'Fun to eat in the dining car' a highlight of trip on Canadian Pacific Railway passenger trains for young travellers

Back in the days when passenger trains were the major way to travel across this vast and magnificent land, a meal in the dining car, whether it was breakfast, lunch supper, or all three, was always a highlight of the trip -- at least it was for me!

I recently came across dining car menus from 'The Dominion' in 1953, and having enjoyed my own trip down memory lane, decided to share some of the results. I don't recall my first trip from Chapleau to Toronto on a Canadian Pacific Railway train but it would have been shortly after the end of World War II in 1945 with my mother Muriel (Hunt) Morris and continued for years.

Along with the porter shining my shoes which we left out at bedtime to find sparkling clean in the morning, as we arrived in Toronto (for others Montreal), a trip to the dining car was the highlight of the trip for me.

The dining car steward would come through the train advising "First call for dinner" then second and third in due course after the train departed Chapleau for the overnight trip.

Based on the ' Dining Car Service for Young Travellers Menu" in 1953, here are the messages the CPR provided. The writer was trying to be poetic.

Ian Macdonald collection

The first message to young travellers: "It's fun to eat in the dining car as you rush along by CPR, Breakfast, lunch and supper too, Inside there's something good for you."

Breakfast: " Healthy Billy Beaver, napkin pulled in tight, Sits close to the table, eats with all his might. Juicy brick pancakes give Billy a treat, but we'll have  crisp bacon and such things to eat. The juice of an orange, milk by the glassful make you glad that so early we're up."

Lunch: "First call for lunch in the diner, the waiter announces. No news could be finer. So let's walk quickly through the train, and sit at the fresh white table again. Soup, meat, potatoes, perhaps some pie, or salad and jelly, there's lots to try."

Ian Macdonald collection

Supper: "It's lots of fun on the CPR train. That's why we eat with might and main. For supper there's always something nice. Fish or steak, tapioca or rice. And the friendly waiter is so polite as he pulls back the chair and says good night."

For breakfast on the young travellers menu cereal seemed to be the mainstay, while for lunch soup and maybe a sandwich were in order while an omelet. scrambled eggs or cold sliced chicken were main suggestions for supper. Prices ranged from a 35 cent breakfast to $1.50 for the chicken dinner for supper.

Turning to the adult dinner menus there were two -- 'Table D'Hote Dinner' and 'A La Carte'

Table D'Hote: Some items included a choice of fruit cocktail, celery with olives, cream of mushroom soup or consommé with a main course of baked Pacific coast salmon with dressing ($2.60), Roast prime rib of beef ($3.00), Sliced cold chicken and ham with potato salad ($2.70), or individual pot chicken pie ($2.70). All these meals included potatoes, vegetables, dessert and tea or coffee.

Ian Macdonald collection

A la Carte: Charcoal broiled 'red brand' small sirloin steak ($3.00), charcoal broiled fresh fish with tartar sauce ($1.25), prime ribs of beef ($1.75), and all other items were extra.

I don't recall my favourite dining car meal although it may have been chicken but I do recall vividly the outstanding service there.  I would love to hear your memories of eating there while travelling back in the day.

The CPR included the following statement on its menu: "It is with pleasure that we call attention to the desire and willingness of all our employees to give their utmost in service and special attention, and they as well as ourselves would appreciate your criticism as well as your commendations."

 They most assuredly, at least in my view, gave their utmost in service and special attention,  and I forgive them for the bad poetry!!!

Thanks to Ian Macdonald for providing photos. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Unique moment in Chapleau railroading occurred as Robert Faught and Wilfred Muske arrive on The Dominion to retire in 1950

When Robert Faught and Wilfred C. Muske stepped off the "Dominion Limited", the Canadian Pacific Railways crack passenger train at the Chapleau station in August, 1950, "something unique in local railroading" was happening, according to the Chapleau Post.

In the case of Mr. Muske, the engineer of the train, "climbed down off the engine to be greeted by a large circle of friends, he was culminating 43 years railroading with the CPR." 

The Chapleau Post reported that a similar scene was being enacted on the station platform where a group of relatives and friends gathered to greet Mr. Faught, an ex-Chapleauite conductor who was now living in North Bay.

In the case of Mr. Faught he set a record in Canadian railroading at the time, according to the Chapleau Post. He was completing 55 years service with the CPR. (I wonder if anyone ever equalled or matched Mr. Faught's 55 years.)

Mr. Muske was completing his service when Number 7 arrived but Mr. Faught left Chapleau on Number 4 that evening for North Bay as the conductor, arriving in the early morning hours.

However, the press was at the Chapleau station for the "double retirement" which was called unique in CPR history -- two on the same run retiring essentially at the same time. Bteween them they had 98 years of service on the CPR.

The newspaper report by Ben Ward in the North Bay Nugget described Mr. Faught's arrival in North Bay. "... just after midnight, the CPR's fast eastbound passenger train roared into the North Bay station. Down off an end car stepped a small, brisk man. clad in the neat blue serge of a train conductor. He waved farewell to a group on the coach platform, turned and entered the station office to report his trip.

"A few minutes later he emerged to to watch the train move off into the darkness."

Mr. Faught had finished his last run.

Here are details of his 55-year career with the CPR. He started as a boy by lighting the switch lamps for the railway at a place called Thorncliffe, a few miles east of North Bay. "A boy of ten and still going to school, he was required to rise at dawn to extinguish the lamps and  to re-light them at dusk. For that he was paid the handsome salary of $3.00 a month."

In the following years he worked as a timekeeper, hatch boy on coal boats, coach lamp lighter, brakeman and conductor all with the CPR.

He liked to recall those occasions when the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII; the Emperor of Japan and Prime Minister Lloyd George of England travelled on his trains.

By 1904, Mr. Faught was working as a brakeman at Chapleau, and by 1908 was a conductor. For the next 26 years, he took freight trains east and west out of Chapleau, "sometimes in winter storms that sent temperatures down to 60 and 70 below (F)"

He reached the "top rung" when he became a passenger train conductor, and for six years worked on trains from Chapleau to Fort William, now Thunder Bay. In 1940 he was transferred to North Bay and by 1947 his runs were to Chapleau on the Dominion Limited.

The Chapleau Post noted that "in his wallet he carries the prize possession of Canadian railroading - a 50-year service pass honoured as passage on Canadian pacific trains and steamships. With him too, are memories of more than half a century of Railroading across Northern Ontario." My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Names in photo: Work train at Ridout in October 1920. 1 Mr. Dumont from Cartier, 2 Fred Charbonneau section foreman from Roberts, 3 a son of Mr. Dumont (No. 1), 4 unknown, 5 Joe Dionne extra gang foreman from Cartier, 6 Tom Burns C.P.R. brakeman, 7 Robert (Bob) Faught C.P.R. conductor, 8 Hill Gagnon C.P.R. engineer, 9 Walter Steed C.P.R. fireman, 10 Hiram Paul C.P.R. brakeman. (Vince Crichton collection)

Scenic dome 'Park' car introduced on CPR passenger trains in 1954 arrives in Chapleau

Chapleau citizens who happened to be at the Canadian Pacific Railway station on Sunday July 25, 1954, at 10 a.m. would have seen the first of the scenic dome sleeper lounge cars as it passed through the community heading westbound on train Number 5.

The Chapleau Post reported that it was the first of the 18 scenic dome cars to go into service.

"The new cars mark a new era in rail travel comfort on the railway," the Post story said. Each of the cars would be  named after one of Canada's national or provincial parks.

The CPR through the sponsorship of the Royal Canadian Academy commissioned 18 of Canada's best known artists to depict the natural beauties of each of the parks in mural form for the lounge which is situated under the upper  level dome."

For those who recall  those wonderful days of passenger rail travel to places like Toronto or Montreal or were westward bound, and spent time in the lounge, those murals were beautiful.

The Post story added that the new scenic dome cars would be known as 'Park' cars and were part of an order for 173 stainless steel cars which, when delivery was completed would "revolutionize transcontinental travel in Canada."

As delivery of the Park cars was made, they went into service on the CPR transcontinental line. They soon became a common sight at Chapleau.

Just recently I received a copy of the July 22, 1954 Chapleau Post from Charlie Purich with the story about the dome car arrival on the front page.

I travelled back and forth to Toronto many times, especially when attending university from 1960 to 1964. I made my first trip across Canada from Toronto, with a stopover in Chapleau to see my Mom, family and friends, and then on to Vancouver (and return) to attend a university newspaper editors conference at the University of British Columbia in 1963.

After I become a daily newspaper reporter in 1964, and worked on papers on the Prairies I went back and forth on the CPR and Canadian National.

However, fifty years ago on August 31 when I was starting my newspaper career at the Daily Press in Timmins, I did not arrive there by train but over Highway 101 which had been officially opened in 1962. My uncle, B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt drove me to Timmins and my grandmother, Edythe Hunt came along to make sure I arrived OK at my first full time job.

MJ as young reporter

So, thanks Charlie for sending me a Chapleau Post from 60 years ago, so I could work in a comment about starting my journalism career 50 years ago, plus share the news about the arrival of the dome cars. But as Tom Brokaw, the longtime anchor of NBC Nightly News once said, "It's all storytelling, you know. That's what journalism is all about."  My email is mj.morris@live.ca 

Chapleau 'definitely located' on Trans Canada Highway and CPR diesel shop to bring higher employment and payroll in community but the bubbles eventually burst

First diesel arrives in Chapleau, 1949

When the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena was officially opened in 1951, it appeared that Chapleau was destined to become a much larger community as its economic future was assured with it now being "definitely located" on the Trans Canada Highway and the development of a diesel maintenance shop by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

At least, that is the news Chapleau citizens received from Welland S. Gemmell, the MPP for Sudbury and minister of mines, whose riding included Chapleau, and Fred Donegan, the general superintendent of the Algoma Division of the CPR.

First, Mr. Gemmell in the arena, moments before Reeve B.W. Zufelt led the official opening ceremonies:

"Chapleau is now well on the way to being on the map. It is now definitely located on the Trans Canada Highway and this should mean a great deal to the community. We in government have tried to give your community as much assistance as possible...", Mr. Gemmell said, in a Sudbury Star story.

Next, Mr. Donegan of the CPR:

"Many residents believe that rail dieselization program might throw many out of work.

"Actually our present program of maintenance expansion will mean a much higher payroll and higher employment in the Chapleau shops.

CPR Advertisement

"It has always been the same when mechanical improvements have been made. It has always been felt that machines will replace men whereas it has always resulted in greater employment at higher scales of wages.

"The same is developing today and I am looking forward confidently to an even larger community as a result of the present railway program."

The first passenger train with a diesel engine arrived in Chapleau  on December 5, 1949.. We were out of school early so that we could get to the station for this historic moment.

What happened?

I recall the day we were given a school holiday when the announcement was made that Chapleau would be on the Trans Canada Highway.

So did Bill McLeod (we were in the same grade at Chapleau Public School) and he writes about it in his book, 'The Chapleau Game Preserve: History, Murder and Other Tales'. Bill recalled that on June 8, 1950, the schools were closed, fire sirens screamed and the Chapleau Post put out a special edition with 'WE GOT IT' as the headline.

Bill also mentions that Arthur Grout, according to the Sudbury Star, threw a giant party, and even though Mr. Grout was a teetotaller, strong drink was served.

The Globe and Mail described Reeve Zufelt as a man with a "jubilant grin" who told the reporter "It looks as if half the world is going to come driving down our main street".

The advantages of the Chapleau route were obvious as it would be shorter and construction costs less running along the south side of the CPR line from Sudbury to Chapleau and on to Schreiber, than the Sault Ste Marie route to Wawa.

Bill McLeod notes that the 'bubble burst slowly" for Chapleau concluding that for the most part there was just too much political clout along the North Shore even though much blasting and rock removal was required.

Now, on to the CPR.

In 2001, Entrepreneur magazine, had a railway buff, travel the CPR line on the Budd Car and he summed up the situation that occurred at Chapleau regarding the diesel maintenance shops. The writer chatted with Jim Cockburn who was the conductor on the Budd car for many years.

"The changeover to diesel engines around 1953 saw the development of a diesel shop in Chapleau. Cited as an ideal location for the shop due to its central location between Thunder Bay, Toronto and Montreal, Chapleau became headquarters for engine maintenance and repairs, resulting in the creation of over 100 jobs in the community

The Dominion 1959

"However, as diesel engines evolved and required less servicing, operations downsized and the diesel shop was forced to close its doors in the late 1960s."

While I am really no expert on the CPR, I remember when it started transferring employees to places like Agincourt, London and Windsor, and the population of Chapleau started its gradual decline, that has continued for many years now.

Engine 5433 now in Chapleau Park

Also, although Mr. Donegan likely would never have thought it in 1951 when he visited Chapleau, passenger train travel was eventually taken over by VIA Rail. In the Fifties there were four transcontinental passenger trains daily in each direction (by my count: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8).

The Entrepreneur magazine writer noted that n 1990, the VIA Transcontinental train discontinued service on the CP line and converted operations to the Canadian National rail line.

I first read Mr. Gemmell and Mr. Donegan's comments when I was writing a piece on the opening of the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena earlier this year, and decided to share what they had to say about the Trans Canada highway and CPR expansion in Chapleau.

I am sure they both meant what they said at the time, although they undoubtedly were  telling people what they wanted to hear, but had the highway come through Chapleau and the CPR maintained its presence, Chapleau would be a much different place than it is today.

By the way, also at the opening of the memorial arena was Fred Dunbar, the Ontario minister of municipal affairs, who in his remarks pointed out that although Chapleau was incorporated as a municipality on February 3, 1901, the "early town fathers" somehow neglected to gazette it as required.

It was not until 1927 that a special act of the Ontario legislature, the Chapleau Boundaries Act, was passed, to legalize all municipal transactions that had taken place since 1901. I guess the good people of Chapleau were far too busy building their town, but it was good to learn from Mr. Dunbar's comments that they were "law abiding" -- despite failing to complete all the legal niceties.

Thanks to Bill McLeod and Doug Greig for research assistance.

Happy Canada Day! My email is mj.morris@live.ca