Senior VIA News Editor Tim Hayman
VIA News Co-Editor Terry Muirhead:
vianews@canadianrailwayobservations.com

VIA's first rebuilt LRC club car has continued to build up its early revenue miles running primarily between Ottawa and Montreal. On October 11th, Guy-Pascal Arcouette caught VIA 659 crossing the Lachine Canal with 6441 leading freshly shopped 3475 and a string of yet-to-be-rebuilt LRC coaches.

In October, the second rebuilt LRC Club entered service. #3461 has some notable differences from the first car, as the windows nearest the vestibule have been plated over (note: these windows are blanked from the back on the current LRC Clubs), and the scheme has been modified by removing the vertical grey band near the vestibule. It is likely that subsequent cars will follow this pattern, although that remains to be seen in practice.

Michael Berry caught 3461 in its sharp new paint scheme on VIA #65 on October 10th, just outside of Montreal's Central Station. The removed window is very evident in this photo.

Michael also caught up with 3461 on October 19th while running on VIA #52, stopped at Dorval station. Additional cars are expected to enter service in the coming months.

On October 24th, VIA was testing rebuilt RDCs 6208 and 6219 on CN's Springhill Sub. Wendell Lemon caught the two RDCs on their return to Gordon Yard through Moncton. Notice that these RDCs have received numerous modifications in addition to their new interiors and refurbished drive systems. Most notably, the cabs have been removed from one end of each unit, and the drop steps at the cab end have been replaced with a ladder-style setup. This will prevent passengers from having to enter and exit the unit through the operating cabs of the units. Both RDCs have also received additional "third-eye" HID headlights, and an updated paint scheme featuring grey ends and "Canada" graphics.

These two RDCs, 6208, 6219, along with RDC-4 6251 and the remaining three LRC cars at the former IRSI shop, were released from IRSI and departed Moncton on the tail end of VIA 15 on October 29th.

The TSB investigation into the collision between an OC Transpo bus and a VIA Rail train near VIA's Fallowfield Station is still ongoing, and although no results have yet been found (apart from confirming that the crossing gates were functioning and lowered for 25 seconds before the impact), the city of Ottawa has already taken action to improve the safety of the crossing. The changes will include cutting back brush, installing additional warning lights, and reducing speed on the Transitway to 50km/h before reaching the crossing.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/City+moves+improve+safety+Barrhaven+rail+crossing/9043201/story.html

On October 22nd, VIA Train #1 (The Canadian) was forced to terminate in Edmonton due to closures of the CN mainline following a serious derailment, with passengers bused to the previous short-turned #2 consist at Jasper. In these photos, this consist has been combined with the following #1 to form a very impressive train for this time of year. Heading west from Blue River, the train now has 4 locomotives and the 29 cars of the combined consists.

Two more LRC cars were released from Moncton in October. VIA LRC Club 3451 and LRC coach 3327 were moved to Montreal (VIA MMC) on the tail end of VIA #15, on October 9th.

Here is a view of first class LRC 3454,the same car invloved in the accident at Fallowfield Ontario, picture taken in early Ocvtober at the MMC Shop. Guy Pascal Arcouette photo.

Walter Pfefferle snapped some beautiful Fall colours on Oct 7th 2010 at Dundas, ON as VIA #72 slides into Hamilton with P42DC 917 and four LRC cars.

On September 14th, VIA Rail operated a special train (VIA #623), carrying the world top pro cyclist from Quebec City to Montreal. The train had VIA P42DC 900. 2 LRC economy coaches, 5 Hep-2 VIA1 cars and on the tail end the “Glen Fraser” lounge car. Pier-Luc Boilard took the photo and shot the video September 14th. PHOTO VIA GLEN FRASER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zne15g0H7vs

Pierre Fournier photographed VIA SW1000 201 at the Pointe St-Charles Shop in June 2nd, 1995.

John Young snapped VIA 22 at Ste-Foy, QC in 1992 with an LRC locomotive leading.

In 1992, John Young snapped this classic VIA Blue Fleet consist passing by St-Foy Station as the VIA FP9A 6514 was enroute to Quebec City.

On February 3rd, 1979, Tom Trencansky shot the VIA Turbo in Brockville,O. The photos show two CN freights on the Toronto main line and the CP line on the right. A great Shot!

© CRO October 2013