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

The first federal budget was recently tabled by the new Liberal government, and though it did include some improved funding for VIA Rail, it didn't make the sizeable commitments that VIA management and many others hoped for. The budget allocates some funding for improvements to stations and maintenance centres, begin pre-procurement activities for new equipment, and to study VIA's dedicated track proposal in more detail.

 http://tinyurl.com/hefvdd6

 Bad news for Sleeper Plus passengers on the Canadian, but good news for those in Prestige: VIA has announced that effective this summer, the Park car on the Canadian will be off limits to Sleeper Plus passengers for most of the trip, being instead reserved for the exclusive use of Prestige passengers. This move has been feared by many since the launch of Prestige class, and it seems it is now coming to pass. The change will apply during the peak season, and the restriction will still allow Sleeper Plus passengers into the Park during the evenings, with the exception of the first night out in either direction. They will still have access to the same amenities in a Skyline car, but there is definitely something special about the Park car that will be a great loss for those unable or unwilling to pay the extremely high fares that Prestige demands. This decision reportedly comes in the wake of complaints from Prestige passengers who were unhappy that they couldn't find a seat in the dome during parts of their trip. On a positive note, Prestige class has done very well since its launch, and VIA is reportedly looking at refurbishing additional cars into the Prestige layout.

 Ex-VIA RDC 6133 (now RPDX 6133) was successfully moved to the Toronto area from Moncton on March 2. The RDC was moved by CN in a freight on its own wheels. Rapido Trains posted a video of the car rolling by their headquarters in Markham:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e93zlYWeUGU

 You can read more about the preserved RDC and donate to help restore it here:

http://rapidotrains.com/saving-6133/

 In the early morning hours of March 10, VIA 14, the eastbound Ocean from Halifax to Montreal, experienced a minor derailment due to ice build-up in a switch as it entered a siding at low speed. The derailment occurred at St. Simon, near Rimouski, shortly before the train was to meet with its westbound counterpart, VIA 15. No damage or injuries were reported, but the derailment delayed the train for several hours while re-railing took place, and also held up the corresponding westbound train. By the end, VIA 15 didn't arrive in Montreal until late that evening, and VIA 14 didn't arrive in Halifax until nearly 3am! At least being on board The Ocean is a pretty comfy place if you have to be delayed, and the passengers were given complimentary meals due to the delay. They also would have been able to see some unusual portions of both routes in daylight hours.  

 

Walter Pfefferle shot VIA 70 with VIA 919 sliding in to Ingersoll after an overnight snow storm, a last bit of winter that keeps hanging on! March 2, 2016.

 Walter also caught VIA 71 heading to London with VIA 920 as it roars into the VIA Station on March 2 2016.

 

Back on March 2, 2014, VIA P42 901 was badly damaged by fire when trailing on train 57. You can read more about it in the April 2014 issue of CRO. Now 901 is finally getting near the end of its rebuild, having required substantial work to get it back in shape. First, here is a photo of it from back in 2014, from Mike Thompson.

 

 

Walter Pfefferle caught VIA 72 with VIA 6424 arriving in Woodstock Ontario March 29 2016 on a bright sunny day.

To show you how times flies, here it is on the same day March 29 back in 2013 flying through Beachville Ontario.

And in London Ontario looking a little different leading VIA 73 March 13 2007.

Here are also a couple others from a few years ago. Walter also caught VIA 70 with VIA 910 arriving in Ingersoll Ontario March 30 2013.

He also caught 72 later in the day with VIA 900 in Woodstock Ontario. The LORAM grinder can be sitting in the yard and will be out on the Dundas sub later in the day.

Finally, here are a few recent photos from Michael Berry. Winter hasn't been too severe this year, but it is still hanging on in many parts of the country. Here on March 1st it is still looking pretty chilly as VIA 919 pushes deadheading VIA 63 towards Montreal's Central station and past the out of use Wellington Tower.

 

On March 5, VIA 6435 leads VIA 60 away from Dorval station.

 

Also on March 5, VIA 916 leads VIA 632 away from Dorval station.

 

On March 11, VIA 55 for Toronto is passing Wellington tower and over the frozen Lachine canal.

 

An unusual sight: on March 12, VIA 65 is scooping CN 529 which has three CP units for power (CP 8731, CP 8924 & CP 9700) on CN's Montreal sub. For the last month or so, CP power has been the most common power on this run-through train, which usually has NS power.

On March 23, VIA 6441 pushes a deadhead move over the Lachine canal towards the Montreal Maintenance Centre.

 

Finally, still on March 23, VIA 900 pushes a deadhead move over the Lachine canal towards Central Station in Montreal.

 

This VIA RAIL Canada paint scheme had only a few years left when David Sandor clicked VIA F40PH-2 6440 and LRC cars on August 3rd, 2009.

 In 1988, VIA switchers 201 and 204 were brand new and freshly painted, having just come from Island Steel to their new assignments in Toronto and Montreal. 201 was the only unit to receive the blue stripe in addition to the yellow and grey. 201 and 203, the Toronto switchers, only last until the mid 90's, while switchers 202 and 204 soldier on to this day at the MMC. One of them has even been painted in a new VIA paint scheme very recently.

 

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© CRO April 2016