Now delighted to hear that Amtrak Cascades service between Vancouver and Seattle in conjunction with Amtrak and Via Rail has resume service, which was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The current schedule has the morning Cascades train to Vancouver departing Seattle at 7:45 a.m., stoping at five cities along the way and arrive into Vancouver at 11:45 a.m.

Traveling southbound, Amtrak will depart Vancouver at 5:45 p.m. and arrive into Seattle at 10:10 p.m.

Amtrak is planning to add a second daily trip with a morning departure from Vancouver in the near future.

Amtrak Cascades runs along the coast line from British Columbia, through river and mountain vistas in Washington and Oregon, offering passenger views of pacific northwest’s most distinctive cities and spectacular natural attractions. 

Seattle to Portland

In addition, to resuming service to Canada, the route offers three daily round trips between Portland and Seattle, two daily round trips between Eugene and Portland and four daily buses between Seattle and Vancouver BC.

While onboard, customers can enjoy the cafe car which features products grown and made in the Pacific Northwest on its current Bistro Menu. 

Customers also appreciate free Wi-Fi on the Washington segment of the trip, freedom to use phones and electronic devices at all times (no “airplane mode”), large spacious seats with ample leg room, no middle seat, and one of the most generous baggage policies in the travel industry, applicable for two personal items and two carry-on bags. 

Canadians can book tickets at Via Rail

Customers can purchase tickets at Amtrak online, travellers departing from Canada can also book their tickets at Via Rail.

For visitors and locals, the Amtrak Cascades Vancouver to Seattle is a wonderful way to view some of the most scenic vistas in the pacific northwest.

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Today, the mark of a luxury automobile is a combination of the best of design, the latest in technology and a degree of rarity. We may gasp at the commanding entry price of at least $150K USD but it was really no different back in the 1930’s.

During that era, the royal families of Europe and aristocratic American dynasties demanded to be driven around in some of the most extraordinary fast and efficient streamlined automobiles ever built. After all, the elite did not associate itself with the Ford Model T or the Volkswagen Beetle.

Upon visiting the Shape of Speed exhibition, you will find a rare group of seventeen cars and two motorcycles each of which demonstrate how automobile designers took used concepts of aerodynamic efficiency to create exciting machines that look as though they are moving even while parked.

These designs, which emulate the classic teardrop shape thought to cheat the wind, are emblematic of a whole new generation of shapes for automobiles that went on to influence the design of appliances, transport trucks and railroad locomotives.

The automotive marque on display represent some of Europe’s finest manufacturers, past and present. Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti, Talbot-Lago, Delahaye, Cord and Chrysler are all featured as are two motorcycle manufacturers, Henderson and BMW.

Located in the far corner of the exhibition hall, my favorite vehicle on display is a 1938 Delahaye 135M Roadster, manufactured in Paris by renowned coachbuilders Joseph Figoni and Ovidio Falaschi.

The pair were famous for their swoopy, elegant custom coachwork which took streamlining to the next level and became the expression of 1930’s European luxury. They accented the streamline effect to create singular designs that resulted in their automobiles being called “rolling sculptures” or “Paris gowns on wheels.” Their voluptuous designs became the epitome of Art Deco elegance.

Painted a deep, rich black, the Delahaye 135M Roadster, with its long hood and hand crafted sensuous front fenders, custom tan leather interiors and black piano dashboard, certainly made a statement then and continues to do so now.

Just eleven of these stunning roadsters were ever manufactured of which only seven survive today. This particular vehicle spent most of its life in Algeria and was found in 1992. It was missing its deck hood and the shrewd buyer – unlike the original owners who would have paid handsomely for such a car – bought the damaged automobile for about £60.

The cars and motorcycles featured in Shape of Speed: Streamlined Automobiles and Motorcycles, 1930 – 1942 represent the best of streamlined design. While touring the countryside draped in couture in a chauffeured custom roadster was very much a part of the wealthy life in europe, the mere sight of one of these fabulous vehicles gave a sense of optimism and expectation.

The privileged few who attend this exhibition will get a glimpse of that bygone era of dynamism and grace and leave feeling energized by the timeless shapes of streamlined design.

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