Acadian Lines (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (1055) – The Acadian Lines terminal in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Coach 912, a 1977 GMC P8M4905A and one of the older coaches in the fleet at the time was parked as a spare ready for work as a duplicate (or second section as it is known here) on this busy holiday weekend. Coach 118 was passing through working the 0800 Halifax to Sydney trip 53. Just visible on the extreme left is a mini-coach of Trius Tours which worked a service from here to Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island via the Caribou-Wood Islands ferry. (Ref 173-34)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (1055) – Acadian Lines 912 seen parked as a spare at the company’s terminal in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. A 1977 GMC P8M4905A which was one of the older coaches in the fleet at the time parked as a spare ready for work as a duplicate (or second section as it is known here) on this busy holiday weekend. It had been patched up a little. (Ref 173-35)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (approx 1150) – If travelling on an Acadian Lines coach and awaking to wonder whereabouts you were, this sign at the company’s terminal at 53 James Street, Antigonish, Nova Scotia would keep you informed. During the time that the company was owned by three enterprising businessmen (brothers Gordon and George Thompson and Ralph Pepper) the company established a number of well-appointed terminals on its network offering its passengers comfortable waiting and refreshment facilities. (Ref 174-03)

Tuesday 8 September 1992 (approx. 1730-1800) - The windows of the Acadian Lines terminal building at Antigonish feature the old company logo. The original owners of the business paid a great attention to detail and created a number of good quality terminals along the route network which gave a high degree of comfort for waiting passengers featuring cafeterias and left luggage facilities. The coach in the background was 919 taking a 30 minute rest break whilst working the 1415 ‘all stops’ service from Sydney to Halifax trip 54, a journey of approx. 270 miles taking 7 hours 35 minutes. (Ref 175-05)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (approx 1150) – The Acadian Lines terminal at 53 James Street, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. During the time that the company was owned by three enterprising businessmen (brothers Gordon and George Thompson and Ralph Pepper) the company established a number of well-appointed terminals on its network offering passengers comfortable waiting and refreshment facilities. In this view all four stands on the loading ramp were occupied. The coaches are (from left to right): 118 (a 1989 MCI MC9 Crusader Special working the 0800 Halifax to Sydney trip 53 (taking a break here 1150-1220); 113 (a 1980 MCI MC9 working the 0730 Sydney to Halifax trip 72 (taking a break here 1110-1140); 913 (a 1978 GMC P8M 4905A parked as spare which was later used in service as I saw it parked up in Sydney at 1400 the next day); and 103 (a 1984 MCI MC9 Crusader also working the 0730 Sydney to Halifax trip 72). Highway 104 runs alongside the site beyond the crash barrier seen on the right. Looking at Google Streetview in 2015 the building carries a sign for an orthodontic practice with little or no change to the general exterior layout. (Ref 174-01)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (approx 1150) – Acadian Lines 113, a 1989 MCI MC9 Crusader, reversing off the loading ramp at the Acadian terminal in Antigonish – one of two coaches working the 0730 Sydney to Halifax trip 72 which was continuing on its way after taking a rest stop here (1110-1140). A very prominent illuminated sign can be seen on which the old style of Acadian lettering (with rounded top ‘A’ and ‘N’ letters) is featured. (Ref 174-05). To the left was coach 913 parked as spare and to the right was coach 118 working trip 53 to Sydney having left Halifax at 0800. (174-05)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (approx 1150) – Acadian Lines 113 had departed from the company’s terminal at 53 James Street, Antigonish a couple of minutes earlier and was now seen heading along Highway 104 bound for Halifax. This photograph was taken from the loading ramp at the terminal building. On leaving the terminal westbound coaches could not make a left turn which would give them almost immediate access to Highway 104 but had instead to make a right turn and travel eastbound along James Street to reach West Street. They then turned right into West Street (to travel southbound) and then, at junction number 32 they would turn right onto Highway 104 which took them past the side of the terminal. Highway 104 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway in this area. Coach 113 was a 1989 MCI MC9 Crusader and today was one a pair working the 0730 Sydney to Halifax trip today. (174-06)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (approx 1150) – My friend and host for my visit to Nova Scotia is seen here taking a photograph of Acadian Lines 103, a 1980 MCI MC9 Crusader, as it reversed off the loading ramp at the Acadian terminal in Antigonish. It was working the 0730 Sydney to Halifax trip 72 and was continuing on its way after taking a rest stop here (1110-1140). A very prominent illuminated sign can be seen on which the old style of Acadian lettering (with rounded top ‘A’ and ‘N’ letters) is featured. (Ref 174-07). (See the photograph Paul took in the next frame)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) – …….…. and this was the photograph Paul was taking! Acadian Lines 103, a 1980 MCI MC9 Crusader, was reversing off the loading ramp at the Acadian terminal in Antigonish. It was working the 0730 Sydney to Halifax trip 72 and was continuing on its way after taking a rest stop here. (approx 1150) (Photograph by Paul Leger).

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (approx 1150) – A line up of Acadian Lines coaches at the company’s terminal in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Nearest the camera is coach 913, a 1978 GMC P8M4905A, parked as spare. Beyond that is coach 113, a 1989 MCI MC9, working the 0730 Sydney to Halifax trip 72 (taking a break here 1110-1140); and furthest away is coach number 118 was working the 0800 Halifax to Sydney trip 53 (taking a break here 1150-1220). One other coach on site at the time was 103 also working the 0730 Sydney to Halifax trip 72 (taking a break here 1110-1140. (Ref 174-02).

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (approx 1150) – A very prominent illuminated sign at the Acadian Lines terminal in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. It featured the old style lettering used for the Acadian fleetname which contained rounded top ‘A’ and ‘N’ lettering. (Ref 174-08).

Tuesday 8 September 1992 (approx. 1730-1800) - The original owners of Acadian Lines the business paid a great attention to detail and created a number of good quality terminals along the route network giving a high degree of comfort for waiting passengers featuring cafeterias and left luggage facilities etc. This was the terminal in Antigonish which shows the baggage check-in and ticket sales desks. Through the window two coaches can be seen on the loading ramp. Nearest the camera is 919 which was taking a 30 minute rest break whilst working the 1415 ‘all stops’ service from Sydney to Halifax trip 54, a journey of approx. 270 miles taking 7 hours 35 minutes. Beyond that is coach 113 parked as spare. (Ref 175-04)

Tuesday 8 September 1992 (approx. 1730-1800) - The original owners of Acadian Lines the business paid a great attention to detail and created a number of good quality terminals along the route network giving a high degree of comfort for waiting passengers featuring cafeterias and left luggage facilities etc. This was the terminal in Antigonish which shows the baggage check-in desk. A ticket sales desk was alongside but out of shot in this photograph. The ticket sales desk is just out of shot to the right. Through the window two coaches can be seen on the loading ramp. Nearest the camera is 919 which was taking a 30 minute rest break whilst working the 1415 ‘all stops’ service from Sydney to Halifax trip 54, a journey of approx. 270 miles taking 7 hours 35 minutes. Beyond that is coach 113 parked as spare. (Ref 175-03)

Tuesday 8 September 1992 (approx. 1730-1800) - Today I travelled on the Acadian Lines 1415 ‘all stops’ service from Sydney to Halifax trip 54 – a journey of approx. 270 miles taking 7 hours 35 minutes. The coach was number 919, an MCI MC8 Crusader - a secondhand acquisition which still carried the livery of a previous owner. It was seen on the loading ramp at the company’s terminal in Antigonish during a 30 minute rest stop. The original owners of the business created a number of good quality terminals along the route network which gave a high degree of comfort for waiting passengers featuring cafeterias and left luggage facilities. (Ref 175-06)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (1320) – A Halifax bound Acadian Lines coach near Port Hastings seen from the front passenger seat of Acadian Lines 118. This would been one of the coaches working the 1100 limited stop trip 64L which would have left Sydney around 1100. (Ref 174-12)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (1330) – Acadian Lines 118, an MCI MC9 Crusader Special new in 1989, seen at Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia when working the 0800 ‘all stops’ trip 53 from Halifax. Today was a public holiday and the car park was almost deserted. The next day on the return journey, a normal working day, there was hardly any room to move. (Ref 174-13)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (approx 1330) – The driver of Acadian Lines 118 (Keith Parker) was striding away from his coach to deliver a parcel to O’Hara’s Restaurant, the company’s parcel and ticket agency in Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Parcel carriage is a lucrative business for the inter-city coaches. 118, an MCI MC9 Crusader Special new in 1989, was working the 0800 ‘all stops’ trip 53 from Halifax. (Ref 174-14)

Monday 7 September 1992 (Labour Day) (1422) – Acadian Lines 118 making a quick set down stop at River Bourgeois, Cape Breton, when working the 0800 ‘all stops’ trip 53 from Halifax. It was an MCI MC9 Crusader Special new in 1989. The backcloth is part of St.Peter’s Bay and typical of the lovely scenery encountered on this trip. (Ref 174-15)