VIA RAIL

 VIA LRC locomotive 6919, which was sold to RB Recycling in Montreal, was cut up for scrap beginning January 15th. The locomotive was previously stripped of its prime mover and generator in Toronto for RB Recycling, and the Toronto Railway Historical Association (TRHA) was allowed to remove any other usable parts (sans traction motors) to help in the effort to preserve recently acquired 6917. As neither CN, or CP would ship the LRC to Montreal due to a defective brake system, the unit was cut up at VIA's Toronto Maintenance Centre by a contractor's demolition excavator.

Of the other remaining VIA LRC units: 6907 (stored in Montreal) and 6914 (stored in Toronto), have now both been shipped to CADRAIL/RB Recycling for scrap.  The other (VIA LRC 6917), was acquired for preservation by the TRHA, who still need help acquiring funds in order to move the unit. More details about the TRHA’s ongoing efforts to move and restore 6917 can be found on their website: http://www.trha.ca/LRC/

On January 16th at the VIA Rail's Vancouver Maintenance Centre Terry Muirhead caught VIA F40PH-2 6424 switching some cars about, including VIA 8342 “Wolfe Manor”.  This car was then placed on that night’s #2 out of Vancouver with lead units 6424 and 6444. Unit 6424 is one of the only F40s to have received the modern VIA Rail Canada logo in place of the typical large “VIA” icon on the sides of the locomotive. Only 6424 and 6446 have received the modern logo while still in the pre-rebuild yellow/grey/blue scheme. 6424 has an interesting history with VIA Rail, in terms of advertising paint schemes. In 2004, 6424 was one of six locomotives outfitted with decals promoting the new film “Spiderman 2”, although it did not last long in that scheme. In 2005, the unit was stripped of its Spiderman decals and repainted in all red with Budweiser “Superbowl Tailgate Train” graphics as part of a promotion for Superbowl XL. The locomotive was then repainted back into its VIA livery in 2006, and received the updated VIA Rail Canada logo on its flanks. In mid 2010, the unit was also outfitted with a third headlight, a modification now being applied even to units that have not yet been rebuilt.  West Coast express Cab Car 107 sits in the background. VIA Rail has the contract for cleaning and servicing of the West Coast Express for Translink. VIA FP9Au 6300 is seen outside VMC the same day.  She had been the VMC Switcher, but due to mechanical issues VIA 6300 has not turned a wheel in over a year.

On January 17th a late VIA #1 lead by VIA 6412, 6440, and rebuilt 6433 are shown passing by Spruce Control in New Westminster BC after striking a large boulder at Mile 29 on the CN Yale Sub earlier that morning just West of Yale BC. (“Spruce Control” is the CTC Control point for the Station name Mile 144.5 CN Yale Sub).   VIA 8710 “Prince Albert Park” brings up the rear on #1 as it backs into Pacific Central Station at Burrard Inlet Jct. VIA 6412, 6440, & Rebuilt 6433 (ex-Spiderman 2  wrap) are seen later on Track 5 at Pacific Central Station as VMC employees examine plow damage to 6412.   F40PH-2’s 6412 and 6440 were taken inside the VMC shop leaving  rebuilt 6433 with the remaining consist, and 1 deadhead coach.  (Terry Muirhead)

On January 7th Ron Visockis shot VIA F40PH-2 6441 leading train #57 and  VIA 6419 with train #60 at the station in Belleville, ON. Over the Christmas season, these trains had routinely been under the command of a P42, due to their extra length. Now that the consists have shortened back down, they have once again been turned over to the hands of a single F40.

A rare VIA F40PH-2 / P42DC combo lead a Toronto-bound train on August 2010 on the CN Montreal Sub through St-Henri, QC.  (Guy-Pascal Arcouette).  

VIA Vignettes:

Arnold Mooney took this great shot at Dundas, Ontario on December 5th, 1979.  The low mid-day sun is very evident as it casts a long shadow over leader VIA FPA4 6786 moving eastbound toward the next stop at Aldershot. Those in the know will observe there is very little seen in this photo that is still evident today, outside of Hwy 8 climbing the hill at left and of course the CN Dundas Sub mainline. The power is now gone, the station was damaged by fire and subsequently torn down after an attempted deal to sell it to Dundas fell through, the shed opposite is gone, and the track at the lower left was removed (it serviced the quarry facility), all during the mid to late 1980s. The siding to the left of the main is now gone and perhaps even the pole line too.  As well, this vantage point is also gone. The landscape is basically unchanged, now part of a preserved area used by hikers on the trails to Dundas Peak and the waterfalls.

Great lash-Up!  VIA’s first 30 F40PH-2's (6400-6429) have been in service for over two years and the next 29 units (6430-6458) have just been delivered but VIA still struggles with motive power shortages in the west as evidenced by this photo of CPR SD40-2 # 5970, VIA F40PH-2 # 6408, VIA F9B # 6620 (ex-CNR # 6620) hauling westbound VIA Train No. 1, THE CANADIAN, at M 133.5 Laggan Subdivision (between Cathedral and Field, B.C.) on 25 Aug 1989. 

CNR Sleeper-Buffet-Lounge Car 'CAPE CHIGNECTO' was one of eight  Cape-series cars built in May 1954 by Pullman Standard.  This car  was built as CNR #1088 “Cape Chignecto”, a 2-compartment, 2-Double Bedroom, Buffet, Lounge Car; the second car to carry that name; it was painted in the olive green and black livery with yellow lettering. It was in service on CNR  passenger trains until transferred to VIA Rail in March of 1978. Cor van Stennis photo shows the car in Edmonton, AB., in June 1979  in the VIA fleet, but still in CN livery. In 1986 it was sold back to CN, and became CN #15165 'TAWAW'.  it was later re-numbered to CN #1059 “TAWAW” and is used today as a Reception-Marketing Car on CN Executive Trains. After being re-acquired by CN in 1986 it was re-painted into the 1954 era olive green and black livery with yellow lettering (until 2004) and since then has carried the current red and cream  business train scheme.

The link below shows the car as it looks today:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=110286

CN had two special compartment or Executive Cars built by Pullman Standard in May 1954; 1098 BURRARD and 1099 BEDFORD. Th ephoto shows 1098 BURRARD, a 7 Compartment - Buffet - Observation - Lounge Car; seen here while on the VIA Rail roster in the consist of Train No. 3, the 'Super Continental'; at Jasper, AB., 20 Jul 1979. The two cars were built primarily for CNR charter service but were used in public 'Executive Club' operation on the Montreal-Toronto 'Rapido' trains until 1968. In 1958 it was in the 11 car consist of the Royal Train carrying Princess Margaret from Malton Airport to Halifax on the eastern Canada portion of her Official Visit. In 1959 it was the car immediately adjacent to Government of Canada Official Cars 1 and 2 on the rear of the 16 car Royal Train carrying Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. It was in the consist of a special train to inaugurate the VIA Rail blue with yellow stripe paint scheme before the car became VIA property in Mar of 1978. The car was retired by VIA in Dec 1982 and sold to a private buyer in California in 1992; it is still in operation there as a private car named BURRARD (PPCX 800591); in 2007 it was re-painted in CNR's 1954 olive green and black scheme, with the CNR maple leaf heralds on the sides and 'Canadian National' on the letterboard.

The link below shows the car as it appears today:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=261953

The shell of CNR Business Car #92 was built in 1959 by National Steel Car, and the interior completed by Point St. Charles Shops and  painted in the olive green and black scheme with yellow lettering adopted for the 1954 Super Continental. In 1978 it was painted in the blue and yellow VIA scheme although it remained a CNR Business Car and was never transferred to VIA. It is seen here in the blue with yellow stripes bringing up the tail end of VIA Rail Train No. 4, The SUPER CONTINENTAL, behind ex-CN FP9A # 6513, a B-Unit and 10 cars at Bretville Jct., AB., M 260 CN Wainwright Subdivision on 02 Nov 1978. At this date it was assigned to the CNR Vice-President Prairie Region and was based in Winnipeg, as it was throughout its service with CNR. The car was sold in 1994 and is now named SCOTTISH THISTLE (PPCX 800636), based in California for private excursion service at the tail end of Amtrak trains. It is painted in the CNR olive green and black colour scheme of 1954 but without the CNR heralds.

The link below shows the car as it is today:                  

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=60312

The cars shell  of CNR Business Car #23 was built in 1959 by National Steel Car as CNR Business Car # 23 and the interior completed by Point St. Charles Shops in 1960; it was the second CNR Business Car to carry the number 22 and was painted in the olive green and black scheme with yellow lettering adopted for the 1954 Super Continental. In October of 1975 it was re-numbered to CNR Business Car # 93, the ninth car to carry that number. In the first image we see the car at its home base adjacent to the downtown Edmonton station on 12 Apr 1978 painted in the 1961 gray and black scheme with the red CN 'wet noodle'. Later in 1978 it was painted in the blue and yellow VIA scheme although it remained a CNR Business Car and was never transferred to VIA. It is seen in the second image in the blue with yellow stripes being turned on the wye at Jasper, AB., on 18 Aug 1989. At this date it was assigned to the CNR Vice-President Mountain Region and was based in Edmonton, as it was throughout its service with CNR. The car was sold in 1992 to a private owner, restored, and is now named TIOGA PASS (PPCX 800693), based in California for private excursion service at the tail end of Amtrak trains; it is still painted in the blue and yellow scheme.

The link below shows the car as it is today:

 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=454936

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER VIGNETTE:

With leased Santa Fe B36-7 #7498 on the point, the Rocky Mountaineer (during its fourth year of operation), is seen at Banff, Alberta about to depart for Kamloops and Vancouver, British Columbia on July 7th, 1993. 

© CRO February 2011