Trip Report:
Moncton-Saint John-Digby and Return
March 15, 1964

By Don Scott, Coquitlam, BC

Travelled CN RDC-1 Railiner Moncton-Saint John, NB, arriving Union Station at 0950.

Canadian Pacific:
CP train #42 "Atlantic Limited" from Montreal--connections to CPR's Saint John-Digby, NS, "Princess of Acadia" (former Princess of Nanaimo-on west coast-6,800 tons built 1952-Scotland)

Train #42 consist:
MLW/Alco FA-2 #4095; FPB-2 #4464; #4246 streamlined lightweight express; #5863 modern passenger refer-express; # 5871 modern passenger refer-express; #3622 streamlined lightweight postal car-express; #4818 streamlined lightweight baggage; #120 deluxe stainless-steel coach; #514 Skyline stainless-steel Scenic Dome--part parlor-buffet-coach; Burton Manor-stainless-steel sleeper; Dufferin Manor-stainless-steel sleeper; #4231 streamlined lightweight express from Boston off B&M/Maine Central at Vanceboro, Maine

(Note: "The Gull" effective 1963 was cancelled Vanceboro, Maine to Saint John, NB-this train from Boston and return now terminates at Vanceboro. All passengers, express, mail, baggage transferred to and from Atlantic Limited at Vanceboro. Maine Central does switching adding and taking cars off at this point.)

Passenger cars stored on track #2 in train shed:
#3618 streamlined lightweight postal car-express--this car built in 1936 for streamlined 4-4-4 Jubilee trains; 9 business car (ex-New Brunswick); renown-heavy-weight rebuilt sleeper (one of about 50 rebuilds); #5812 modern passenger refer; Reston-heavy-weight sleeper; R class-heavy-weight sleeper; Ripples-heavy-weight sleeper; #2284 streamlined deluxe coach; Sault Ste. Marie heavyweight sleeper; modern passenger refers #5862, #5894, #5877, #5878; #4723 streamlined light-weight express or baggage.

Boarded CPR "Princess of Acadia" for Digby--a five minute walk from Union Station-good number of passengers off train from Montreal. We sailed out of Saint John at 1100--three hour run .

Seen on the West St. John side of harbour was Canadian Pacific Steamship's Trans-Atlantic new "White Beaver", "Beaverelm" in from UK and Continental Europe-fitted for container traffic. Runs on Trans-Atlantic-Great Lakes Service-spring-summer-fall to Great Lakes Canadian and US ports.

Our CP ship arrived at Digby, NS, at 1400. (Note: during tourist season-CP Hotel's Digby Pines Hotel at the entrance of Digby Gut and all CP Saint John-Digby ferrys has been a long CP tradition to exchange greetings--as CP ships heading to Digby harbour and outbound to Saint John--hotel dips the CP House-flag and the ships exchanges greetings with its whistle).

After the "Acadia" tied up Dominion Atlantic's (CPR) eastbound "Dayliner" RDC-1 #9058 arrived from Yarmouth--backs off the main-line along shipside to unload passengers, and board passengers on its way to intermediate points--including Kentville-Windsor-Halifax (at Windsor connections with DAR mixed for Truro).

CP Express trucks and subsidiary Smith Transport highway units unloading for the ship-reloading baggage express of ship for Nova Scotia destinations. CP/DAR wharf has two tracks for freight cars--capacity 14 cars.

An hour later, the westbound "Evangeline Dayliner" from Halifax and inemediate points--enroute to Yarmouth arrived Digby, switched over to the wharf track and arrived along shipside. After discharging passengers, and taking on new passengers went back to the main-line, pulled into the station--a few minutes later departed for Yarmouth. At 1700 our Princess of Acadia departed for Saint John. arriving at 2000.

Saint John, NB, March 15, 1964. CPR Facilities: Bay Shore Yard (West St. John)

Power outside Roundhouse (Steam now all gone):
MLW/Alco RS-3s #8454, #8436; RS-18 #8734; RS-10s #8595, #8596

Atlantic Limited power:
MLW/Alcos FPA-2 #4096; FPB-2 #4463; RS-10 #8476.

Yard engines, or transfer service:
MLW/Alco RS-23s #8037, #8039; RS-3 #8446; Alco S-2 yard engine #7076; Fairbanks-Morse "Trainmaster" #8903 (transferred from Western Canada for winter-heavy switching and transfers).

Yard engines working West St. John Ocean Terminals:
Alco RS-2 #8401; Alco S-2 #7076; Fairbanks-Morse "Trainmaster" #8902 (from Western Canada)

Lancaster Yard:
Switcher MLW/Alco RS-23 #8036

Union Station, Saint John:
Spotted streamlined light-weight express #4200, this series built between 1940 and 1942.

Westbound evening "Atlantic Limited" train #41 for Montreal:
MLW/Alcos FPA-2 #4096; FPA-2 #4463; RS-10 #8476. Consist: Pennsylvania Railroad maroon-express; Pennsylvania Railroad maroon express; Pennsylvania Railroad maroon express; #4751 streamlined lightweight express; #3622 streamlined lightweight postal car-express; #4815 streamlined lightweight baggage; #105 deluxe stainless-steel coach; #2284 deluxe streamlined coach; Appleby-heavy-weight dining car; Allan Manor stainless-steel sleeper; Wolfe Manor stainless-steel sleeper; Sault Ste. Marie-heavy-weight sleeper; Talon-heavy-weight sleeper; Turbine-heavy-weight sleeper. Total 14 cars.

(Note: Pennsylvania Railroad head-ends will go to Vanceboro, Maine, and added to Vanceboro-Bangor-Portland-Boston "Gull".)

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©1999, Donald Scott, all rights reserved.