Still "Chugging" Along after All These Years

The train featured on the front of this post card is called “Ocean Limited”.

At the time of this photograph it was being operated by the Canadian National Railway (CNR). The route followed by the “Ocean Limited” was pioneered by the Intercolonial Railway Company. I wrote about this railway back in February of 2021. This route was created by the railway to add another train to the already popular “Maritime Express”. It started on July 3, 1904 as a summer run only service with a limited number of stops between Halifax and Montreal. However, the Grand Trunk Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway were sponsoring and bringing over immigrants to settle the western parts of Canada. As immigration to Canada increased (Halifax being a major port for receiving immigrants) the passenger service of the “Ocean Limited” also increased. During the two World Wars, this route was used to support troops and supplies as they were transported to Halifax for movement to Europe. By 1966, the “Ocean Limited” had been renamed to “The Ocean”, while maintaining the same schedule and train numbers. Today, this train is no longer operated by the CNR but by VIA Rail. It is the oldest continuously operating, named passenger train in North America. The route is 1,346 kilometers (800 miles) long and it takes one day and one night to complete. This is the description that VIA Rail printed in its brochure to market “The Ocean”: Imagine departing Montréal just as dusk is falling, shrouding the city skyline as you pull through the Montérégie Hills, distant lights marking the small towns you pass by on your journey east. As dawn breaks, the train descends the coast of Baie-des-Chaleurs, and soon you’ll be in Moncton and then Halifax, where your Maritime adventure continues. It adds, in the brochure, that during the Summer they have programming included in the trip like “Fascinating presentations on local history, culture and much more enliven and enrich your Maritime experience.” You can also “Stay connected [with their] Free Wi-Fi, power outlets and cell phone use at any time.” “The Ocean” also makes “Convenient connections …Take advantage of convenient ferry and bus connections to Saint John’s and Prince Edward Island.”

The post card was published by Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialties, Inc. Mary Jayne is a wonderful person. I wrote to her and told her about my post card collection; I asked if it was possible to get a printed copy of the index to all of her post cards. I truly expected to have to pay something for the effort of her having to print and mail the list to me. I received a very kind letter in the mail with the list. She said that since I was asking (and not demanding like so many others did) she was sending it to me for free. I still have that list and refer to it whenever I get a new Mary Jaynes' Railroad Specialties, Inc. post card.

That list tells me that this post card was published on December 14, 1985. It is the number in the box that indicates where to add the postage stamp that leads me to the publishing details on her post cards. Thank you Mary Jayne, and God bless you.