VIA Ventures Speed Reductions Become CN Permanent Slow Orders

During British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's November 10, 1942 speech at the Lord Mayor's Day Luncheon in London, the irascible PM made one of his best-remembered speeches at a time when fortune finally favoured his army's with victories in North Africa. Churchill intoned the quote shown at top. While I'd intended to travel back to trackside Portage-la-Prairiein 1984 for this week's post, we find ourselves at El-Alamein instead! Maybe I should change this blog's name to Trackside Venture!

Read on to find out why I believe today's farm-fresh VIA system notice may signal a new willingness to co-operate between CN and VIA as well as an attempt to possibly avoid action by Transport Canada against CN's punitive and unfounded restrictions on VIA by removing the egg on its corporate face and replacing the nebulous and unmarked crossing speed reductions with signage enshrined in a General Bulletin Order, less CROR/rule-based approach. This may signify the end of the beginning, the first possibly positive sign after 10+ months of delays that have peeved passengers and obfuscated on-time performance.

Just today, CN has made a change in how it has restricted the operating speeds of VIA's Venture equipment. This restriction was initially placed on the Venture fleet last October - when I started trying to understand why Ventures were being delayed and have followed in the linked post since -  and updated twice since by VIA system notices:

• VIA System Notice No. VN24-022 dated October 11, 2024 in response to CN's Venture Equipment Crossing Supplement Version 1.0
• VIA System Notice No. VN24-023 dated October 13, 2024 clarifying the above.
• VIA System Notice No. VN24-033 dated November 27, 2024 in response to CN's Venture Equipment Crossing Supplement Version 2.0

All three of the previously-issued system notices are now cancelled with VIA issuing, effective August 28, 2025:

• VIA System Notice No. VN25-018 Venture Crossing Restrictions - Update

Today's update, indicating a change in approach collaboratively arrived at by VIA, CN, the union representing VIA's locomotive engineers and human factors experts, is intended to streamline and clarify the restrictions, enshrining them as Permanent Slow Orders with appropriate signage to be installed. Issued by Jonathan Cooke, VIA's Specialist Director, Operating Practices & Transportation Training and a key figure in VIA's court-based process seeking an injunction against CN's crossing speed reductions, the text of the new system notice follows...

As you know, the safety of our passengers and employees is our top priority at VIA Rail. We continue to stand firmly behind the safety of our Venture fleet, while also working closely with CN to ensure our locomotive engineers can operate effectively without undue cognitive workload. 

Over the past several months, VIA Rail and CN have been collaborating to address concerns raised by CN's Venture Crossing Supplement. These requirements, particularly Rule 103.1(f) on confirming Automatic Warning Device (AWD) activation, have increased the workload of locomotive engineers operating Venture trains. Working alongside your T[eamsters] C[anada] R[ail] C[onference] Health & Safety representatives and human factors experts, we are moving toward a more balanced and practical approach. These adjustments represent what we believe is a positive step forward toward safer operations and smoother train handling.

Speed Restrictions in Lieu of Rule 103.1(f):

CN will issue Venture Crossing Supplement v4.0. It will replace existing Rule 103.1(f) requirements with more straightforward speed restrictions, in the form of Venture-Specific P[ermanent]S[low]O[rders]. For subdivisions governed by these new speed tables there will no longer be a requirement for VIA Venture trains of less than 32 axles to operate prepared to stop unless AWDs have been confirmed to be operating for the Minimum Required Time. This will also remove the 45 mph whistle post restrictions on most subdivisions where the Rule 103.1(f) restrictions are being replaced.

Speed Tables:

We have worked with CN to minimize cognitive load while crews adapted to those new operating speeds. Certain priorities were made to lessen this burden, such as:

• Using identifiable locations to mark the beginning of each restriction (e.g. using whole miles). 
• Aligning Venture restrictions with existing PSOs where possible.
• Reducing the number of speed changes to make adaptation easier while improving overall train speed. 
• Implementing head-end restrictions, allowing trains to resume track speed once the final crossing in the restriction has been fully occupied.
• Creating directional speed tables for easier learning.

Operating Signage:

VIA and CN are working to install new signs marking the beginning and end of each Venture-specific restriction, with advance signs to help crews prepare. While installation takes time, all parties, including TCRC and our safety consultants, agreed that implementing speed restrictions now is safer then waiting for signage to be ready. We will update you with timelines once installation schedules are confirmed.

Communications and Implementation:

• CN has shared the upcoming supplement with VIA for preview. Crews can access it in their Electronic Operating Manual.
• The supplement is expected to take effect at 0001 on Thursday August 28, 2025, and will be formally communicated by CN GBO.
• Crews must continue to be governed by the existing version of the Supplement until the new Supplement is put into effect by CN GBO.
• Paper copies will be available at reporting locations.

Job Briefings:

Crews must review and discuss these restrictions at job briefings. Attention must also be given to the length of your train (i.e. whether it has less than 32 axles), particularly after consists are changed mid-trip (e.g. J-train splits). Management team members will be present at reporting points to answer questions. 

Next Steps:

VIA Rail continues to explore additional long-term strategies to further mitigate the impacts of CN's Venture Crossing Supplement on VIA's operations, including expanding the use of extra-long Ventures (with 32 or more axles) and installing onboard shunt enhancers. We recognize this may not be the full resolution crews were hoping for, but it is an important improvement. We appreciate your commitment to safety and your patience as we continue to work toward solutions that prioritize both operational safety and the well-being of our crews. 

FAQ: 

1. I'm operating an extra-long Venture train with 32 axles. Am I governed by these speed tables? No. The supplement and new speed tables only applies to Venture trains of less than 32 axles. If your train is equipped with 32 axles or more, you are to be governed by the applicable track speed as found in the timetable.

2. Am I still required to comply with the 45 mph restriction at the whistle post if I am operating on a subdivision governed by a new Speed Table in the Crossing Supplement? No. The updated instruction, communicated by VIA Operating Bulletin last week, applies only for crossings requiring the confirmation of activation for the Minimum Required Time. For subdivisions governed by a speed table, the 45 mph restriction does not apply. For subdivisions where a speed table has not yet been issues, the 45 mph restriction still applies at the whistle post. 

3. When can we expect operating signs to be installed? This effort is complex and requires input from multiple parties. We will keep you informed as new updates are available. Rest assured that VIA is pursuing this as a top priority, and we expect signage to be in place as soon as possible, likely in the coming weeks or months.

4. What about subdivisions where there are not new speed tables, for example the Guelph Sub? Guelph, Halton and York Subs are still being reviewed, and will be address through a similar fashion once their reviews have been completed. 

5. There are subdivisions (Guelph and Chatham) with rule 103.1(f) GBO in effect for all trains, is there any plan to remove these GBOs? VIA Rail is aware of the situation and currently working with CN [on] a solution to remove the GBOs requirement. These GBO were issued due to rail conditions originally and are not specific to Venture trains.

HOW DOES THIS NEW NOTICE IMPROVE ANYTHING?

CN is now agreeing to changes that VIA has specifically contended prevent it from implementing more Venture sets. Sure, I have been able to document 20-23 sets in weekly use for several weeks now. But VIA's Corridor rotation diagram is stuck in a 13-set rotation, with the remainder of the 13 other slots in the rotation held down by Legacy (LRC and HEP) equipment. Now, VIA has all Venture sets on the property, and has made changes to four sets to create sets of two varied lengths, as well as taking other measures like 'doublavay' consists to best CN's restrictions. The rut that the Venture fleet is stuck in is NOT due to breakdowns, NOT due to staff training and NOT even due to service facilities not being complete. It's about crew readiness, crew fatigue and not finding enough crews to operate enough trainsets on time across the Corridor.

Did you notice the three little words 'onboard shunt enhancers' in the next steps? I believe this is one of the first times an official VIA documents has used these words, and the technology is about to be implemented on Amtrak, and VIA will likely follow. Oh, and three other little words 'extra long Ventures'!

Oh, and the fact that CN does not require crews in Venture cabs to prepare to stop, says something about the real reliability of their Grade Crossing Predictor AWDs. Of course they're working, and until shown not to be, are functioning as expected even when being shunted by Venture-equipped trains. Sounds like the start of a CN collaborative climb-down, at least to this humble blogger.

In the near-term, I'll continue to monitor the Venture fleet's serviceability and on-time performance each week, looking for any improvement these new measures may bring forth. Sounding very Churchillian, we will seek them in the coach yard, we will watch them trackside, we will follow them to their destination. We will never surrender the goal of on-time arrivals! All the while hoping this is indeed the end of the beginning.

FROM THE CAB...

Here's an online response from a Redditor who is also a VIA engineer: 

"Reducing to 45 mph from a quarter-mile and complying with 103.1 (f) is gone on most subdivisions. Important to remember that the 45 mph restriction was imposed by VIA, CN only placed the 103.1 (f) restriction on Venture trains. It's replaced by large "zone" (actually PSO) speed reductions that encompass multiple crossings. The speed in each zone varies, some are anywhere from 65-80 MPH for several miles, sometimes 10+ miles. 70-75 MPH seems to be the most common. There are stretches where normal track speed is possible. These new speed "zones/PSO's" effectively more than double the existing number of zones and PSO's, so there's a lot of familiarization for crews to contend with. It will help improve travel times, but it will not be anywhere near back to normal. All in all, it should definitely help with workload for engineers, especially once signage is in place. But this is CN, so signage may never happen."

and another:

"[I saw] the V[ersion 4 Crossing Supplement] document and it mostly has 'Do not exceed 60/70 mph until crossings occupied' on specific crossings. I didn't see any new PSO speeds on the Dundas, Strathroy or Kingston (except one or two closer to Montreal), Montreal and St-Hyacinthe had one PSO each added as well. Drummondville Sub got the most PSOs added [8 to 10], Chatham Sub also got some PSO zones added, Guelph, Halton and York Subs remain Rule 103.1(f). It's probably very unlikely they add PSO signs for most of the Subs except the Drummondville Sub."

With CN's crossing speed reductions transitioning to Permanent Slow Orders, VIA Ventures' On-Time Performance (OTP) on Monday, September 1 was the best it's been since the imposition of the restrictions in October, 2024. Instead of the usual 40-minute average OTP delay Toronto-Ottawa and 50-minute average OTP delay Toronto-Montreal, yesterday's were 27 minutes Toronto-Ottawa and 12 minutes Toronto-Montreal. The Toronto-Ottawa average was skewed by Nos 44/46 that took big delays around Oshawa and stayed that way.

Running extra...

A TV soap opera berths a train set. Or rather, a TV set based on a train. The venerable and never-ending serial The Young and The Restless took its cast to France, as mysterious business tycoon Aristotle Dumas lured them to his private train to work his machiavellian magic and hostile corporate takeover. The set (above) is then reused when he miraculously appears in his very-similar private train back in America. A cast member remarks how similar the U.S. car is to the one they were just in while in France, and Dumas replies he feels more comfortable if all his private cars look the same, and hey, the sofa is different!

I want to clarify here and now that I do NOT watch soap operas like the Y&R. I'm merely in the room when my good wife is watching it.

But I do watch CBS' Big Brother and several of the houseguests are sleeping in a 'train car' room:

First past the post...

Our neighbour kindly gave us passes to Kingston's Fort Henry, and we were able to introduce our grandsons to the fort's recreators' music and marching of the 19th century yesterday. Thanks, Jaimie!

VIA's Fleet - November, 2024

If you've ever wondered how VIA Rail Canada's fleet looks in a reasonably current internal planning document, wonder no more! In this post, I've included information from just such a document, updated November 7, 2024. This may not be your run-of-the-mill rail enthusiast roster, nor a version of the Bytown Railway Society's fine Canadian Trackside Guide. Here's how the information from the internal document is presented without any further interruption in this post:

• Nearly verbatim, using VIA nomenclature, numbers and # totals. (Though VIA uses car numbers almost exclusively, except for Glenfraser, I include named cars' names and numbers i.e. 8407/Emerald for my own convenience. I've always found that using the numbers to refer to the fine Canadian cars rather sterile and uninteresting.) 
• I cross-referenced the VIA fleet document with several other sources, as well as between columns within the document, though I have not accounted for locomotives nor cars no longer on VIA's roster and therefore do not appear in the document. 
• Any minor editorial additions are in [square brackets]. 
• Scroll down for explanatory notes, plus equipment that is double-listed as well as some discrepancies I found. 
• Images are from VIA's Train Fleet page - hey, we all paid for them!

* * * * *

LOCOMOTIVES

GPA30H = 51

GPA30H BTR SAND

6401, 6402, 6404, 6405, 6406, 6407, 6408, 6409.

GPA30H BTR

6410, 6411, 6412, 6413, 6414, 6415, 6416, 6418, 6419, 6420, 6421, 6424, 6427, 6428, 6429, 6431, 6432, 6433, 6434, 6435, 6438, 6439, 6440, 6441, 6443, 6449, 6456 [sic], 6453.

GPA30H N-BTR

6445, 6446, 6448, 6451, 6452, 6454, 6455, 6457, 6458, 6459.

GPA30H CAD OVERHAUL

6426, 6436, 6437, 6442, 6456.

GPA30H CAD

6417.

P42 = 19

P42 

900, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 917, 918, 919, 920.

* * * * *

PASSENGER CARS - LRC

LRC BUSINESS = 23 CARS

3452, 3455, 3456, 3458, 3459, 3460, 3461, 3462, 3463, 3464, 3465, 3466, 3467, 3468, 3469, 3470, 3471, 3472, 3473, 3475, 3476, 3477, 3478.

LRC ECONOMY = 50 CARS

3300 BOMBARDIER

3352, 3367 WIFI BRAIN

3301, 3302, 3304, 3305, 3306, 3307, 3308, 3309, 3311, 3312, 3313, 3314, 3316, 3318, 3323, 3324, 3325, 3329, 3333, 3334, 3335, 3336, 3337, 3338, 3340, 3341, 3342, 3343, 3350, 3351, 3353, 3354, 3355, 3356, 3357, 3358, 3359, 3360, 3361, 3363, 3364, 3365, 3366, 3368, 3369, 3370, 3371.

PASSENGER CARS - RENAISSANCE

RENAISSANCE CORRIDOR STORED, SERVICEABLE, OOS = 14 CARS

BAGGAGE 7004, 7008.

BUSINESS (HYBRID) 7214, 7221.

ECONOMY 7100, 7102, 7106, 7200.

ACC. ECONOMY 70111, 70201, 70211, 70213.

SERVICE 7301, 7307.

RENAISSANCE EASTERN TRANSCON = 36 CARS

BAGGAGE 7003, 7009, 7011.

TRANSITION BAGGAGE 7600, 7601, 7602.

ECONOMY 7208, 7227, 7229, 7231, 7106 [sic], 7200[sic].

ACC. ECONOMY 70108, 70217, 70230.

SLEEPER 7502, 7506, 7507, 7512, 7516, 7518, 7519, 7520, 7522.

ACC. SLEEPER 79501, 79515, 79526.

DINER 7400, 7401, 7402.

SERVICE 7303, 7308, 7309, 7312, 7313, 7314.

PASSENGER CARS - HEP2 = 32 CARS

BUSINESS OVERHAULED = 9 CARS

4000, 4001, 4002, 4003, 4004, 4005, 4007, 4008.

ECONOMY = 13 CARS

4100, 4101, 4102, 4103, 4104, 4106, 4107, 4108, 4109, 4116, 4117, 4118, 4119.

ECONOMY OVERHAULED = 7 CARS

4105, 4110, 4111, 4112, 4113, 4114, 4115.

ECONOMY GALLEY = 3 CARS

4120, 4121, 4122.

* * * * *

PASSENGER CARS - HEP1

[UNDERSCORE  = BEARING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM]

SPECIAL - PANORAMA = 3 CARS

1720, 1721, 1722.

SPECIAL - GLENFRASER - 1 CAR

1750.

BAGGAGE CARS = 17 CARS

BAGGAGE - 1 BIKE RACK

8608, 8620, 8622, 8623.

BAGGAGE - 2 BIKE RACKS

8619, 8621.

BAGGAGE - W/FRIDGES

8603, 8613, 8616.

BAGGAGE - REGULAR

8600, 8601, 8602, 8604, 8609, 8612, 8615.

BAGGAGE - OVERHAULED

8605

*8600-8616 = B&Y

*8618-8623 = NYCO

ECONOMY = 41 CARS

ECONOMY - REFURBISHED CP

8100, 8101, 8102, 8103, 8104, 8105, 8106, 8107, 8108, 8109, 8110, 8112, 8113, 8116, 8117, 8118, 8119, 8120, 8122, 8123, 8124, 8125, 8126, 8127, 8129.

ECONOMY - REFURBISHED SEPTA

8130, 8131, 8132, 8133, 8135, 8139, 8140, 8141, 8142, 8143, 8144.

ECONOMY - REFURBISHED SEPTA GALLEY

8145, 8146, 8147.

*8100-8129 = CP

*8130-8147 = SEPTA & NYCO

SLEEPER = 66 CARS

CHATEAU = 19 CARS

8201/Argenson, 8202/Bienville, 8203/Brule, 8205/Closse, 8211/Lasalle, 8212/Latour, 8216/Levis, 8219/Montcalm, 8220/Papineau, 8221/Radisson, 8223/Rigaud, 8224/Roberval, 8228/Vercheres, 8229/Viger.

CHATEAU PRESTIGE = 8 CARS

88204, 88206, 88207, 88210, 88213, 88217, 88226, 88227.

MANOR = 39 CARS

8301/Abbot, 8302/Allan, 8303/Amherst, 8305/Bayfield, 8306/Bell, 8307/Blair, 8308/Bliss, 8309/Brant, 8310/Brock, 8311/Burton, 8312/Butler, 8315/Carleton, 8316/Christie, 8317/Cornwall, 8318/Craig, 8319/Dawson, 8320/Douglas, 8321/Draper, 8322/Drummond, 8324/Dunsmuir, 8325/Elgin, 8326/Franklin, 8327/Fraser, 8328/Grant, 8329/Hearne, 8330/Hunter, 8331/Jarvis, 8332/Laird, 8333/Lorne, 8335/Mackenzie, 8336/Monck, 8337/Osler, 8338/Rogers, 8339/Sherwood, 8341/Thompson, 8342/Wolfe. 

DINER = 12 CARS

DINER - REGULAR = 3 CARS

8401/Acadian, 8413/Louise, 8414/Palliser.

DINER - REFURBISHED = 9 CARS

8404/Annapolis, 8407/Emerald, 8408/Empress, 8409/Fairholme, 8410/Frontenac, 8411/Imperial, 8412/Kent, 8415/Princess, 8418/York

SKYLINE = 14 CARS

SKYLINE - REGULAR = 10 CARS

8501, 8502, 8503, 8504, 8506, 8510, 8511, 8512, 8515, 8516.

SKYLINE - MOS NEW INTERIOR = 4 CARS

8500, 8507, 8509, 8517.

PARK CARS = 12 CARS

PARK - REGULAR = 6 CARS

8703/Banff, 8718/Yoho.

PARK - W/RECEPTACLE = 2 CARS

8711/Revelstoke, 8715/Tremblant.

PARK - PRESTIGE = 4 CARS

88706, 88708, 88709, 88710.

* * * * *

MISCELLANEOUS 

RDC SUDBURY-WHITE RIVER - 6105, 6217, 6219, 6150.

SWITCHER - 202.

EM BAGGAGE - 9631.

C[AFE] COACH - 3248.

EM COACH - 5648, 5649.

* * * * *

OTHER

SSV - 204, 3321, 3322.

SUS - 0.

PROJECT CAD - 8145.

PROJECT MMC - 8409, 8414, 8415.

WRECKS - 1720, 1722, 1750, 3322, 6251, 8208, 8209, 8211, 8214, 8215, 8216, 8218, 8228, 8313, 8314, 8334, 8605, 8702, 8704, 8707, 8716.

* * * * *

DISCREPANCIES/DOUBLE-LISTED

I cross-referenced the VIA fleet document with several other sources, as well as between columns within the document. This section includes discrepancies I found, as well as explanations I was able to come up with for equipment that is listed twice. 

3322 - double-listed as SSV and WRECK = is SSV

Sixteen 3300's - SSV, SUS, RET = not listed.

3451, 3453, 3474 - SUS = not listed.

6251 - listed as WRECK = on its way to Sud-WR service in early-Aug 2025.

6417 - at CAD since Oct 2024 = pink unit (?)

6456 - double-listed as BTR and CAD OVERHAUL.

8145 - double-listed as HEP1 REFURBISHED SEPTA GALLEY and CAD = is at CAD?

8134, 8137 - denoted in red for WRECK but not listed as WRECK = were in use late-2024.

8208/Dollier, 8209/Iberville - denoted in red for WRECK = last in service 2024, 2018 respectively.

8214/Laval, 8215/Lemoyne - denoted in red for WRECK = last in service 2018, 2024 respectively.

8216/Levis, 8218/Marquette, 8228/Vercheres - listed as WRECK but not denoted in red as WRECK = all last in service in 2023.

8313/Cabot, 8314/Cameron, 8334/Macdonald - denoted in red for WRECK = not in use since 2024+

8409 - double-listed as DINER-REFURBISHED and PROJECT - MMC = released from refurb Sep 2024.

8414 - double-listed as DINER-REGULAR and PROJECT - MMC = released from refurb Jul 2025.

8415 - double-listed as DINER-REFURBISHED and PROJECT-MMC = not in service since Sep 2024.

8605 - double-listed as WRECK and BAGGAGE-OVERHAULED = derailed in Manitoba in 2019, refurbished in 2024 and now in use.

8702/Assiniboine, 8704/Evangeline, 8707/Kokanee = all last in service to Churchill or Prince Rupert in early-2023.

8716/Tweedsmuir - denoted in red as WRECK = not in service.

NOTES

BTR: VIA Restrictions when Operating in the Reverse Direction – GPA-30 Locomotives numbered 6401 to 6437 may be operated at track speed in the reverse direction, e.g., push/pull trains. These locomotives are equipped with BTR traction motors similar to those found on EPA-42 locomotives. Locomotives numbered 6438 to 6459 must never be operated in a push-pull in reversed. Reverse moves must never exceed 25 MPH.

BMS (Bearing Management System):

Sand:

VIA Sanders – GPA-30 Locomotive GPA-30H numbered 6401-6402-6404-6405-6406-6407-6408-6409 are equipped with sand traction control system on the front wheels.

Running extra...

An unfortunate typo found its way in to George's Trains weekly newsletter. And I thought $125 was a lot - I'd sure have a long pray before putting in my order at this price:

Night trains at the MMC: Amtrak, Ventures and a scintillating skyline. Well, not that kind of Skyline...

VIA is at least thinking and planning for what to do with its HEP and LRC cars when the time comes. From this past week's Annual Public Meeting, one of the Q&A's is no doubt music to the ears of members of the VIA Historical Association:

First past the post...

Thanks to all those who celebrated Trackside Treasure's 17th anniversary with me over the past week. Contest entrants, commenters, well-wishers, readers and siblings of all varieties. Having just awarded Trackside Treasure's third Annibursary, your humble blogger is not only wallowing in nostalgia as usual, but also awash in good vibes, as collectively we close in on 1,000 posts!

Postscript: Seventeenth Anniversary Contest

Thanks to all those who participated in this year's Seventeenth Anniversary Contest and here's my heartfelt [and can-you-tell-it's-repurposed] message to each and every one of you (top photo). This year there were three ways to win, all concerning marketing initiatives I've been considering for Trackside Treasure:

1. T-shirts and merch - Suggest a logo or image!

2. What would the best mascot name be?

3. Which song title most closely resembles the feeling you get reading this blog?

The entries were eye-opening, engaging, enlightening, edifying and elucidating, emigrating from all across North America. They not only speak to the entrants' preferred suggestions, but also how they view Trackside Treasure and its role in its tiny little corner of cyberspace. Here are some of the pleasantest comments ever received in a blog contest:

• Thanks for all you do. Your work has kept me coming back for many of those 17 years (I was a little late in discovering this blog). Congratulations on another spin around the sun for Trackside Treasure. - Michael Hammond

• Congratulations on 17 years and here's wishing you many more! I always enjoy your posts and look forward to whatever is on the horizon. - JD Lowe

• Continue to enjoy the blog….17 years later. I often check out your Working Stamps blog. I'm not a collector, but I absorbed enough by osmosis spending time with my grandfather that I kind of, sort of, understand…. - John Fenner

• I am a week late, but happy 17th! This American loves the site and the updates which take a lot of hard work. Again, cheers and many more years of "Trackside Treasure". - Joseph Matthews

HOW YOU MIGHT THINK I LOOK WHILE I'M BLOGGING:

HOW I ACTUALLY FEEL WHEN I'M BLOGGING...

I wish I had some time to create suitably subtle and amazingly appropriate illustrations for this post, but I now need to spend a few days on my front porch doodling the described logos, carefully silk-screening and hand-sewing mascots from the finest high-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and sourcing sonorous songs from my personal record collection currently housed in seven former K-Mart tractor trailers just behind my property. 

But enough of my whining and let's get to the winning! Here are some of the best!

TRACKSIDE TREASURE T-SHIRTS AND 'MERCH' LOGO:

Here's a logo I came up with. It looks strangely familiar when I stop squinting at it and put on my reading glasses, and I can't figure out why...but I'll like yours better:

• Something like a round seal with "Trackside" on the top and "Treasure" on the bottom.  An open pirate's treasure chest in the middle with a set of tracks sticking out.  A VIA train on the track.  Just the random thoughts of a blog reading railfan.

• How about milepost 179, standing proudly on a pole, bathed in the glow of an open treasure chest nestled at its base?

• Combination of logo and mascot, take 1: The CPR beaver crouched over a laptop, typing vigorously for a cool T-shirt image AND a mascot.  And hopefully, not a cease-and-desist order from some trademark lawyer person and call him “X2F”.

• A treasure chest brimming with jewels (or gold-plated tie nails) sitting right beside a railway track! 

• Here's one example of original submitted artwork from a contest entrant!

[Thanks to those readers who mistakenly misread 'logo' as 'loto'. Hosting lottery schemes and big jackpots is beyond the scope of Trackside Treasure, as is the government red tape and lottery licensing involved!]

TRACKSIDE TREASURE MASCOT:

• Combination of mascot and logo, take 2: A Northern Hawk Owl (non migratory, day-active) which ranges over our boreal forests. The symbolism behind the choice of this particular animal should be obvious. In the crest, this bird is seen at eye level as it perches on the symmetrically-peaked top of a telegraph pole with arms and insulators. Whether the wires are present or clipped off at the insulators depends on the 'era chosen' ... for its symbolism. 

• It seems obvious that your mascot should be Spike the Spike. Just make sure he/she doesn't look like that goofy paperclip mascot that tried to "help" in past iterations of MS Word.

• Mascot suggestion - Posty!  Tall, thin, Cross-arms for a head, TT on the left arm, 179 on the right arm, stuck into a treasure chest of gold coins, perhaps with an ear or two of corn in the mix for some of your corny puns.

• Mascot name - Shunter! has double meaning - the kind of loco, and, the rail-to-rail electrical shunting that takes place, which in some cases is one and the same thing...hopefully...and without the dispute from any infrastructure owners!

[Thanks to those readers who tragically took 'mascot' as 'ascot'. I can't really wear a fancy, knotted tie while I'm working on this blog - it would cut off what's left of my carotid brain-bound circulation.]

TRACKSIDE TREASURE THEME SONG:

• Take Five - The Dave Brubeck Quartet (besides the literal idea of taking a break to visit Trackside Treasure, the piece is unique as most pieces don't use that time signature and it suggests a refined knowledge of music. Trackside Treasure is unique in the way it covers many of its topics and in its areas of specialty. The music came out in 1959, when all of the classic railway hardware, old and new, was generally still in service in Canada).

• Canadian Railroad Trilogy - Gordon Lightfoot (two mentions)

• Peace Train - Cat Stevens 

• I'm a Train - Albert Hammond

• Jumping Someone Else’s Train - The Cure

• Last Train to Clarksville - The Monkees

• Train Round the Bend - The Velvet Underground (give it a listen!) 

• Big Rock Candy Mountain - fun, whimsical, lyrical (much like Trackside Treasure).

• Something between John Coltrane's Blue Train and Pat Metheny's Last Train Home.

[Thanks to those readers who erroneously read 'song' as 'smog'. Sure, the smoke has been oppressive across much of North America but here in Southeastern Ontario, far from the Big Smoke, the air is clear (and we want to keep it that way} and only thick with expletives and epithets when I hit 'Publish' before it's time to do so!]

THE LABORIOUS PROCESS OF CHOOSING A WINNER THEN BEGAN

All of those confusingly creative entries were laboriously copied using a Montblanc Meisterstück Calligraphy Maki-e Fountain Pen onto colourful hand-crafted rice paper and folded into delicate origami cranes before being blown/flown by the salt spray off Lake Ontario into in a Pantry Shelf canned chicken 48 fl.oz. can I've been saving under my back porch for this purpose since the 1970's. (It was just time to put it to use.) Then, after sustaining a few minor lacerations to my wrists, I finally drew out the winning entry - before going for a tetanus shot.

The winner of Trackside Treasure's Seventeenth Anniversary Contest is...

Alan Graham of Vancouver, BC. 

Alan noted: "I look forward to reading many more editions of your blog.  Thank you for your creative and inspirational ways of paying it forward." Trackside Treasure's coveted anniversary prize pack will be winging its way to Alan via Canada Post on an Air Canada flight diverted through the tariff-laden United States. Should be no problem. Alan responds to his win: "Thank you Eric!  What an honour!"

AND NOW IT'S ON TO TRACKSIDE TREASURE'S 18TH YEAR!

Thanks to contest entrant Mike Kulesza for sharing this photo of the rear view from VIA No 54 last night.

 While each anniversary gives us an opportunity to look back, 

it's also time to look forward with optimism!

Trackside Treasure's Seventeenth Anniversary

Admittedly, 17 is a rather obscure number to celebrate. It is a prime number, indivisible by any other numbers. Also admittedly, the number 17 is important if you're Shohei Ohtani, or Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet, or if you don't want people to guess a number between 1 and 20.  In some studies, 17 was found to be the least common choice when people were asked to pick a random number between 1 and 20, So it has manifold meanings, and the manifest of fellow bloggers that inhabit this space with me deserve...

...MY SINCERE THANKS! 

To celebrate the Scintillating Seventeenth anniversary of my little corner of cyberspace - in which I first rolled out my shag carpet and plugged in my lava lamp in 2008 - I need to first turn to my blog partners whose chocked-full-o-content blogs you've read to the right over the past year. Steve Boyko, George Dutka/Don James/the late Peter Mumby, David Gagnon, Stephen Gardiner, Michael Hammond, Bernard Kempinski, Matthieu Lachance, JD Lowe, Chris Mears, Marc Simpson and Jim Sloan.

Thanks also need to go to all those who read, contribute, tolerate, comment, and most importantly keep coming back week-after-week. If you weren't here, I wouldn't be here. Well, I would be here because I live here, but it would be considerably lonelier for me and leave me asking, "Eric, what's the point?". Instead, I fire up the laptop every week with a fire in my belly (ooh, too many baked goods!) and a burning desire to share more.

A BIG ANNIVERSARY PRESENT

Mere days ago, and nearly four years since the first delivery, VIA's 32nd Venture set made it to Montreal. Here's my YouTube link (screenshot above) and this Venture delivery dates post can finally be called complete after being 'alive' for four years!

THERE'S ALWAYS A CONTEST

Anniversarially speaking, there are one, two and/or three ways to win! Just answer one or all of these questions. 

They all pertain to some marketing initiatives I've been mulling over...

1. Trackside Treasure T-shirts and merch - Suggest a logo or image!

2. Trackside Treasure needs a mascot. What would the best mascot name be?

3. Trackside Treasure soundtrack. Which song title most closely resembles the feeling you get reading Trackside Treasure?

Simply answer by email to mile179kingstonATyahooDOTca, or as a comment to this post. It's just that easy! Entries are now closed. A winner will be randomly selected from any and all entries, and memorable entries will be published in a postscript! Now, rush to your device to enter! The prize will be the oft-desired Trackside Treasure anniversary prize pack!

RULES: There always have to be contest rules - I always like to throw some in to make the lawyers earn their rather steep retainer. Contest not valid in places ending in '-stan'.  Odds of winning are roughly one in...whatever. No skill-testing question required. You're alive - that takes a certain amount of skill all in itself! Trackside Treasure reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this contest if in its sole discretion a virus, bugs or unauthorized human intervention occur, or if we find out participants are not being a generally good person with a kind heart, nice hair and matching socks. Not valid in states of utopia or dystopia. No promotional emails will be sent. Heck, we're still shaking our heads that you're still reading this. No applicable tariffs!

 <POUR PARTAGER LA PISTE>

Seriously though, if that's possible at this point, I believe in giving back. Oddly enough, one reason I started blogging was because when I began in 2008, blogging was pitched as a money-maker! Turns out it's only lucrative with a huge fan base, tons of posts daily and hosting advertisements. Um, no thanks. So I started blogging my own way, pleased to have no editor or rules. There are inevitably nitpickers, but if I don't want them here picking nits, I can and do keep them out. If it weren't for Trackside Treasure, there would be no loyal Trackside Treasure readers. There would be none of the amazing connections I've made with like-minded readers, and the amazing opportunities and interactions with you that I continue to enjoy. There would be none of the eight books I've created that enabled me to share information with other enthusiasts offline. There would also not be my Nespresso machine and the cupboards full of espresso coffee capsules, my one-each collection of iPhones, my driveway full of electric cars, my 122-inch large screen TV in my great room, nor my collection of fine European cheeses in my grate room.

To give back and to celebrate Trackside Treasure's Crystal Anniversary, I proudly announced The Trackside Treasure Annibursary. Each August anniversary forthwith and thereafter, I will bestow upon a fellow blogger, enthusiast, reader or preservationist group a modest bursary to fuel their initiative, interest and ingenuity in blogging or other activity. The bursary can perhaps be used to pay for expenses incurred in sharing information, research costs for travel or materials or any way the honoree so chooses. The honoree and/or Trackside Treasure will be free to publicize this award as they so choose. 

TIME TO CUT TO THE CUT CRYSTAL

The Trackside Treasure Annibursary comes with a curvaceous crystalline trophy inscribed with the recipient's name and year as well as the fancy French motto that describes all railway bloggers and researchers and loosely translates as "To Share The Track". No-one controls cyberspace alone, we need to share: knowledge, enthusiasm and information. That is our lofty goal to which all railway bloggers and researchers ascribe. (Oh, and the trophy is only a jpeg file, so don't look for a soapstone carving, gold-plated trophy or any achingly-weighty tchotchke in your mail, nor some huge brown paper-wrapped package you have to pick up at the post office, or arriving at your door with accompanied by an armed escort. It gets sent to you with domestic First Class Postage!

The 2025 recipient and third recipient ever, is...the VIA Historical Association!

The VIA Historical Association (VHA) was founded in 2020 by a group of dedicated VIA Rail Canada enthusiasts and historians. Building upon the collection assembled by model railroad manufacturer Rapido Trains Inc., the VHA aims to assemble a representative collection of VIA train cars and locomotives to fulsomely interpret the history of Canada’s national passenger railway. The VHA's unique mission includes preserving and restoring examples of VIA Rail Canada rolling stock and locomotives for public exhibition and operation, educating the public about VIA's vital role in Canada's transportation network, and documenting VIA's history through archival materials, exhibits and publications.

As VIA approaches its 50th anniversary, members of the VHA believe it is long past time to celebrate and interpret the history of our nation’s passenger railway. The VHA collection will allow VIA’s history to be preserved, and their aim is to maintain the equipment in operational condition. The VIA Historical Association also looks forward to sharing VIA’s history and in person at railway-related events across the country. VHA members participated at the recent Ocean 120th anniversary celebrations in Halifax. 

While VIA modernizes its fleet to serve the travelling public of the future, the VHA will celebrate the equipment, people and stories of VIA’s past. That unique mission, stated on the VHA website is one that is very timely. In the past year, the VHA has not only been able to stabilize its current collection, but also to show it can grow its collection, obtaining several serviceable pieces of VIA rolling stock and rejuvenating them cosmetically. Their acquisitions and activities have been well thought-out, well-done and there is pent-up interest in seeing them well-travelled.

I don't ever see myself sanding the side of a sleeping car, cleaning cobwebs from a coach or asking, "WTF is this hunk of steel?" underneath an F-unit. So, in my own small way via Trackside Treasure, I'm providing some net-equity if not sweat-equity to the cause. I wish the VHA well in its future endeavours, and yes, Endeavour was a VIA E-series sleeping car!

Well-earned congratulations to the VIA Historical Association!

         

Running extra...

This is a real page-flipper. Rapido's virtual catalogue. There's also a virtual catalog for US readers. There are 28 pages showing primarily US models, 11 Canadian.

First past the post...

Though there are several members on the VHA team, I know the ones I've had the pleasure to meet are devoted to the cause: Steve Boyko, Chris Greenlaw, Tim Hayman, Andrew Jeanes and Jason Shron.

VIA Ventures in Service, Part 4

Back in January, 2024 and with the delivery of the twelfth Siemens Venture set, I split my original Siemens Venture post first published on September 21, 2021, spawning VIA Ventures in Service, Part 1. Then a subsequent Part 2, then Part 3. We're now splitting it again, spawning this Part 4! VIA's Siemens implementation has so far spawned a blog-busting 21 Trackside Treasure posts and counting! (Maybe this blog should be retitled Venture Treasure?) Here are the Venture-centric posts:

• VIA's New Siemens Trainsets through Kingston - each set's delivery date and related information.
• VIA's Siemens Venture's First Visit to Kingston - test run arriving at 0222 on 2/2/22!
• VIA's Siemens Venture's First Revenue Visit to Kingston - September 21, 2023 was the big day!
• The Ventures are Coming! The Ventures are Coming! - Ottawa-Toronto service began October 24, 2023.
• Venture implementation compared to the LRC implementation 40+ years ago.
• VIA Ventures in Service, Part 1 - On CN's Kingston Subdivision - updates to April, 2024.
• VIA Ventures in Service, Part 2 - On CN's Kingston Subdivision - updates from May, 2024 and beyond.
• VIA Ventures in Service, Part 3 - On CN's Kingston Subdivision - updates from February, 2025 and beyond.
• VIA Ventures in Service, Part 4 - On CN's Kingston Subdivision and beyond - [you're reading it!] updates from August, 2025 and later.
• CN Imposes Speed Reductions on VIA's Ventures - suddenly in October, 2024!
  
• VIA Ventures and Shunt - Enhanced Post - all you need to know about shunt, loss-of-shunt and why CN is imposing speed reductions.
• VIA takes CN to federal court - judicial review requested November, 2024!
• VIA and CN make submissions to the court in December, 2024 - the facts!
• VIA and CN make more submissions to the court in January, 2025 - more facts!
• VIA and CN make yet more submissions to the Court published in March, 2025.
  
• the final VIA and CN submissions to the Court in February, 2025 - the last of four posts!
• VIA and CN now in Quebec Superior Court Part 1 - March, 2025
  
• VIA and CN in Quebec Superior Court Part 2 - June, 2025
• An opinion piece - "What is Happening with VIA's New Trains?" 
• Seven months o' facts - Serviceability and OTP of VIA's Ventures October 2024-May 2025
• VIA augments a Venture consist to eight units in July, 2025
• Ventures' On-Time Performance, published weekly November, 2024 to present
• Ventures Speed Reductions become CN Permanent Slow Orders - August, 2025

VIA has been dealing with what seems like improved serviceability of the Ventures, as well as some train and finally a smoother implementation process. Part 3 is now six months ago and this post picks up the implementation at the beginning of August, 2025. It will be a living post, with updates added regularly and perhaps being bookended when we finally, if ever, see complete implementation. Here's Doug Bardeau's current Venture Corridor rotation diagram, effective July 7, 2025:

AUGUST 2025 UPDATES

August 7 - Set 31 operated between Montreal and Ottawa reportedly as No 336. 

August 9: Set 12 operated as No 67. Departure delayed by three hours, 22 minutes today due to crew shortage. No crew could be found who could co-operate linguistically so No 67 (247) towed No 69 (64), potentially the longest VIA Venture train yet

The first week of August, starting August 3, saw 22 of 30 in-use sets observed in Corridor service, based on 75 planned and/or observed Venture-equipped trains, with Sets 2, 9, 10, 14, 18, 20, 24, 25 and 26 reported on one trip only. Not observed were Sets 1, 2, 4, 15, 19, 21, 25 and 27, Set 7 donated two cars to 'ajoutay' set 12, with Set 31 not yet in service and Set 32 mere days from being delivered.

August 15: VIA Nos 50 and 60 travelled separately. While both were originally intended to be Venture consists, No 60 was swapped to a 6-car LRC consist. The Metrolinx RTC arranged for 60 to pass 50 inside the USRC, preferable considering the crossing-related delays that 50 will incur later in its journey.

Also August 15:  No 71's HEP consist was replaced with a Venture set from due to A/C issues at Toronto.

August 19 - Set 31 was planned for No 54, perhaps its first revenue run, though this did not take place.

As part of its 2025 Annual Public Meeting, VIA Chair Jonathan Goldbloom commented on some of the challenges VIA currently faces. "Our real challenge has been our operating performance, in that we've seen a decline in our on-tie performance. We've seen a decline in passenger satisfaction, and we've seen a decline in our passenger volumes. A good part of that is due to the relationship with our host railway and restrictions that they placed on us. We have to deal with that and we are going to." When CEO Mario Peloquin abstractly referred to VIA trains trying to navigate around much larger freight trains, the Chair cut back in to say that VIA is in active conversation with CN and Transport Canada to find short-, medium- and long-term solutions. Peloquin also mentioned that in 2024, there was the entry to service of VIA's new Corridor fleet, with the entire Corridor served by the new trains.

The third week of August, starting August 17, saw 23 of 30 in-use sets observed in Corridor service, based on 78 planned and/or observed Venture-equipped trains, with Sets 4, 5, 16, 17 and 19 reported on one trip only. Not observed were Sets 1, 2, 21, 25 and 29; Sets 7 and 25 each donated two cars to 'ajoutay' sets 12 and 24 respectively; Sets 31 and 32 are not yet in service.

August 26 - No 631 operated Montreal-Ottawa with Set 23 deadheading to replace 37's equipment 'doublavay' with Set 31 on its final acceptance run. Earlier in the evening, Set 13 operating as No 37 broke down at Dorval around 1720 - this was the first time a single Charger locomotive had provided HEP and traction for a 'doublavay' train, with Set 8 operating as No 39.

August 28 - VIA tested another variation on the varied-length consist, consisting of the cornucopic casserole of leftovers from Sets 7 and 25 not used in the augmenting of Sets 12 and 24. This 'melangay' consist comprised 2207-2606-2806-2306-2324-2824-2624-2224, operating as VIA No 631 Montreal-Ottawa. Some VIA fans use the term "XS" to refer to this Crossing Supplement-skirting assemblage.

Pop-up Post: One Day in July 2025, Freight Cars

After a day trackside in the Greater Napanee area, I realized I had a greater number of photos than would fit in one post. A redundancy of rolling stock. A plethora of pictures. A surfeit of scenes. Therefore, I hereby present freight cars photographed on July 26, 2025 at Townline Road, east of Napanee and Vista Drive, west of Kingstonin this pop-up format. Each train's cars of note are listed by reporting marks and notes.

No 271 

CSX/TTGX 983533 with colourful graffiti (top photo) and 'patchwork' WRWK 300151:

TTGX 704022 Ferromex monster graffiti:

TTGX 694409 BOOG graffiti with a bonus Conrail:

No 368 

AIMX 20076 scrap metal bathtub gondola:

Ety bulkhead flats CEFX 816620-816617:

SPL flat SOXX 20501:

As mentioned in the pop-up post of train photos from this day, I caught four pairs of consecutives! Consecutive AITX 100008-100009:

Wheel flats CN 618076 and AOKX 44125:

CGAX 9361:

ubiquitous Irving lumber:

TTGX 953376 CANAS BOKS graffiti:

No 372

the first of morons GACX 2720:

GATX 12369-12368 consecutive (take my word for the left-hand one but it was consecutive!):

CRDX 20498 another MORON:

CMBX 101160 rusty scrap metal bathtub gondola:

RTAX 23048 and 23061 with aluminum ingot loads:

ONT boxcar 7762:

No 369 

Wheel flats CN 48961 and AOKX 44079:

Ex-Rock IC ?789001 covered hopper:

LATX covered hopper 7004:

IMR/RMI is a joint venture of ArcelorMittal and Triple M Metal. Scrap gondola IMRX 2377:

No 306 WFRX 320056 and 320062 formerly Gondola Connection:

Running extra...

Soldier first. Strathcona second. Female CAF member third. Viral internet sensation regardless. This Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) private is one of a large contingent that provided the King's Guard mounted at Horseguards Parade in London during an apparently scorchingly hot July. Uniforms were provided by the regimental association, horses by the Household Cavalry. But the sentries themselves were all-Canadian. Only the second Canadian unit after the RCMP, and the third to include female sentries. 

Watching now-hundreds of these videos on YouTube and elsewhere has become another hobby and a study in sociology! While the British sentries yell "Make way for the King's Guard!!" the Canadians rarely raised their voices. On occasion, one nudged his mount right or left to get closer to tourists staying outside the painted 'white box' that separates 'look at me!' instagrammers from soldiers on duty. At least three times, I saw a sentry pay respect to a veteran with a sword salute. One explained his medals. Most said quietly, "Move out of the white box". One said, "Outside of the box! Thank you."

This private was the only one who added "Please" each time - as in "Stay out of the white box, please." Hey, it's the internet so commenters gotta comment. But really - never appropriate to comment that she's not a real soldier/playing army/looks unhappy/suggesting physical reasons for that - resulted in a large number of return comments, thank goodness. 

There are other troopers in work uniforms nearby, as well as uniformed well-armed London Police to really deal with obnoxious tourists, and they often do. This is a ceremonial guard, and a Policeman with a full clip is much more of a guard to the Realm than a Canadian with a sword most unlikely to slash or run anyone through! But in all cases, no matter their gender(!), they have done themselves and their country proud over the past 125 years! Serving in all our country's wars from the Boer War to Afghanistan, the regiment's motto 'Perseverance' is second only to Lord Strathcona's original suggestion, 'Craigellachie'. Hmmm, heard that one somewhere before...

First past the post...

My good wife convinced our granddaughter to pose with me in front of CPR 1095 'The Spirit of Sir John A' across from City Hall today. She also took the photo. We took in a stories-and-songs kids' session in the City Hall amphitheatre then visited with the ducks and geese at Confederation Basin. I wonder what a two year-old thinks of this big, black 112 year-old (whose renovation and relocation was paid for by us Kingston taxpayers and with significant volunteer involvement)?!