Thanks guys for the insights. The book I was looking at was one of the BMNRA
books that featured this train. They did note that the early versions of the
train had the W series dining cars, but then replaced by the A series in the
late 20’s. The floor plan diagram in the book shows a 36 person capacity for
the A series diner, perhaps others were used as well with a larger seating
capacity—although the book mentioned that the TCL diner seating was more
spacious than The Canadian with its 48 seat diner capacity.
However, there is a nice picture of the TCL crossing Stoney Creek bridge with a
10 car consist, and they specifically noted 7 sleepers in the consist.
Presumably that consist would have remained intact from Vancouver to
Calgary—perhaps additions or deletions were made in Kamloops? In any event,
that would have involved quite a few meals served on the many miles between
those 2 cities, so that was what made me wonder about the logistics.
KALEY
From: cpha-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <cpha-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Dale
Wilson
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2020 4:02 PM
To: cpha@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [cpha] Re: Trans Canada Limited diner capacity
You’re right! The pattern of sleeping cars being carried for part of the
distance only was carried through to The Dominion later. In the summer of 1928
there was a sleeper out of Toronto for Little Current on the Manitoulin Island,
handed over to the AER in Sudbury.
Dale Wilson
dale.wilson@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dale.wilson@xxxxxxxxxx>
On Jul 7, 2020, at 6:26 PM, Jeff Pinchbeck (Redacted sender "jpinchbeck" for
DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I don’t think it wouldn’t be 7 sleepers for the entire run of the train.
According to timetables the consist (not including baggage) was diner, 4
standard sleepers, a compartment sleeper and observation car. Additional cars
were added between specific destinations. For example a parlor car between
Ottawa and Montreal, standard sleepers between Toronto and Sudbury (westbound)
or Winnipeg and Fort William (eastbound) and an additional compartment sleeper
between Montreal and Winnipeg.
Jeff
From: cpha-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:cpha-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:cpha-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kaley Hoffman ;(Redacted sender
"khoffman" for DMARC)
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2020 3:43 PM
To: cpha@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:cpha@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [cpha] Trans Canada Limited diner capacity
I was reading a book about the TCL and noted that in later years of operation,
there was an “A” series diner assigned to the train, with a seating capacity of
36. The train would typically have 7 sleepers each accommodating between 20-27
people each (R, S, G series). Assuming the train was sold out, there would be
between 140-180 people on the train, all fed by a single diner. That equates
to 4-5 sittings for each meal.
How would that have worked practically? Assuming each sitting took 45 minutes
to an hour, it would be 3-5 hours for each meal. If you started serving at 7
am, you might be done by 11 am, but that is a pretty late lunch, and then it is
straight into lunch. Dinner could start around 5 pm, but would run to 9 or 10
at night?
In the plans for the tail car, there is a small buffet area, but doesn’t look
large enough to serve any significant numbers of people.
Am I missing something here? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
KALEY HOFFMAN