Hey Matt. Great pictures from the Apple Blossom Special: http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=A ... om_Special
Neat to see VIA blue cars on the DAR and a F unit riding the Kentville turntable! Love that close-up of the turntable motor for model detail work.
Does anyone know more about these specials? Were they run with RDCs in other years?
Someone should write a lively fiddle tune named the Apple Blossom Special to rival the Orange Blossom Special.
Dan Conlin
Apple Blossom Special
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downeastrailfan
- Charter Member
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- Location: Dartmouth, NS
Re: Apple Blossom Special
According to Ron Haight, 1987 was the only year VIA ran a conventional consist on the DAR for Apple Blossom Festival. I don't know if VIA ran specials of RDC consists for other years.
Matthew Keoughan
Dartmouth, NS
Keeping the memory alive of the famous "Land of Evangeline Route".
Dartmouth, NS
Keeping the memory alive of the famous "Land of Evangeline Route".
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Tedsgrandson
- Honour Roll 2009
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Re: Apple Blossom Special
Hi Matt:
I also wanted to say thanks for posting the pictures of the Apple Blossom Special. As Dan noted, it seems funny to see the CN trains on DAR tracks, particularly the ones parked in front of the Kentville station. I don't know the answer to Dan's question regarding Apple Blossom trains from other years, but I will post something if I find out.
Also, thanks for posting these latest pictures. Ron obviously has a fantastic collection, and I appreciate your scanning these and sharing them with us.
Jim Joyce
Dartmouth, N.S.
I also wanted to say thanks for posting the pictures of the Apple Blossom Special. As Dan noted, it seems funny to see the CN trains on DAR tracks, particularly the ones parked in front of the Kentville station. I don't know the answer to Dan's question regarding Apple Blossom trains from other years, but I will post something if I find out.
Also, thanks for posting these latest pictures. Ron obviously has a fantastic collection, and I appreciate your scanning these and sharing them with us.
Jim Joyce
Dartmouth, N.S.
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downeastrailfan
- Charter Member
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- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:22 am
- Location: Dartmouth, NS
Re: Apple Blossom Special
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the positive feedback. So far we've gotten into the prints, however, he has a slide collection as well!
Thanks for the positive feedback. So far we've gotten into the prints, however, he has a slide collection as well!
Matthew Keoughan
Dartmouth, NS
Keeping the memory alive of the famous "Land of Evangeline Route".
Dartmouth, NS
Keeping the memory alive of the famous "Land of Evangeline Route".
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downeastrailfan
- Charter Member
- Posts: 455
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:22 am
- Location: Dartmouth, NS
Re: Apple Blossom Special
While watching an old CBC video clip about the Golers on Youtube, I discovered a quick shot of a VIA RDC Apple Blossom Special. The train breaks through a banner, which says "50th Apple Blossom Festival." This would be 1983.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBk7jnXB738
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBk7jnXB738
Matthew Keoughan
Dartmouth, NS
Keeping the memory alive of the famous "Land of Evangeline Route".
Dartmouth, NS
Keeping the memory alive of the famous "Land of Evangeline Route".
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gwh
Re: Apple Blossom Special
I believe the video mentioned in one of the other posts would have been of the first Apple Blossom Special with VIA equipment. Premier John Buchanan was at the controls when the train broke through the 50th anniversary banner. The train had stopped just before reaching the banner and the premier got a quick course on what to do. He almost had heart failure when he saw all the people across the track.
As for the conventional train in 1987, if that indeed was the year, a couple of crossing mishaps took some of the RDCs out of service and VIA said they would not be able to run the train. When it was suggested they send down a conventional train, they first said no because they didn't think such a train could operate on the DAR. Once DAR officials told them it could, they decided to go ahead with it. They were hoping to get one of the new F40 locomotives to pull it but the schedule rotation would not allow that.
I believe that was the last of the Apple Blossom Specials.
As for an ABS west of Kentville, there was at least one year that VIA added an extra RDC to the regular trains to carry people to and from the festival.
gwh
As for the conventional train in 1987, if that indeed was the year, a couple of crossing mishaps took some of the RDCs out of service and VIA said they would not be able to run the train. When it was suggested they send down a conventional train, they first said no because they didn't think such a train could operate on the DAR. Once DAR officials told them it could, they decided to go ahead with it. They were hoping to get one of the new F40 locomotives to pull it but the schedule rotation would not allow that.
I believe that was the last of the Apple Blossom Specials.
As for an ABS west of Kentville, there was at least one year that VIA added an extra RDC to the regular trains to carry people to and from the festival.
gwh