The Off Topic Topic

[Jacob]

I get that.  My question was about the applicability of the national symbol to the lives of citizens.

So you question the train, rather than the robotic arm in space?

[Jacob]

These days, no-one I know does the Toronto-Vancouver run except as a tourism-type thing. I haven't done it myself, but the views are said to be spectacular.

I plan on doing it one day

Probably just one way, though.

[Admiral Yi]

So you question the train, rather than the robotic arm in space?

I didn't want to beat up the cripple. 

[crazy canuck]

How common is it to ride the train in Canuckistan?

The Windsor-Toronto-Montreal corridor train use is reasonably common.

Out here though nobody does.

There is a communter train (actually a number of trains) running from the suburbs to downtown Vancouver and then the reverse at the end of the day.  It is heavily used and has led to a bit of a housing boom in the suburbs now that a via mode of transportation has been provided.

[crazy canuck]

I'm pretty sure that train is from the trans-Canada railway, which is a somewhat significant national symbol.

I get that.  My question was about the applicability of the national symbol to the lives of citizens.

As a national symbol it is the reason why I am not a yank.  But for the building of the Trans-Canada much of the West would be suffering the horrors of private medical insurance.

[Barrister]

I'm pretty sure that train is from the trans-Canada railway, which is a somewhat significant national symbol.

I get that.  My question was about the applicability of the national symbol to the lives of citizens.

As a national symbol it is the reason why I am not a yank.  But for the building of the Trans-Canada much of the West would be suffering the horrors of private medical insurance.

But it isn't celebrating CP's or CN's trans-Canadian railway - it is celebrating VIA Rail.  Which nobody uses.

[Malthus]

I'm pretty sure that train is from the trans-Canada railway, which is a somewhat significant national symbol.

I get that.  My question was about the applicability of the national symbol to the lives of citizens.

As a national symbol it is the reason why I am not a yank.  But for the building of the Trans-Canada much of the West would be suffering the horrors of private medical insurance.

But it isn't celebrating CP's or CN's trans-Canadian railway - it is celebrating VIA Rail.  Which nobody uses.

Isn't it a modern passanger train running on the same set of tracks? 

[Eddie Teach]

Here's our new $5 and $10 bills:

Better Call Saul?

[Jacob]

Isn't it a modern passanger train running on the same set of tracks? 

That's what I thought.

[Phillip V]

I had way too much coffee today.

Where do you feel it?

[PRC]

I'm pretty sure that train is from the trans-Canada railway, which is a somewhat significant national symbol.

I get that.  My question was about the applicability of the national symbol to the lives of citizens.

As a national symbol it is the reason why I am not a yank.  But for the building of the Trans-Canada much of the West would be suffering the horrors of private medical insurance.

But it isn't celebrating CP's or CN's trans-Canadian railway - it is celebrating VIA Rail.  Which nobody uses.

Isn't it a modern passanger train running on the same set of tracks? 

Based on the map and my own experience I don't believe they do.  The passenger train runs through Jasper while CN Freight parallels the # 1 Trans-Canada Highway through the Bow Valley and Golden.

[Malthus]

I'm pretty sure that train is from the trans-Canada railway, which is a somewhat significant national symbol.

I get that.  My question was about the applicability of the national symbol to the lives of citizens.

As a national symbol it is the reason why I am not a yank.  But for the building of the Trans-Canada much of the West would be suffering the horrors of private medical insurance.

But it isn't celebrating CP's or CN's trans-Canadian railway - it is celebrating VIA Rail.  Which nobody uses.

Isn't it a modern passanger train running on the same set of tracks? 

Based on the map and my own experience I don't believe they do.  The passenger train runs through Jasper while CN Freight parallels the # 1 Trans-Canada Highway through the Bow Valley and Golden.

The "trans-canada railway" is a more general term: according to the wiki, the CN and CP used to run passanger trains until that function was taken over in both cases by Via.

The Canadian National Railways (CNR) was incorporated on June 6, 1919, comprising several railways that had become bankrupt and fallen into federal government hands, along with some railways already owned by the government. On November 17, 1995, the federal government privatized CN. Over the next decade, the company expanded significantly into the United States, purchasing Illinois Central Railroad and Wisconsin Central Transportation, among others. Now primarily a freight railway, CN also operated passenger services until 1978, when they were assumed by Via Rail.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway

The railway was originally built between eastern Canada and British Columbia between 1881 and 1885 (connecting with Ottawa Valley and Georgian Bay area lines built earlier), fulfilling a promise extended to British Columbia when it entered Confederation in 1871. It was Canada's first transcontinental railway, but currently does not reach the Atlantic coast. Primarily a freight railway, the CPR was for decades the only practical means of long-distance passenger transport in most regions of Canada, and was instrumental in the settlement and development of Western Canada. The CP became one of the largest and most powerful companies in Canada, a position it held as late as 1975.[2] Its primary passenger services were eliminated in 1986, after being assumed by Via Rail Canada in 1978.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Pacific_Railway

[derspiess]

I had way too much coffee today.

Where do you feel it?

[Barrister]

Based on the map and my own experience I don't believe they do.  The passenger train runs through Jasper while CN Freight parallels the # 1 Trans-Canada Highway through the Bow Valley and Golden.

VIA uses CP's tracks I believe.

[Valmy]

Seriously?  We label 'Washington' and 'Lincoln' on our bills and the Canadians just assume everybody can recognize Laurier and Macdonald on sight?