TORONTO — The VIA Historical Association’s heritage train of VIA Rail Canada equipment made its public debut this week, appearing at a June 25 event marking the 40th anniversary of VIA’s Toronto Maintenance Centre.
The train — restored FP9 No. 6539 and three former Canadian National cars — baggage car No. 9604 and Dayniter coaches Nos. 5700 and 5714 — are part of a larger heritage train being assembled by the association to celebrate VIA’s 50th anniversary in 2028. The locomotive, acquired from Ontario Southland Railway in 2023, was restored to its late-1970s blue-and-yellow scheme last year [see “VIA Historical Association unveils …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 1, 2024]. The three cars were acquired from Ontario Northland, which equipped them with head-end power during service there. They are slated to be joined later this year by two more former CN/VIA cars — baggage car 9636 and café-bar-lounge No. 2514 — currently being prepared for restoration.
At the Toronto ceremony, the VHA trainset was displayed with new Siemens Venture equipment and active stainless steel Budd HEP-1 cars.
VIA retired most of its steam-heated ex-CN fleet by the early 1990s, opting for the HEP-equipped, ex-Canadian Pacific stainless steel Budd cars and the then-new LRC fleet.
The nonprofit organization also owns former CN Pullman-Standard sleeping car Edmundston and several Budd Rail Diesel Cars, including the first such car, built in 1949.
More information on the organization is available at its website.
Memories of when VIA actually served a purpose. A Daily Canadian and for part time Super Continental. Daily Atlantic and Ocean.
Now just a pitiful remnant where the Toronto to Vancouver train only runs twice a week on a schedule a day slower than the schedule as late as 1990. That’s if it’s on-time.
Thanks Michael. Frankly I got a little annoyed at being the only voice on these pages saying so.
VIA is a joke.
A country as wonderful as Canada certainly deserves an exemplary passenger rail system… Perhaps one day it will happen.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Railfans are familiar with the ex-CPR stainless steel beauties still running on The Canadian. Fact is, the plurality of passenger-miles in Canada were carried in the enormous CNR fleet shown in the first photo. From the 1950s to the 1970s when Canada had more intercity trains per population than USA, this is what they rode in.
In 1952 CN ordered 218 80-seat coaches from CC&F alone. When was the last time we saw a 200+ car order for intercity service?
The lineup in Kevin J. Holland’s photo summarizes the eras in VIA’s equipment evolution since 1977… So many more vehicles could be included.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
The adorable FP9 No. 6539… A true rail superstar!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Yes, Mr. Carleton!!
So many good memories.
What about an FPA4 to join her?
Beauty, eh?