CBC Television 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train

In September and early October of 2002, I had the privilege of working with the CBC to celebrate CBC TV’s 50th Anniversary. We did it in a very novel way: by taking the museum across Canada on a train.

My job was to document the trip in words and photographs. The journals are archived (see CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train) and these are the collected photographs.

[Photographs by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or subsidiaries.]

End of the Banff Park carDon't forget to write!VIA 6403 in CBC liverySetting up for the Vancouver showIan Hanomansing143_4377Panorama of Burrard InletThe CBC Mobile truckCBC ArchivesNew Media Team143_4365VIP line upComing out of the baggage carsCruise ship at the docks143_4381Jean Pelletier, VIA Rail CEOThe VIP show in VancouverThe shirt is everythingStilt-walkerIn the museumLuba Goy does her Jean Cretian impressionCarole Taylor, Chair of the CBCKids checker boardBrian WilliamsTest run of our setups143_4376143_4382Pacific Central stationSafety briefingCBC host Brian WilliamsFrank Leahy and the bandNewsworld handoutsChinese musicBe an AnchorCBC Newsworld tentChinese harp143_4371Vancouver Courthouse and Art GalleryInside Waterfront Station143_4370Gastown143_4373143_4372Gastown Steam ClockVancouver Courthouse143_4360Waterfront Station143_4356The Royal Canadian Air FarceDeep in conversationFriendsMmmm... bar food

[flickr]tag:cbctv50thanniversaryviarailtrain+kamloops+2002@Geoff S.[/flickr]

CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail train in JasperThe crew of the CBC TV 50th Anniversary VIA Rail trainVIA 6403 in JasperSome of the CBC teamChipmunkLooking down the morraine valleyHanging glacierGlacier on Mount Edith CavellOur mountain guideGlacial streamRichard HommePaul on guitarDancing with FranklinElk butt!Jasper townsite, as seen from the rail yardThe Technical CrewDrumsFrank Leahy

[flickr]tag:cbctv50thanniversaryviarailtrain+edmonton+2002@Geoff S.[/flickr]

149_4946148_4839VIA 6403 in BiggarSitting in the Biggar sidingSandra Schmirler Olympic Gold ParkDowntown BiggarTrain sits on the sidingThe old CN roundhouse in BiggarThe abandoned Biggar stationNew York is big ... but this is BiggarAttracting attention in BiggarAnd the band plays on...148_4838Kids line up for the museumThe old CN roundhouse in Biggar

[flickr]tag:cbctv50thanniversaryviarailtrain+saskatoon+2002@Geoff S.[/flickr]

Emma, Melville station, and her hatVIA 6403 in MelvilleWaking up in MelvilleMelville station building150_5036

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Sioux Lookout station151_5156Sioux Lookout water tower151_5155

[flickr]tag:cbctv50thanniversaryviarailtrain+hornepayne+2002@Geoff S.[/flickr]

152_5236The train visits Sudbury stationHeads152_5203152_5230151_5197The Giant Nickel152_5227152_5235151_5185151_5199CBC train at Sudbury

[flickr]tag:cbctv50thanniversaryviarailtrain+windsor+2002@Geoff S.[/flickr]

Inside a wheelchair-configured Renaissance sleeper roomWashing the tent tarpsHanding out freebies in LondonA fancy hat!

[flickr]tag:cbctv50thanniversaryviarailtrain+toronto+2002@Geoff S.[/flickr]

155_5570154_5445154_5479Packing up at the National Science Museum154_5496154_5498155_5522154_5481155_5566154_5499154_5437154_5432154_5451155_5505155_5526154_5439155_5507154_5457155_5536154_5488155_5538155_5553

[flickr]tag:cbctv50thanniversaryviarailtrain+montreal+2002@Geoff S.[/flickr]

158_5816158_5875158_5865158_5808158_5856158_5846158_5833158_5880158_5821157_5790158_5826158_5900158_5834158_5843158_5810159_5932158_5835158_5878158_5888159_5930157_5792159_5911159_5903

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[flickr]tag:cbctv50thanniversaryviarailtrain+novascotia+2002@Geoff S.[/flickr]

160_6044VIA 6403 in CBC liveryVIA 6403 in JasperInside a wheelchair-configured Renaissance sleeper roomSetting up for the Vancouver showThe train visits Sudbury stationIan HanomansingVIA 6403 in Melville154_5445148_4839154_5479160_6009VIA 6403 in BiggarSitting in the Biggar sidingWaking up in MelvillePacking up at the National Science MuseumIn the Skyline domeVIA trains in WindsorVIA 6403 at Hornepayne161_6150159_5962Engineer controls of VIA 6403Sunset on VIA's Canadian150_5041Watrous grain siloLeaving EdmontonParty in the museum car150_5018147_4770Party in the museum carChessJamming in the Banff Park160_6059152_5239Last night on the trainDrumming on the wallsLeaving KamloopsAngela's roomMy room across CanadaDaryl preps his video160_6054Legs up through Southern OntarioEnza waves at a passing Rocky Mountaineer trainMuch discussionJam audienceRob's cabin doorEven the VIA Rail crew came along for the rideFinding the answer to a crossword152_5264

A year later, we met in Toronto for a reunion. Well … most of the Toronto folks were there. I was an import.

dsc00896Me laughingdsc00873My CBC friendsNeil and Richarddsc00875Amy, Chris, and Stefanidsc00883Emmadsc00877dsc00876dsc00869Analisa and GerryMy CBC friendsdsc00879

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