VIA Rail's The Ocean

I'm piecing together the Bras d'Or and the Ocean and although I've gotten a consist for the former, I need one for the latter using F40s and the stainless steel coaches; hang these "Renaissance" cars. Poking around on the VIA website didn't give me enough pictures to figure it out, so if anyone's got info, I'd appreciate it.I know that it's got at least 2 F40 units, and at least two dome cars, one of which finishes the train. I've also spotted a few sleepers, but I don't know which type or anything. Thanks in advance!

____________________________________________________________________
Norfolk & Western’s Radford Division, Pulaski District: Who needs the Marias Pass?

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, davereage, Feb-10-04, 12:27 PM, (1) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, NW_611, Feb-10-04, 12:37 PM, (2) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, jdilworth, Feb-10-04, 12:52 PM, (3) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, davereage, Feb-10-04, 08:07 PM, (4) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, NW_611, Feb-10-04, 10:44 PM, (5) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, davereage, Feb-11-04, 05:27 PM, (6) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, buzzbenz, Feb-11-04, 11:40 PM, (7) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, NW_611, Feb-12-04, 00:51 AM, (8) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, davereage, Feb-13-04, 04:01 PM, (9) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, NW_611, Feb-13-04, 07:11 PM, (10) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, davereage, Feb-14-04, 00:53 AM, (11) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, NW_611, Feb-14-04, 02:54 AM, (12) RE: VIA Rail's The Ocean, davereage, Feb-14-04, 01:05 PM, (13)

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

LAST EDITED ON Feb-10-04 AT 12:29 PM (EST)

>hang these "Renaissance" cars. Cheers to that! >I know that it's got at least 2 F40 units, and at least two
>dome cars, one of which finishes the train. I've also
>spotted a few sleepers, but I don't know which type or
>anything. Thanks in advance! The consist varies from season to season, I'll give you a few examples here:July 1, 20032 x F40PH
1 x Baggage
4 x Coach
1 x Skyline
1 x Diner
4 x Manor Sleeper
4 x Chateau Sleeper
1 x ParkOct 23, 2003:F40PH 6403
F40PH 6404Baggage 8621
Coach 8106
Coach 8119
Skyline 8506
Acadian Diner
Chateau Lemoyne
Chateau Bienville
Chateau Iberville
Chateau Rouville
Chateau Denonville
Chateau Vercheres
Chateau Papineau
Revelstoke ParkNov 21, 2003F40PH 6404
F40PH 64138621 Baggage
8137 Coach
8132 Coach
8506 Skyline
8401 Dining Car Acadian
8206 Château Denonville
8228 Château Vercheres
8208 Château Dollier
8212 Château Latour
8704 Evangeline ParkDec 18, 20032 x F40PH
1 x Baggage
5 x Coach
1 x Skyline
1 x Diner
4 x Chateau Sleeper
3 x Manor Sleeper
1 x ParkSo as you can see, the consist changes a lot. A few things normally remain constant (1 baggage, 1 skyline, 1 park, 1 diner) and usually the trains only have Manor sleepers during peak periods, when there are not enough Chateau sleepers to go around.Hope this helps.

Dave Reage
Halifax, Canada

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Hooray! I found your screenshot thread and tried to count cars, but I didn't get very far. This is plenty of information and will allow me to get the thing up and running very, very quickly. Question: Does the second F40PH run in HEP mode? Since there's no steam generator car in the consist, I'm assuming that the locomotives supply electric power, but the VIA F40PHs that I have are both identical in terms of HP. I had intended to modify one of them to be an HEP-providing unit (which would then lead the Bras d'Or as well) and go from there.I appreciate your response!

____________________________________________________________________
Norfolk & Western’s Radford Division, Pulaski District: Who needs the Marias Pass?

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

For some reason, reading this post makes me somewhat nostalgic. I can't get the image out of my head either. It was last winter. My wife and I were enjoying lunch in the diner on VIA #14, while passing Folly Lake. I was chowing down on what is arguably the best seafood chowder I have ever eaten, observing the frozen landscape, and little cottages, as we raced along towards our final destination, Halifax. Conversation in the packed diner was light, as everyone seemed to be enjoying the visual splendor outside their windows. Dining car attendants raced back and forth, waiting on each table leaving a lasting impression on those who had never experienced Atlantic Canadian hospitality. To top off a perfect lunch, was a hot fudge filled chocolate cake, which I also enjoyed as we crossed the trestle east of Derry. In fact, it was so good, I think it was gone by the time we had crossed the trestle, which really isn't that long It almost makes me want to cry, knowing that will all be gone soon, if not already, with the advent of the new "renaissance" fleet. Well, they can take 'em somewhere else. They don't belong on Canada's oldest named train. To me, its still the "Ocean Limited".Cheers,
Jason@MLT

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Regarding F40PH HEP: Yes, the second unit provides HEP. NALW's F40PH package has a sound file for a HEP producing engine, I use that (although I never though to reduce the horsepower...oops! )Jason: glad I could provide some nostalgia for you. Maybe it will help MLT get in the mood for an Atlantic Canadian project It really is too bad that the ren cars will soon be in service on the Ocean, but it seems VIA is deadset on taking the Budd cars off the Ocean. I've been making as many trips between Halifax and Moncton (to visit my girlfriend's family) using VIA so I can spend as much time as possible in the Skyline dome. As of now, one of the three trainsets used on the Ocean is Ren, the other two are still Budd cars.Speaking of the Ocean being the oldest named train in Canada, it will celebrate its centennial later this year. Despite some very persistant attempts by local rail buffs to have it recognized, VIA refuses to promote this event or even acknowledge it.Conspiracy theories have abounded for years that VIA was trying to de-market the Ocean so they more easily abandon it. I never gave these theories much creedance, but with the introduction of inferior equipment and their refusal to take advantage of a great promotion opportunity, I have to wonder.

Dave Reage
Halifax, Canada

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Very well; I'll get that modification rolling sooner or later. Meanwhile, I've got a pair of VIA trains to enjoy. Have to run 'em on the D&H and squint at the signs (or just ignore them all together!) to simulate the run, I suppose. Thanks to all for their input!

____________________________________________________________________
Norfolk & Western’s Radford Division, Pulaski District: Who needs the Marias Pass?

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

The Bridge Line is quite good for the Bras D'or particularily, it would probably be good for running the Ocean too (although I've never done that, time to create a new activity!)I also enjoy running the Ocean on Marias Pass 3.1, it seems like a suitable route (although maybe more suitable for the Canadian).Cheers

Dave Reage
Halifax, Canada

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

> although I never though to reduce the horsepower...oops!We did! If you look in the .eng file for Amtrak 306 and 309, you'll notice that in addition to the sound differences, the power is reduced on 309 to account for the HEP.------ BUZZ

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

I finished converting 6415 to HEP service and cloning 6402 for HEP earlier today. Without the comments posted in the ENG files (including Amtrak 306/309) I never would have been able to do this, and would have been slogging through a lot slower.Thanks to you folks for making the F40PHs in the first place and making them easy (for me) to work with, and thanks to Alex Hall for making the VIA conversion. It's rather fun running the Bras d'Or and the Ocean on the D&H; if I ever get around to it, there are some screenshots of the former to post.

____________________________________________________________________
Norfolk & Western’s Radford Division, Pulaski District: Who needs the Marias Pass?

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Thanks for the heads up on that Buzz, I'll have to search out that part of the .eng file and use it to modify one of the VIA F40's.

Dave Reage
Halifax, Canada

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

6415's ENG file modified to provide HEP is attached in the zip below. It's the least I can do in return for your information. Hope it works.

____________________________________________________________________
Norfolk & Western’s Radford Division, Pulaski District: Who needs the Marias Pass?

Attachments
http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/402d67831f2496ee.zip

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

What a coincidence, 6415 was the unit I had modified to use HEP sounds....thanks One other note. Apparently VIA f40's only need to be in run 5 to provide HEP. I'm wondering if this is the same for Amtrak units (and hence do the sound files reflect this?)I believe that GO Transit's F40PH's had to be in Run 8 to provide HEP.

Dave Reage
Halifax, Canada

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

From my observations---and Buzz Benz is better suited to discuss this---you're in HEP mode from the word go with the HEP SMS file. I haven't actually ever sat down and gone through it other than to strain my ears listening to 306 and 309 in a single consist, and hoping to hear a difference. There is, but quite honestly, it's like was once said about Bismarck and Prinz Eugen: If they're not side by side, I have a hard time telling which one is which.

____________________________________________________________________
Norfolk & Western’s Radford Division, Pulaski District: Who needs the Marias Pass?

Alert | IP

Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-04 AT 01:05 PM (EST)

Yes, the HEP sounds would be constant, but they would be different if the engine was set to be in Run 5 rather than Run 8.I find if I am watching the train in view #4, I can normally tell the difference (assuming the lead F40 is in a low throttle setting, otherwise the sounds will blend together).

Dave Reage
Halifax, Canada

Alert | IP

[ Home | MSTS Forum | MSTS FAQ | File Library ] Copyright © 2004 by Nels Anderson. All Rights Reserved.