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

On Dec. 22nd, VIA News Editor Tim Hayman set out on VIA 15 (The Ocean) from Halifax to Montreal. The consist for VIA 15 leaving Halifax that day was as follows:

6443 F40PH-2d
6449 F40PH-2d
6457 F40PH-2d (Dead by Campbellton)
7003 Renaissance Baggage
7220 Renaissance Coach*
70108 Renaissance Accessible Coach*
7208 Renaissance Coach*
7309 Renaissance Service Car
7402 Renaissance Diner
7314 Renaissance Service Car
79501 Renaissance Accessible Sleeper (Line #19)
7518 Renaissance Sleeper (Line #20)
7520 Renaissance Sleeper (Line #21)
7507 Renaissance Sleeper (Line #22)
7509 Renaissance Sleeper (Line #36)
7512 Renaissance Sleeper (Line #37)
7524 Renaissance Sleeper (Line #38)
7516 Renaissance Sleeper (Deadhead)
7602 Renaissance Transition Car
8124 HEP-1 Coach*
8137 HEP-1 Coach*
Chateau Richelieu (Deadhead)
Assiniboine Park

*Economy passengers bound for Montreal and points west were put in the HEP-1 coaches at the rear, while all intermediate passengers were put in the forward Ren coaches. This facilitated easier boarding and unloading at intermediate stations.

Just past Amherst, the train met with the eastbound VIA 14, a rare sight these days. Since the reduced schedule came into effect, this meet no longer occurred. However, thanks to an extra departure of #14 ahead of Christmas and weather-related delays, the two trains met just after Amherst. In the photo below, we see the tail end of VIA 14 heading around the curve, with an extra 2 HEP1 coaches and a Chateau sleeper added ahead of the Park to provide extra capacity to handle the Christmas crowd.

That particular run of VIA 15 would end up running into unfortunate trouble. After arriving at Campbellton NB approximately 1.5h late, the train began to experience problems thanks to the failure of one of its three locos. As a result of that failure and the high power demands from the cold weather and the 20 car consist, the train continued losing head-end power (and therefore heat, lights, and other power) every few minutes. Despite repeated attempts to fix the problem and continual restarting of the system, the train was forced to terminate in Matapedia at around 9am EST. Passengers were put in buses to complete their trip to Montreal, although some opted to stay in Campbellton to await the following night's #15. After departing Matapedia at 11am, the buses would eventually arrive in Montreal at 8:37pm. Passengers with connections beyond Montreal were put up in a hotel for the night, to continue their trips the following day. Pasengers on the Dec. 23rd VIA 14 from Montreal were also sent by bus, as the consist for their train had not left Matapedia.

While stopped in Matapedia, Tim took the opportunity to take a few daytime photos that are normally impossible at Matapedia, where the train arrives in the middle of the night!

At the end of November, VIA began test runs of IRSI-rebuilt RDCs #6219 and 6251 on the Jasper-Prince Rupert “Skeena” service. These test runs were reportedly not very successful, and the units are currently at the Vancouver Maintenance Centre for work. VIA has indicated plans to replace one of the two trainsets on that service with a pair of RDCs by next summer, with the second set retaining its traditional locomotive-hauled consist (and offering Touring class). Plans are still tentative depending on the outcome of testing, and it remains to be seen how successful this will be.

“The return of passenger rail on Vancouver Island is inching closer to reality amid positive negotiations with Via Rail, say Island proponents” See story here:
http://www.timescolonist.com/island-rail-proponents-upbeat-on-revived-e-n-1.771034

Hugues St-Pierre shot VIA train 15 at St-Lambert, QC on November 30th with VIA F40PH-2d 6410 and sibling leading a Renaissance passenger consist and Park Car.

Across much of the country, winter has arrived and set in with a fury. Freezing rain and heavy snow hit much of the eastern half of the country in December, causing extensive travel delays for all means of transport. VIA fared well, although even the trains had trouble from time to time in the heavy ice and snow! As much as anything, the gorgeous winter weather has provided a stunning backdrop for photographers.

Michael Berry was out in some terribly harsh winter weather to capture several fantastic images over the early part of December.

This shot from December 15th captures the fury of this winter very well, as VIA 61 barrels along through an ongoing snowstorm at Montreal West.

Michael Berry -

On December 16th, 908 leads VIA 657 through a sunny winter wonderland at Montreal West.

Michael Berry -

On December 21st, we see VIA 632 led by an iced-up 911 at Dorval.

Michael Berry -

Michael also caught two trains with freshly rebuilt LRC club cars in consist behind P42s. Unfortunately, the flow from loco to coach is slightly tarnished by the fact that both P42s in question are in blue rather than Renaissance green! 912 leads VIA 56 on Dec. 18th, while 919 leads VIA 52 on Dec. 19th.

Michael Berry -

Michael Berry -

On Christmas Eve, Walter Pfefferle caught VIA 72 at Ingersoll, ON with two locomotives and a baggage car ahead of its LRC consist. With many VIA trains running sold out around Christmas, long consists and extra power abounded. Note the missing numberboard on 6427, and VIA’s typical method of covering it up!

Walter Pfefferle -

On a bitterly cold day just before Christmas 1985, VIA’s “Ocean” from, Moncton, NB crosses the Lachine Canal as it approaches Central Station in downtown Montreal. Although a heavy train and swollen with holiday travelers, No. 15 is on time…arriving just after a similarly sized “Atlantic” from Halifax, NS. VIA FPA4 6763 leads two MLW siblings and all blue fleet consist. Soon, Wellington Tower (on the far right),will be setting switches and lining signals for a third train from the east “the Chaleur”, a seasonal extra that only runs from Gaspe at Christmas and New Year’s. Those not staying in the Montreal area will be able to make connections for trains to Ottawa, Toronto and other points in Ontario or make the long trip to Vancouver on “the Canadian”. The swing bridge behind was still in use at this time for CN access to the Port of Montreal. Although much has changed in the 29 years since this photo was taken, the season’s sentiments are the same Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (From John Eull with thanks).

Bruce Chapman was very fortunate to see this great VIA lash-up in person. VIA RS10 8558 (Their only one), leading two other CP Rail RS10's on VIA train #1 “the Canadian” at Carleton Place, ON.

© CRO January 2014