Ken V wrote:The Renaissance equipment used on the Ocean has European style couplers which are not compatible with the rest of VIA's fleet. The transition car has a North American style coupler on one end to allow a Park car to be attached to the rear of the train.
They also need North American couplers on one end to couple to the locomotives.
Typical Renaissance equipment setup for the Ocean;
(1)baggage car, (2) several coach cars, (3) a dining car bracketed by (3) two service cars, (5)multiple sleeping cars, a (6) transition car and a (7) "Park" Sleeper Buffet-Lounge Dome Observation Car. The Ocean is almost invariably hauled by a pair of London, Ontario-built GM F40PH locomotives, of which all have been upgraded by CAD Railway Industries of Montreal to the F40PH-3 model. During winter months the consist has as few as 14 cars, during the summer months the consist has as much as 21 cars. During most of the year, with the reduction of service to 3 round trips per week, only two consists are needed to operate the Ocean.
Rolling stock roster:
Baggage car 9 7000–7011 Built out of unused sleeping car shells. Use rubber floor mats.
Club car 14 7100–7114 48-seat capacity in a 2+1 configuration.
Coach 33 7200–7232 48-seat capacity in a 2+1 configuration.
Lounge car 20 7300–7316; 7354–7359 Via Rail refers to these as "service" cars.
Dining car 3 7400–7402 48-seat capacity; built out of unused sleeping car shells of single bedrooms.
Sleeping car 28 7500–7589 10 double bedrooms. 29 more were stored at Thunder Bay, Ontario - only 3 are left in storage.
Baggage car/transition 3 7600–7602 Are modified Baggage cars. Carpeted corridor added to rubber mat floors
Note: All the Baggage and Transition cars have European spec couplers on one end, and North American spec couplers on the opposite end.
Having to need just two consists today, the Ocean only requires 2 baggage, 2 transition, 2 dining, 4 service cars, and 2 "Park" cars. the 28 sleeping cars could be divided into 14 such cars per Ocean train depending on demand. The 33 coach and 14 club cars, and the remaining 16 Lounge/Serice cars are also use in corridor service.