VIA Rail Edmonton to Winnipeg on the Canadian January 4-9, 2025, many freight trains on CN Rail

We took the Canadian on a round trip voyage to Winnipeg, Manitoba, from Edmonton, from January 4-9, 2025. Silver and Blue class was selected, and the upper and lower berths were selected because this 70 year old equipment is such a throwback to the 1950s. There are about 60 CN trains per day on the line from Edmonton to Winnipeg. This video shows the berths, the rear observation car, the dome car, the dining car and the immaculate kitchen, which did not have a microwave oven that I could see. Eventually, this beautiful stainless steel equipment will be retired from VIA Rail. I would suggest taking a ride before this equipment is replaced. We took the Canadian to Vancouver in March 2023, and got a bedroom for that ride. Ironically the Park Car we rode on to Winnipeg on January 4th was the same Park Car we rode back on January 9th. This was also the same Park Car we rode on in March of 2023. Kootenay Park. #2 was 13 cars including 3 dome cars and 2 locomotives. #1 was 14 cars (2 baggage cars) including 3 dome cars and 2 locomotives. Below is a list of the trains I saw in the awake hours. I am using the old 1980s train lineup terminology XW for Westbound trains and XE for eastbound trains. The line between Edmonton and Winnipeg is incredibly busy, a lot of single track CTC but the double tracking is coming. The Wainwright Sub., the Watrous Sub., and the Rivers Sub. are the 3 CN Rail subdivisions on this route. If you like trains this is the route for you. January 4, 2025 Depart Edmonton 2030, went 500 feet did not move until 2150. Winnipeg arrival 2330, January 5. XE 2155 Bailey XE 2205 Clover Bar XW 2215 Barker (Ardrossan) XW 2235 Lindbrook XW 2255 Ryley XE 2315 Bruce XW 2325 Viking Sleep at 2345 MST lose 1 hour Awake at 0700 CST 6.25h of Sleep XW 0705 Asquith XW 0815 Farley XE 0830 Saskatoon XE 0830 Saskatoon XE 0830 Saskatoon XW 0925 Saskatoon XE 0950 Saskatoon XW 1000 Saskatoon XW 1015 Riverview XW 1030 Clavet XW 1145 Watrous XW 1155 Watrous XW 1225 Watrous XW 1330 Raymore XW 1415 Quinton XE 1430 Quinton (behind this train in siding, then backed out and passed after XW went by) XE 1445 Kelliher XE 1450 Jasmin XW 1510 Hubbard XW 1530 Goodeve XE 1555 Melville XE 1555 Melville XW 1600 Melville XW 1600 Melville XW 1650 Code XW 1705 Welby XW 1715 Welby XW 1755 Wattsview XW 1810 Uno XW 1815 Uno XW 1900 Oakner XW 1950 Myra XE 2000 Rivers XW 2015 Knox XW 2025 Moffatt XW 2035 Harte XW 2040 Gregg XW 2050 Firdale XW 2125 Exira XW 2155 Bloom XE 2230 Natress XW 2235 Natress XW 2305 Diamond XW 2315 Waverly St. 51 trains x 24h÷19.75h awake=62.0 trains per day roughly 26.0 hours on train January 9, 2025 Depart Winnipeg 2323, boarded train at 2130. Edmonton arrival 2315, January 10. XW 2130 Winnipeg XE 2145 Winnipeg XW 2200 Winnipeg XW 2240 Winnipeg XW 2300 Winnipeg XE 2335 Waverly St. XE 0001 Diamond XE 0015 East Elie XE 0025 East Elie Sleep at 0030 CST Awake at 0730 CST 7h of sleep XE 0755 Raymore XE 0820 Nokomis XE 0925 Young XE 0955 Allan XE 1015 Clavet XW 1100 Newcross XE 1115 Riverview XW 1130 Saskatoon XE 1230 Saskatoon XE 1240 Roskin Jct. XE 1250 Gasper XE 1300 Juniata XE 1320 Leney XE 1350 Neola XE 1445 Biggar East XE 1500 Biggar East XE 1510 Biggar East XW 1515 Biggar West XE 1525 Palo XE 1550 Cavell XE 1605 Scott XE 1645 Unity XE 1715 Yonker CST gain 1hr XE 1625 Artland MST XE 1740 Dunn XE 1755 Wainwright XW 1755 Wainwright XE 1810 Wainwright XE 1820 Irma XE 1855 Viking XW 1915 Bruce XE 1950 Lindbrook XE 1955 Lindbrook XE 2120 Ardrossan XE 2130 Ardrossan XE 2155 Clover Bar XE 2245 East Jct. to Vegreville Sub. XE 2245 East Jct. to Camrose Sub. 47 trains x 24h÷19.75h awake=57.1 trains per day roughly 26h45m on train