By the way, the locomotive 463 shown in the photo in question was assigned to
the Osoyoos Subdivision in May 1949.
Joe Smuin
----- Original Message -----
From: Dale Wilson
To: cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [cpsig] The Kootenays, #463, etc
>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
