|
Caption: A winter street view. It's 12 noon on March 14, 2023 in Churchill, MB. The sky is clear, the sun is bright, but it's -27C feeling like -36C!!! But, on the positive side, it's warmer than my arrival earlier in the morning at 08:30 when it was -31C feeling like -43C!!! VIA's 693 The Hudson Bay consist is parked on the station track in front of the stately station/Parks Canada building. As I was only staying the day, my next 10 hours in Churchill would alternate from 1/2 hour outside taking photos, to 1/2 hour in a restaurant, or the community center, or a store, then back out again for more pics. With the light breeze, and ice crystals in the air it was a bit challenging at times, but overall, a very enjoyable day walking around the station, yard, and town. Travelling to, and spending time in Churchill is a great experience. I'm so glad I have been able to do this trip in both summer and winter, and would highly recommend it to everyone. :-)
|
A beautiful sunny day, and no black flies to annoy you.
Quite the contrast in weather from my visit last August! Instead of bugs in the air, it was ice crystals on this trip.
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=49580
Very nice picture of this stately passenger train station. So glad it is preserved , continuing to be used by VIA and Parks Canada. Paul, you are very hardy, staying outside in those freezing temperatures for half-hour at a time ! I would be lucky to last 5 or 10 minutes. Hopefully by the time the sun was setting the station would be open for departing passengers. Am I correct in assuming that you spent six nights in a sleeping car (Winnipeg-Churchill-The Pas- Churchill-Winnipeg) ? Could you reserve the same roomette for all 6 nights ? For me, this would be a wonderful way to spend the week. Thanks for your caption and posting, John
Hi John. Thanks for the kind comment.
I flew to Winnipeg from Toronto on March 11th & stayed at an airport hotel the night before boarding VIA 693 for Churchill.
A quick cab ride to the VIA station in the morning & I boarded VIA 693 Sunday March 12th at noon. I had a bedroom and slept on the train for 2 nights arriving in Churchill on Tuesday morning the 14th.
Since I was re-boarding VIA 690 that same evening, I was able to leave my carry-on bag and backpack with camera gear in the VIA ticket agents area. The station would be closed and locked for the day until 18:30 hrs. (1 hr. before 690′s departure). The Parks Canada Museum in the station was also closed that day.
I departed from Churchill on VIA 690 at 19:30 in the same bedroom I had on the journey north.
Arrived in The Pas at 23:30 the 15th and stayed at the Anderson Inn for 2 nights. The Inn was about a mile from the VIA station (there are other hotels right next to the station).
After my 2 full days wandering around the HBR yard, terminal, and station area, I boarded VIA 692 at 23:30 on the 17th (in a different bedroom) for 1 more night on the train, arriving in Winnipeg at 16:45 on the 18th.
The trip from Winnipeg to Churchill and return is a total of 4 nights on board. There is no kitchen/dining car at this time, so all food is microwave prepared. Not the most appetizing, but part of the adventure.
I was fortunate to have clear skies, bright warm sunshine, and minimal breeze on the day I walked around Churchill. Had it been any other weather the day would have turned out a lot different.