Caption: On Tuesday, March 7, 2005, VIA's OCEAN, Train 14, departs Matapedia, Quebec en route from Montreal, Quebec to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The train is just about to cross the Restigouche River and enter the province of New Brunswick.
F40PH-2 locomotives 6416 and 6426 lead baggage 8619, coaches 8139 and 8127, Skyline 8505, diner Louise, Chateau sleepers Laval, Marquette, Papineau, Viger, Radisson, Jolliet and Laurentide Park. During the station stop at Matapedia, the crew had separated the CHALEUR from the head end of the OCEAN. Gaspe-bound Train 16 included engine 6427 and cars 8618 8108 8527 Chateau Iberville and Chateau Montcalm.
Railfan friend and future son-in-law, Steven Dickie, and I had driven from his home in Fredericton to capture this view as it would usually be dark as the OCEAN departed Matapedia. The train departed in the early afternoon as it had been restricted to 10 mph on sections of the Montmagny and Mont Joli Subdivisions due to a minor earthquake. We elected to chase the eastbound OCEAN so the Gaspe chase culminating in a delightful meal at the Adams Restaurant would have to wait for another day.
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