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Caption: January 2026 at Parry Sound, Ontario. A portion of VIA Rail’s Canadian (Train 1, Toronto–Vancouver) stands during a scheduled fresh-air break, with the locomotives (VIA 6448 and 6457) just out of frame to the left. From this angle, the baggage car (8606) and first economy coach (8105) are visible as passengers detrain for their first opportunity to stretch their legs roughly five hours into the journey, having departed Toronto at 10:00 a.m. With no onboard Wi-Fi and limited cellular coverage along much of the route, the stop offers a brief chance to check phones, grab some fresh air, or — in the photographer’s case — dash out to document the train itself.
Photographic options here are limited by nearby residences, fencing, and the steep terrain, but the moment is anchored by the historic Canadian Pacific Railway station in the background. Built in 1907, the castle-like CP station ceased regular passenger service in 1990 and today houses the Festival of the Sound offices. VIA Rail continues to use this location, known operationally as Parry Sound South, for westbound service, while eastbound trains call at the former CN station elsewhere in town — a reminder of Parry Sound’s layered railway history.
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