded a train and rode to Jean-Talon station. I then transferred to the Blue Line. I boarded a train of MR-73s. Apparently some MR-73s have been retired as a result of the Azur trains entering service.

 

            I noticed they had the same door chimes on the MR-73s now like on the Azur trains. The chimes are the sound the MR-73s make when they accelerate. I rode to Universite-De-Montreal station and filmed the train pulling out. I then walked to the Polytechnic building. The reason why I was going there is that I had learned there was an MR-63 subway car inside the building. I went there and was able to find it. I photographed the car which is #81-628 both inside and out.

 

 

 

 

Here’s the cab of an MR-63 subway car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            The car is being used as a place for students to hang out. Most of the seats were removed. A TV was installed at the rear of the car. Once I was done, I headed back to the Metro and rode to Jean-Talon. The University of Montreal was not the only place that had some MR-63s.

 

            I rode the Blue Line back to Jean-Talon and transferred to an Orange Line train. I rode two stops north to Cremazie. I then waited for a bus on route #54. When the route #54 bus came, I rode to a place called “Le Taz”. “Le Taz turned out to be an indoor skatepark. I heard there were some MR-63s there as well. I peeked through the door and saw two MR-63 being used as part of a washroom and attempted to photograph them.

 

 

            This reminded me of back in 1998, TTC H-1 class subway car #5453 was used as a changeroom at a swimming pool at Burlington Beach. The front half of the car was the men’s change room and the rear half of the car was the ladies. However the car didn’t last long and was scrapped by the end of the year.

 

            I the boarded a bus to Cremazie and got off. I transferred to a bus on route #100. The route #100 was a long winding route that went on the highway. I attempted to photograph the Rem light rail under construction as we passed.

 

 

            The bus got to Du College station. I got off and rode a Metro Train to Cote-Verdu. I walked a couple blocks to see the Taco Bell I ate at was closed for renovations. I photographed some STL buses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I boarded an STM bus and rode to a mall I had seen when I went to ride the MR-63 trains for the very last time.

 

            I ate at the food court in the mall and had a massage in a coin operated massage chair.

 

            I then caught a bus back to the Metro. I decided to wait to see if any of the electric New Flyer buses would come as at least one had been photographed on a route that serves Cote-Verdu. While waiting I photographed various STM and STL Nova LFS buses and planes as the came to land.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            No electric Flyers came so I got on the Metro and rode to Place St. Henri. I filmed a westbound VIA train with Renaissance cars.

 

            A Hybrid Nova LFS came on route #36. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode the bus to a block away from Central Station. I got off and walked to the Metro. I rode an Orange Line train to Barri-UQAM station and transferred to the Yellow Line. I boarded a train of MR-73s and rode one stop. I filmed the train pulling away.

 

            I was going to La Ronde again. I boarded STM Nova LFS #26-043 which is one of STM’s oldest series of buses in service. The bus eventually departed and arrived at La Ronde. I photographed it.

 

 

            La Ronde was only open Friday evenings and weekends. They are having something similar to Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland back home. At La Ronde, they called it “Festival de la Frayeur.” They wanted people to buy tickets online ahead of time, but was able to buy a ticket right at the park. I went through security before I went in.

 

            Unlike last time, I decided not to buy an express lane pass. I photographed the monorail train which was not running. I’m not sure when it last ran or if it will ever run again.

 

 

            I headed over to Goliath which is similar to Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland. I photographed it and a hertz being used as a Halloween prop.

 

 

 

            After riding Goliath, I walked over to La Monstre. There was a bit of a line. They only had one train running. I rode the ride and then photographed it.

 

 

            I then walked over to Phoenix. I was going to ride it last time but chose to bail because I thought the MR-63s would start running sooner than they would. This time I was able to get on right away. Phoenix is like “Soaring Eagles” at Canada’s Wonderland. After the ride, I photographed it.

 

 

 

Here’s Phoenix at my previous trip to La Ronde.

 

            I next rode the Nordic bobsled roller coaster which is similar to The Fly at Canada’s Wonderland. After the ride, I photographed it.

 

 

            I next rode the Gravitor. After the ride, I photographed it.

 

 

            I then rode “Bateau Pirate” which is like “The Rage” at Canada’s Wonderland. I photographed the ride.

 

 

            Next, I rode “Vol Ultime” which is similar to “Windseeker” at Canada’s Wonderland.

 

 

            I then rode the bumper cars which are named “Autos Tamponneuses.” I was able to get on the last red car. I photographed the ride.

 

 

            I bought dinner at the park. I then photographed an old car and the remains of the La Pitoune log ride that I went on in 2011 before it was removed.

 

 

                        The next ride I went on was Orbite which is an ejector seat type ride. I photographed the ride.

 

 

            I then went on Vampire which is an inverted looping roller coaster. After the ride I photographed it.

 

 

            I had now been on 10 rides in about four hours. I was pretty much done. I did buy a pretzel at a stand. I then rode LFS #26-043 back to the Metro and photographed it.

 

 

            I then rode a train of MR-73s back to Barri-UQAM. At Barri-UQAM, the doors didn’t open all the way and I had to squeeze out. I photographed the train with the doors not quite open.

 

 

 

 

 

            I then walked back to my hotel. I went online for a little while before I set my alarm and called it a night.

 

Click to read about my visit to Exporail:     Exporail visit