VIA turning 20 coach trains at Windsor Junction NS 22 & 24 August 2006

In August 2006 the balloon track at Halterm was being repaired and VIA had to back the 20 car Ocean with two locomotives 15.6 miles to Windsor Junction NS in order to turn the train prior to its return trip to Montreal. The Park cars were specially fitted with two ditch lights for this move.
This video combines footage shot on two different days in order to illustrate the operation at as many locations as possible. On the second evening the VIA train has to wait for the daily container train (CN#121) to pass before it could return to Halifax in the dark.

[@darickymeister]

I think now they back it all the way to Truro, NS

[@anetajohnson8446]

Looks like in Canada the fright trains have the right away. In the states here, when i worked on the railroad 1960s, passenger trains had the right away i dont know if thats still true!

[@murraymaxwell637]

Too bad they couldn't use the loop track at the docks.

[@bikerdude3r]

Great video
Do you know what year they started to use the Balloon track at Harlterm?
When I lived in Halifax mid 80s, they were turning the cars one by one on the turntable

[@david-othen]

+André S As soon as it was built - probably early 80s

[@reganrickson795]

+André S OMG, that must have been a slow process.

[@david-othen]

+Regan Rickson It certainly was and a shunter engine had to couple and uncouple each car on and off the turntable.

[@anetajohnson8446]

They stoped usiong the Balloon track,because to manny traind kept falling off the Balloon! "Joke"

[@railpast]

How come you get all those nice cars and we get those old LRC stuff in the corridor? They don't seem to be wasting any time.

[@david-othen]

+railpast They may look nice on the outside but they are troublesome - leaking roofs that have been replaced several times, sticking doors that won't open or close, toilets that don't work etc etc. The LRC cars are being rebuilt and refurbished slowly.

[@oneastrails]

The nice part of the Renaissance coaches is that there is 2 x 1 seating. More roomy than an LRC or Budd coach. So if you are travelling alone you can sit all by yourself. Seat recline more than the LRC or Budd coaches and seem to be a bit more roomy.

[@wesleymason8588]

David Othen f4

[@mikeb4261]

A last-gasp use of the DAR.....

[@Dalts1985]

Mike B, DAR, what’s that⁉️🤔

[@davidoickle1778]

Dominion Atlantic Railroad . . . . I think. Not certain though.

[@darickymeister]

@@davidoickle1778 The Y is gone now.... disconnected from the CN mainline... just old track in the bushes...