Sault Ste Marie Make-up
Trip:
Prologue:
While
I’ve taken many make-up trips in the past, they usually I began planning them
at least part way into the trip that was partially ruined by something. When I planned
my Sudbury-Sault Ste Marie trip last year, I was planning on riding the Agawa
Canyon Tour Train. However after booking off the dates of my trip and making
reservations, the trip I was supposed to be on was cancelled. As a result, I
began planning a return to Sault Ste Marie before I even went there the first
time!
I
was waiting for when I had four days off work during the time the
I
had asked for the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend off for TTS
Transportation weekend which didn’t end up happening. When I saw my week
leading up to Labor Day weekend, I saw I had the Thursday and Friday off before
as well. With Transportation Weekend not happening, I decided to use this as my
time to go.
In
addition to going to Sault Ste Marie and riding the
I
initially wanted to take VIA train #73 to London, Ontario then fly Air Canada
to Sault Ste Marie by way of Pearson airport. While on paper it was feasible,
problems at Toronto Pearson made me wary.
Flying
Porter out of Billy Bishop was the much better option. My final plan was to
take VIA train #64 to Cobourg then return the same
day before heading over to Billy Bishop Airport and fly Porter to Sault Ste
Marie. In Sault Ste. Marie, I would spend the second day riding around on buses
and such before riding the Agawa Canyon Tour Train on the third day. The fourth
day I would fly home.
When
booking the VIA tickets, I actually booked it in the same reservation as my
previous trip. The trip unfolded as follows.
September 1, 2022:
My
mom dropped me off at Finch just before 10:00 am. I got on the subway. However,
my train ended up going out of service at York Mills because two stops ahead at
Eglinton, someone had a medical emergency on a train.
I
ended up taking the route #996 express bus to Wilson station and a subway to
Wilson. I got there shortly after 11:00 am. I would still make train #64 but
joined a long line.
I
was seated in LRC coach #3351. The train left on time. Train #64 has LRC
coaches running in place of the HEP2 coaches that were previously assigned to
the train. The train also lost its baggage car; something this train has had
for more than 20 years. I’ guessing COVID may have been a factor, but I don’t
know for certain. It also appeared that assigned seating had returned on VIA
corridor trains unlike my trip to Quebec City last February.
A
number of LRC coaches have already been retired and scrapped despite the fat
the new coaches VIA is getting haven’t entered service yet. Some coaches will
be preserved but won’t be allowed to carry passengers due to the technology on
the coaches.
My
ticket was taken shortly after leaving Union. I filmed TTC’s
Greenwood subway yard as we went past. The train slowed as we passed the Eglinton GO station.
We also passed a westbound GO train. We then picked up speed. We then
stopped at Guildwood.
As
the train passed through Whitby, I saw a Durham
Regional Transit XD40 on Highway 401. A westbound GO train passed just before
we stopped at Oshawa station. East of Oshawa, a westbound VIA train passed, but I was unable to
film it.
I
bought lunch when the crew came by. We were soon approaching Cobourg. I got my stuff ready in preparation to get off.
Train
#64 arrived into Cobourg 6 minutes late. I got off and
photographed the train.
I
then filmed the train departing. I took
one last photo of the train.
A
few minutes later I phoned and let my mom know I had made it to Cobourg.
The
Cobourg train station is located in between the CN
and CP main lines with VIA trains using the CN line. I was hoping to see a CP
freight pass. I saw on a VIA information board that train 53 from Ottawa would
be arriving in a few minutes. I walked to the west end of the station and
waited for train #53 to arrive. When it pulled in, I filmed it. I saw the train
had and F40 and P42 bracketing four LRC coaches. I photographed the train.
I
filmed train #42 departing. I noticed F40 #6418 which was leading had a weird
sounding bell. After it left, I checked and saw train #42 from Toronto was due
shortly after 1:30 pm. If the delay on the subway had made me miss #64, I might
have been able to ride #42 to Cobourg. Luckily it
didn’t come to that.
When
train #42 arrived, I filmed it pulling in. I then photographed the train.
I
then filmed train #42 departing. I noticed that F40 #6429 also had a weird
sounding bell. I then walked to the west end of the station hoping to see a
train.
A
westbound VIA train passed non stop through the station. As it passed, I filmed
it. That would be the last train to pass until my train passed.
I
waited for another train to pass on the CN or CP main lines, but none did. I
saw on the VIA information board that my train was running 6 minutes late and
would be on track #2. To get to track #2, I had to use a pedestrian overpass to
get to the track.
Upon
getting to the platform for track #2, I photographed some CN maintenance
vehicles.
Soon
train #65 arrived. I filmed the train pulling in.
I
was seated in LRC coach #3331. The train soon departed. I bought a can of Coke
when my ticket was taken. I worked on this report some more. The train stopped
at Oshawa.
West
of Ajax, we were running beside and then overtook a westbound GO train. An
eastbound VIA train passed, but I was unable to film it. We passed by a stopped
CN freight that was most likely waiting for us to pass. However, we also
stopped. The VIA crew announced we were waiting for a signal.
Another
Eastbound VIA train passed. We were underway again a couple minutes later. We
stopped at Guildwood. The crew announced we were 20
minutes late. However the train stopped just past the Eglinton
GO station. We were letting an eastbound GO train pass. Two more GO trains
passed as we were stopped but we soon were underway again and began overtaking
one of the GO trains.
As
we passed TTC’s Greenwood subway yard, I filmed it.
An Eastbound GO train passed. We were soon approaching Toronto Union Station. I
readied my stuff in preparation to get off.
I
saw they had changed the display from train #65 to #75 as the train will become
#75 to Windsor.
Train
#65 arrived into Toronto 30 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train.
I
then photographed train #68 which was boarding passengers to Montreal as well as
the last car of train #65.
I
then went downstairs and then phoned my mom and let her know I was in Toronto.
I then walked over to try to photograph train #65/75, but couldn’t. I bought
dinner from the McDonald’s in Union Station before walking out to catch a
shuttle bus to the airport. I photographed the shuttle before I got on.
The
bus departed and we headed to the airport. We were caught in rush hour traffic
and I wondered if I should have taken the route #509 streetcar. The shuttle arrived
at the airport around 5:45 pm. I got off and photographed the bus.
I
then went into the terminal. In the 10 years since I last flew Porter Airlines,
an underwater tunnel was built to the airport. I walked through there and lined
up to check in for my flight.
There
were only two attendants at the Porter check in desk. At one point Porter’s
computer systems froze! However after awhile the domestic flights started
working and I checked in for my flight. I then cleared security with little
problem.
I
then waited for my flight to board. I bought a bottle of Pepsi and went online.
I worked on this report some more.
Soon
it was time to board my flight. I went to the gate and got on the plane and
attempted to photograph it.
I
was flying on a Bombardier Q400 turboprop; the standard Porter plane. However,
Porter has some jets from Embraer to expand into
western Canada and the US. However these jets cannot fly into Billy Bishop
airport. As a result, they’ll start flying out of Pearson Airport in the near
future. It looked like we would leave on time. However our departure time came
and we didn’t leave. I eventually asked the flight attendant what was going on.
She said they were trying to get the numbers. Eventually, a passenger had to be
removed due to trying to change or add something at the gate instead of
checking in. The plane then departed 31 minutes late.
I
filmed the takeoff run. The plane made a 270-degree left hand turn after taking
off before flying towards Sault Ste Marie. After leaving Toronto, it was dark.
We
flew over a couple ships. I wondered if one of them was the Arthur M Anderson
of Edmund Fitzgerald fame which I had seen last year.
The
plane began its decent into Sault Ste Marie. I remembered the times I flew
Porter in 2011 and 2012 that my ears would pop. I tried chewing gum but it
didn’t help. My ears popped. When I told my friend Karl in Chicago that it
happens whenever I flew Porter, he told me that the Porter crews might decent
steeper than other airlines as ears popping were only a problem when I flew
Porter and the plane landed.
I
filmed the landing and we soon were parked. The plane landed 36 minutes late. I
got off and photographed the plane.
I
went inside the terminal and waited for my suitcase. It took several minutes
but mine was the first suitcase to come. I then went outside where I waited for
a cab.
To
avoid the problem of being stranded at the airport like at Sudbury last year, I
had booked a cab ahead of time. It showed up a few minutes later as they were
aware of my flight and the fact it was late.
I
took a cab to an Airbnb. The hotels in Sault Ste.
Marie were charging absurdly high rates this time (the hotel I stayed at last
year was charging $200 a night when it was less than half that in 2021!)
I
got there and got settled it. I phoned home and let my mom know I was in Sault
Ste Marie. I eventually called it a night.
September 2, 2022:
I
got up at 7:30 and got dressed. I eventually walked out to a railway crossing
because I believed the Agawa Canyon Tour Train would pass through. I was right.
I filmed the 10 car train bracketed by two ex Amtrak F40s and photographed it.
I
found a convenience store and bought some milk. I took it back to where I was staying
and had breakfast. I then worked on this report and headed out.
I
caught an XD35 on route #7 to downtown. I rode to the terminal downtown where
all bus routes converge. Only XD40, XD35, and Nova LFS buses pulled in. I
photographed some of the buses.
I
boarded a Nova LFS on route #5 and rode to the Sault Ste Marie Transit bus
garage which is next to where the Agawa Canyon tour train boards.
I
saw Orion 7 #162 which is ex TTC #7911. In the year since I was in Sault Ste
Marie, most of the ex TTC Orion 7s were retired with only #162 being left in
service. I photographed the bus.
I
then saw some employees get into #162 and the bus drive off. I wondered if the
bus would be in service later. I then walked up to the station where the Agawa
Canyon tour train leaves and went in the gift shop. I bought a t-shirt. I also
talked with some people about my departure tomorrow.
I
then left and photographed the cars on display at the station.
I
then left. I walked in the direction of the terminal. I photographed one of
Sault Ste Marie Transit’s XD40s with a wrap for real estate and a large picture
showing the Agawa Canyon tour train.
I
then had lunch at a Wendy’s I had eaten at last year. I then walked to the
terminal. I waited for the next pulse of buses to arrive. When they arrived, I
photographed them.
Since
#162 was not part of the pulse, I decided to walk to the Station Mall. I looked
through the mall and attempted to have a massage at a coin operated massage
chair. However, they weren’t working. I didn’t loose any money in them though.
I then walked to the waterfront. I photographed the vintage Great Lakes
freighter on the American side of the river that I had photographed last year
when I saw the Arthur M Anderson.
I
then made my way back to Station Mall. I used the Wi-Fi on my Ipod Touch to
check a website I use called Transsee to see if Orion 7 #162 was out. It said
#162 was near Queen and Hudson. I boarded an XD35 on route #3 and headed out
there. It wasn’t there but I found #162 at the garage nearby. I attempted to
photograph it.
When
Transsee works, it’s wonderful. However Transsee isn’t always perfect as it’s
been stating a specific bus I’ve been trying to ride with TTC has been by an
intersection for the last two weeks and the bus doesn’t normally run anywhere
near where the site says it is. In the past, Transsee has put a {then} active
CLRV streetcar in Brampton and has placed various buses in the middle of Lake
Ontario!
I
then caught a route #3 back to the terminal and transferred to the route #5. I
rode to near the hotel I stayed at last time. I made my way to Soo Blasters;
the Dave and Busters knockoff and waited until 4:00 pm for it to open. While
waiting, I photographed an XD40.
When
Soo Blasters opened, I went if and found it to be the same as it was last year.
I then made my way back to the bus terminal. Nova LFS #180 pulled in on route
#7. #180 is one of Sault Ste Marie Transit’s newest buses. I photographed it
before I got on.
I
rode the bus to close to where I was staying. I got off and filmed the bus
pulling away.
I
then walked over to the crossing to try to catch the Agawa Canyon train returning
to Sault Ste Marie. At one point, I saw a Porter Airlines Q400 flying overhead
and attempted to photograph it.
Five
minutes later, the crossing activated. I saw the Agawa Canyon tour train and
photographed and filmed it passing through.
I
then walked back to the bus stop and picked up the next route #7 and rode it to
I
had dinner at an Arby’s a block away. After dinner, I
bought some Pepsi and a hand and cheese wrap for lunch on the train tomorrow. I
then caught a bus back to where I was staying. I went online and booked a cab
for tomorrow morning. I set the alarm on my phone and eventually called it a
night.
Click to read when I finally rode the
