Re: [cpsig] The Kootenays, #463, etc

  • From: Dale Wilson <dale.wilson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 16:05:48 -0400

Joe Smuin wrote in part:
 I presume that you know the difference between first class and second
 class trains. If you look at the >first class passenger runs in the Public
 TT, they will indicate sleeper, dining and parlour car services.

I think I got it, thanks Joe.  I had not seen that connection before.  Now,
looking at the tarrif for sleeping car space, I note that it was only sold
to people with tickets for first class transport, which helps draw the line.
Of note, however, this means that the seriously downgraded No.1 and No. 2
were still "first class" trains.  And any of the first class trains with
colonist cars, coaches and tourist cars were mixed in a certain way.  An odd
concept.

Not really. A mixed 'class' train was the norm for Canadian railways; not to be confused with 'mixed train'! Briefly, in the 1920s, both CP and CN experimented with trains that were exclusively 'First Class' - "The Trans Canada Limited" on CP and "The Confederation" on CN but the depression put an end to those. Believe CN also had "The Pine Tree Acadian" or some such name east of Montreal in this 'class'.

Which makes me wonder about riding as a passenger with a colonist car
ticket.  I wonder if there was a degree of segregation enforced between the
passengers by the railway crew?  How class conscious was the movement of
passengers from end to end in the train?  Or could one roam freely - (not
into assigned compartments, of course)

Can't speak for Colonist car ticket holders but in theory there was a definite segration of first class passengers from those without such tickets. Where the dining car was available to tourist car passengers (coach ticket + berth reservation) the dividing line would have been at the rear end of the diner. It would not be normal for tourist passengers to be in the tail end observation car (from 1955 on, PARK cars on The Canadian and The Dominion) but personal experience made me realize that if one 'dressed up' - tie and suit or sports jacket - crew rarely bothered you if you went to the tail end. The sleeping car conductor was rarely in evidence most times and the train conductor/brakeman would have no idea about your status except by your dress. Needless to say, today's VIA sleeper passengers look essentially like the average tourist car or coach rider used to. Of course, enforcement and general attitude of crew varied greatly. It is my understanding that when The Canadian was first introduced with assigned seats for coach passengers, older conductors thought it inappropriate; of course they also had to do more work in lifting coach tickets under that regime.
--
________________________________________________________
Dale Wilson  <dale.wilson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Nickel Belt Rails, Box 483, Station "B", Sudbury, ON, P3E 4P6



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