Day 1 (January 27, 2023): Train Excitement!

Each year we do an overnight excursion with our good friends, Mel and Juliet Whalen. This year, we decided to take the train to Moncton and back, mostly for the experience of riding the train. Via Rail has reduced its service significantly over the last decade. There are now just two trains a week that operate on the Halifax-Montreal line. Fortunately, the schedule worked such that we could leave Halifax at 1 o’clock Friday afternoon and then get the return train on Saturday afternoon, this making for a perfect up-and-back weekend getaway.

Although yesterday brought 100 km/h winds and heavy rain to Halifax, today brought beautiful sunshine. It made for a perfect day to travel by train.

I went into work at 7 AM and got off at noon, while Pam normally finishes at 11:30 on Fridays. Mel and Juliet picked up Subway sandwiches on their way, and we all met up at my office building. Each of us had a small backpack, so we set off and walked the Halifax harbourfront to the Via Rail station.

It was a wonderful trip to Moncton, which left on time and arrived on time. We walked to the Delta Hotel from the Moncton Via Rail station, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres in the Delta Signature Club Lounge, and then went to dinner at Gusto Italian Grill near the hotel. After a wonderful dinner, we enjoyed a game of Skip Bo in the Delta Signature Club Lounge. All in all, a very full and enjoyable day.

Halifax Via Rail Station. 

Our Economy Class seats were in one of the older but very comfortable stainless steel cars. The train departed on time at exactly 1:00PM. 

The rail line passes the edge of the Bedford Basin. Notice the MacKay Bridge in the background. 

Having lunch (subway sandwiches) in the lounge car. 

As we neared Truro, Juliet recalled this childhood poem entitled, “From A Railway Carriage”. 

Stop #1:  Truro Via Rail station. The train pulled out at 2:43PM. 

We marvel at the fact that, despite it being the end of January, there was still no ice in the lakes from Halifax to Central Nova Scotia. And no snow either. But, by the time we arrived in the Wentworth Valley, we started to see the lakes frozen over and snow in the woods.

Stop #2:  Amherst Via Rail station. The train pulled out at 4:15PM. 

The wind turbines of the Tantramar Marshes. 

Remnants of a former bridge over the Tantramar River. 

Stop #3:  Sackville Via Rail station. The train pulled out at 4:30PM. 

3 1/2 hours into the ride - still having a great time!

The imposing Dorchester Penitentiary. 

Arrival at Moncton Via Rail station was exactly on time at 5:17PM. 

It was a 15-minute walk at dusk from the Moncton Via Rail station to the Delta Beauséjour Hotel. Enroute, we passed my Moncton office of Canadian Heritage, located in the Government of Canada building at 1045 Main Street. 

The tantalizing made-in-house cakes of Gusto Italian Grill and Bar, where we ate dinner. 

A game of Skip Bo in the Delta Signature Club Lounge topped off the evening.