Off in the distance

While on the Canadian, there was a certain amount of mixing: we'd get seated with random other people for the meals, so we ended up talking to people from Linkoping, Andros Island in the Bahamas, an assistant to a Toronto politician and her family, a couple of Floridians, a pair of sisters from Cambridge ... oh yes, Sal and Moya.

It turns out that Sal used to live on Ross Street at the same time I did, and I almost certainly passed her more than once, what with her house then being #115, whereas I owned #96. And they have a cousin who lives on Pitshanger Lane in Ealing. Pitshanger Lane was where our nearest bus stop was when we lived in Ealing.

We waved goodbye to them (among others) at Vancouver Station, and went on our way, taking a taxi to our hotel where we checked in remarkably early (cheers, Plaza 500 - allowing incoming guests to be using rooms before 10:00 is highly appreciated) and crashed out for a few hours. We then wandered into the centre of the city, eventually wandering into the tourist info place at Canada Place.

Where we bumped into Sal and Moya.

The following day, wandering the streets, we bumped into them again.

And a few hours after that, we bumped into them for a third time, at the Waterfront Station.

The odd thing was, we didn't bump into anybody else from the train: just the same pair. (Granted, some were catching ships, and others were meeting family of whatever, but some at least were intending to tour the city.)

2009-08-17 07:30 Having completed the project of travelling the entirety of the Vancouver SkyTrain network the previous day, we catch a taxi from our hotel to the airport.
2009-08-17 13:00 The new SkyTrain Canada Line opens, with (inter alia) stations two blocks from our hotel, and at the airport.

Well, if it's the train, it appears to be

19 cars, at 50 tonnes per car (I assume the 'customary' weight.)
2 engines, at 118 tonnes per engine (EMD F40PH)

Total 1186 tonnes

OK, that's one heavy train.

Inspired by a post by major_clanger, it's interesting to note fuel consumption for crossing Canada.

On the way out, The Canadian train from Toronto to Vancouver: 72,000 litres of diesel.
On the way back, WestJet 737-700 from Vancouver to Montreal (which is further): 13,000 litres of jet fuel.

The 737 carries 140 passengers.
I'm under the impression that The Canadian carries about 250 passengers in total, though I can't actually find figures.

Conclusion: per passenger mile, extreme long distance trains can end up burning more fuel than planes, due to the train carrying along bunk beds, showers, kitchens, etc., etc.

Edit: crazyscot pointed out some corrections, with most importantly the plane drinking about half what I'd assumed.