The Canadian welcomes passengers from around the world with their unique luggage. Whether it is to review a loved one for a stop in a station, make a nostalgic trip or chat with a German who has a world record unequaled for almost 40 years, each traveler has his own story.
On the train that connects Toronto to Vancouver, there are often more Americans and foreigners than Canadians. Toni Ice chose Canada for the first real train trip of his life.
The American from Ohio went up to Toronto and will go down to Jasper. But, in the meantime, she has made a short stop that was not initially not planned
to winnipeg. We didn’t think we were going to Winnipeg
she said almost by apologizing.
In the Manitoban capital awaited him a cousin, Paul, who left the United States in the 1970s. Initially, the stop at Winnipeg was to last two hours, but the huge delay of the train almost gained the reunion.
I sent him a message, and he absolutely wanted to be seen, no matter what time we arrived and that it was, the day or at night. We had to arrive at 8 p.m., we finally arrived at 1:30 a.m.
40 years without visit
Tired, a little asleep, she was finally able to descend on the platform. And there, sitting on a bench under a lively white light, his cousin Paul was waiting for him, but not alone.
He organized another surprise and contacted my former sister-in-law. She came and I hadn’t seen her for 27 years!
says Toni Ice.
He hugged me very hard in his arms and never let go of me. He tightened me for a long time because he has no family here and no one had visited him in 40 years. It was important for him to have family.
Even if she had seen it in the United States two years ago, she is happy
To have been able to spend a few minutes with him on the platform of a station.
Toni Ice’s sister-in-law, Toni Ice and Paul Bezilla pose at Winnipeg station.
Photo: Toni Ice graciousness
The death of my brother taught me that you never know what will happen. It may be our last chance to see us. It was therefore important that we do it
she said in a philosopher tone, looking at the scrolling meadows.
A trip reminding the summer holidays
Cathy Hedley had not been up to the Canadiens for about 70 years. However, the Roulis des rails rocked his childhood, and the train was synonymous with vacation.
The Canadian started in 1955 and we left for the first summer
she recalls. For seven years, the Torontoise crossed half of the country to go see her grandparents who lived in Regina, in Saskatchewan.
We loved it! The trip was taking about three days
she said, sparkling eyes.
At the time, the train was cheaper than the plane and, for families who had little money, it was often the only way to travel long distances. My father also worked for the Canadian Pacific Express and he had a pass. We just had to pay for our beds and food. It was a big difference
she explains.
Cathy Hedley used to cross half of the country every year during her childhood to go see her grandparents in Regina, in Saskatchewan.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Thibault Jourdan
Today, this journey is no longer possible. Indeed, the Canadian has not passed by Regina since 1990, but rather by Saskatoon, further north, before joining Edmonton and Jasper.
My last trip to see my grandparents dates back to 1962. I always wanted to do it again, mainly by nostalgia. It’s been a long time since I thought about it.
In 70 years of history, little has changed in cars. It was already like that
recalls Cathy Hedley, the prestigious class less. The glass birds that adorn the restaurant car date, for example, from 1955.
There was also a smoker and no showers
she continues. Today, the smoker has disappeared, and each car has a shower. These are good improvements
she said with a smile.
Over 36,000 km in 30 days by train
The Canadian also attracts a lot of train enthusiasts, but not all have a world record like Manfred Weis. In 1987, this German traveled 36,030 km by train in 30 days, almost without stopping.
I was 25 years old, I had read something about a world record carried out by a German German and I thought I could do better
he said, laughing, his hat screwed on his head and his slightly smoked glasses, a style that allows him to stand out from all the other passengers.
In 1987, Manfred Weis, a German, made 36,030 km by train in 30 days, almost without stopping.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Thibault Jourdan
He then took advantage of the interraons program in Europe to embark on a trip with the intention of breaking this world record
. The idea was to travel on the contours of Europe, as far as rails were going. It worked pretty well and I was almost all the time on the train. I just slept five nights in cities
he explains.
Thirty-eight years later, his world record still holds, but people want to try to overcome it.
I had two people who contacted me to ask me for advice on how they could break my record. I told them they should find it for themselves!
he tells a malicious air.
No one really tried to fight. Who would have time today to travel for 30 days, and who would like to do it by train? I think you really have to be very very passionate about trains to get there
he concludes.
Union train: Canada without stopping
This article is part of a summer series during which Radio-Canada takes you across the train country. She takes the time to explore her role in national identity in Canada and the magnificent landscapes that take shape from Toronto to Vancouver.
