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

On July 23rd, former CBC Radio Canada wrapped VIA F40PH-2d 6403 was renumbered  VIA 6459, leaving many railfans puzzled by the sudden appearance of a locomotive that previously did not exist!  After much speculation, we now have the a reason as to why the renumbering was done … a new $10.00 Canadian bank note which is expected to be released and go into  in circulation in November 2013.

VIA confirmed that they will be featuring VIA locomotive #6403 on the new $10 Bill was the reason for the change:"This is to advise you that VIA locomotive 6403 has been renumbered to VIA 6459 since July 23rd, 2013.  As our "Canadian"; (Vancouver – Toronto Service) will be featured on the next Canadian ten dollar bill, VIA has decided to retire that number as to prevent any negative historical stories if ever one day there was one to be
associated to this locomotive identification.  The reason we chose 6459 was simply because it was the next identification number (in chronological order) not previously used."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53887909@N05/9387795350/

On August 18th, Michael Berry caught newly renumbered 6459 leading LRC cars at Dorval. Apart from the new number, the locomotive is unchanged.

VIA RDC-4 6251 (nee CP 9251) is not yet in service, contrary to our previous report.  She has yet to be released from IRSI.  The RDC was sighted out for a test run on August 10th
 
The ongoing cuts and “service adjustments” at VIA have raised the ire of many in the traveling population. Numerous petitions have been started, including this new petition that was recently posted.
VIA rail service is needed by students, tourists, business travellers, those without cars or licenses, people  going to medical appointments and meetings.  Train travel is 600 times safer than highway travel! That's why I signed a petition to Jim Flaherty, Canadian Finance Minister, Denis Lebel, Canadian Transportation Minister, Steven Harper,Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, Prime Minister, Canada, Steven Fletcher, Transport Minister, Canada, Gary Schellenberger, MP Perth Wellington, Name, Title or Position (optional), and Name, Title or Position (optional), which says:

"Canadians are entitled to VIA service that serves a customer's needs not the corporation's needs.

We demand the return of VIA train schedules for all Canadians!"

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/via-rail-service?source=s.icn.em.mt&r_by=8505824

There is more bad news for the Gaspe line. Ongoing repairs to the line have caused the Chaleur (VIA Trains 16/17) to be short-turned at Matapedia, with a bus replacing the train service for all points farther east. In late August VIA announced that they will be ending the bus service effective September 17th, 2013. After this time, VIA will not be offering any service for passengers traveling beyond Matapedia. The reservations system still indicates that the Chaleur’s Budd consist will continue to be operated between Montreal and Matapedia as a distinct consist attached to the Ocean. However, it remains to be seen whether VIA will continue this practice, or attempt to replace all service with the Ocean. There is no clear time-frame for repairs to the Gaspe line, although there is hope that it will eventually be re-opened. VIA has indicated that service will resume once that takes place, although in today’s climate of ongoing cuts to VIA service, there are fears that the train may not return to Gaspe.

On the opposite coast, there is continued concern about the future of the Vancouver Island service, which was shut down two years ago due to poor track conditions. The Island Corridor Foundation, which has been seeking to resume passenger service on the line, has raised concerns about VIA’s willingness to bring the trains back. New funding for the line is contingent on an agreement being reached by the end of August, and that agreement is contingent on VIA signing a new train service contract for the service. VIA has suggested that any agreement should not require them to commit to any increased spending, while the Island Corridor Foundation has accused VIA of failing to negotiate in good faith. A return of service of any kind would require the construction of a new station for Victoria, after rail access to the old one was cut off by the removal of the rail section of the bridge approaching the station. VIA has also removed all equipment from the island, as the RDCs in service were slated to be rebuilt in Moncton.

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/world/via-rail-says-it-s-acting-in-good-faith-on-island-service-1.573598
VIA has also announced that Touring Class will be returning to the Jasper-Prince Rupert “Skeena” train, starting in 2014. The Panorama cars (VIA 1720-1722 ex-BC Rail single-level glass-roofed cars) will make a return for Touring passengers, who will have assigned seats in the Panorama car as well as access to the Park dome. Touring Class will only be offered on every other departure.

 

On August 12th, VIA 25 (Quebec City- Montreal), has VIA P42DC 902 and is shown rolling through Longueuil about to cross over Victoria Bridge to the island of Montreal, QC.   It is somewhat rare to see Budd-built cars on this VIA train   (Guy-Pascal Arcouette photo). 

 VIA  rebuilt LRC car 3332, released by CAD Railway Industries / IRSI  in Moncton, NB in August , It departed on Train 15 The Ocean for Montreal VIA MMC to return to corridor service, complete with new car smell!  One car of many of the multi million dollar contract to rebuild 98 cars.   Chris McMahom photos

VIA’s first rebuilt Business Class LRC car has been making the rounds since being released earlier this year. Michael Berry caught the new car, with its distinctive and eye-catching paint scheme (which may be good, or bad, depending on your opinion), still fresh at Dorval, QC on August 18.

The summer is quickly winding down, but there’s still been plenty of lovely railfanning weather across the country. Michael Berry made a few more interesting captures over the month of August. On the 18th, we see VIA 65 paused at Dorval with a crew member disembarking for a quick break, then we see an unusual double-header on VIA 60, with 911 leading 6401 and a long string of HEP1/HEP2 Budds.

On August 12th, Michael Berry caught VIA 902 backing out of Montreal Central Station with a train of HEP2s behind it. Interestingly, 902 still remains the only P42 with no ‘Canada’ wordmark on its flanks. Presumably left off due to a lack of available graphics when it was repainted, VIA has left the unit in service as is since. It would seem that wordmark is not the most important part of the scheme! 

With the new 3/week schedule, every departure of the Ocean (VIA 14/15) runs combined with VIA 16/17 (the former Chaleur) between Montreal and Matapedia. This makes for quite an interesting sight : led by a trio of rebuilt F40PH-2d locomotives, we see a handful of ex-CP Budds (with the occasional ex-American baggage or coach) soldiering on from the 1950s, followed by a long string of Renaissance cars that were built for a British-European channel-tunnel service that never came to be. On the very end, bringing up the markers, is the signature tail-car of CP’s (and now VIA’s) flagship Budd streamliners, the majestic Park, looking truly massive against the narrow profile of the British stock.

On the hazy evening of August 21, we see this odd-ball train through Michael Berry’s lens at the very beginning of its journey, just pulling away from the Montreal skyline on the long journey to the Maritimes. On this particular night, the quintet of Budds making up the Chaleur’s consist includes a former Union Pacific RPO-turned-baggage car, and a coach of New York Central origin, ahead of a classic CP Skyline dome and two aging but always comfortable Chateau sleepers. Though few in number, they dwarf the long cut of ex-British cars between them and their sister Park at the tail end. Who could ever have guessed that such an eccentric mix of cars would end up together in 2013, plying the rails of the world’s longest continually-operated named train?

Pierre Fournier snapped these two great VIA shots:  On  September 17th. 1982, VIA # 2 sits at Revelstoke, BC waiting on a crew change with a rare A-B-A-B lash up. 

On August 13th, 1985 on Rte 161 MP 75.0  VIA #25 is on time blasting by with VIA FPA4 6774 and four  Blue Fleet cars 

David Othen recently put together this fantastic video taken at the Halifax coach yards in the fall of 1992. In the video, we see exterior and interior footage of Algonquin Park, Waterton Park, Laurentide Park, Kokanee Park, Sibley Park, Chateau Jolliet, and Wascana, all before their upgrade to HEP and refurbishment, and Yoho Park after being refurbished. We also see ex CN blue 'E' Sleeper Evangeline. There is also some excellent footage of several of the various American Budd cars that VIA purchased in the early 90s, and that would eventually be rebuilt into their HEP2 cars. At that time, several of the cars were in Halifax being stripped and cleaned before heading to Montreal for rebuild at AMF/Septa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2x1WfR8te0

Pierre Fournier clicked damaged VIA FPA4 6789 sitting at Point St-Charles Yard in Montreal April 13th 1986.  The unit apparently collided with a CN unit when it was leading train 15.

© CRO September 2013