Gaspe Excursion Train

There was talk about operating an excursion train along VIA Rail's Gaspe route from Gaspe to Chandler I believe. Is there any news on when this service may start up and what equipment is being used - aside from coaches - such as Skyline or Park dome/observation Car?

I haven't heard too much about this. As far as I know, plans to run this train for cruise ship passengers docking is Gaspe are still in the works. As I understand things, it will consist of two F40 locomotives and 5 or 6 Budd stainless steel coaches - no domes or diner.

Well that's pretty poor if VIA doesn't at least consider a dome car for this fantastic scenic journey. VIA could have certainly spared a Park Car or at least one Skyline Dome car to put their best foot forward for the cruise ship folks. Perhaps if VIA did offer dome service they might get people interested in Canadian passenger rail travel, as these cars really define VIA Rail.

From what I saw in Canadian Railway Observation ( CRO ) magazine of june 2009 , it was not VIA who will run the tourist train in that area but a private business :
The Société du chemin de fer de la Gaspésie who are the owners of the ( former CN ) CBC Chandler subdivision between New Carlisle and Gaspé QC and owners of ex-CN Cascapédia subdivision ( Matapédiato New Carlisle ) are expected to purchase NBEC RS18u's 1819 and 1849 for use on a tourist train between Gaspé-Chandler and Percé . The Canadian National is the actual operator of the traffic for the line between Matapédia and Gaspé .

SFG has recently trucked the tourist equipment back to New Richmond for repairs, since the line from New Richmond to Gaspe is still out of service. The railroad rebuilt the RS-18u used on the train last year and Rail GD is going to fix the cars up. The intent is to start running tourist trains between New Richmond and I think Nouvelle in the next year or so.

I figured I finally would make an account after a decade+ of viewing posts here, considering not much gets reported in the Atlantic Canada area where I frequent. I have made a number of trips to Gaspe over the last year, and the progress being made trackwork wise is incredible. Pretty much all new bridges, tons of new rail, and the railroad is actively working to clear the right of way of brush to the extent of the property lines. 3 GP38-3's (rebuilt from GP40's) have recently been acquired. These are supposedly going to displace some of the MLW fleet, however with the expansion to Port Daniel this year, I can see the need for 3 extra units. And there isn't a ton of RS-18u's for sale, so the move to go to EMD's was likely the result of that.

A few links with more information, including the purchase of RDC's from Vermont:
https://magaspesie.ca/le-train-touristi ... -richmond/
https://magaspesie.ca/la-societe-du-che ... ristiques/

An update since my last post.
The 4 not 3, GP38-3 rebuilds are on the property now and are being used in work train service. Work continues towards Port-Daniel with a new yard at the cement plant being built.
Several new customers have expressed an interest east of New Richmond and may get rail service in the future. Meanwhile there is a push to get VIA back to New Carlisle this year, which is extremely hopeful considering the amount of work that still needs to be done.

Its my first time attaching an image, so bear with me but work continues on the major retaining wall at New Carlisle from photos posted by Allen Doug Shaw. I am also told the government is looking to build some transloads and industrial parks on the Chandler Subdivision to bring back freight service once the $870 million in repairs and upgrades are complete.

SFG has stored 5/6 of its RS-18u's. One is being kept as back up power, but with work train service wrapping up there isn't a need for the RS-18u's, since the GP38's are being used for the freight trains. Once the line to Port-Daniel reopens they will be reactivated.