Saturday, January 10, 2009

Postscript: VIA Cavalier Consists 1979-1987


The Cavaliers featured interesting and sometimes crazy consists, with a caveat - one had to be nocturnal to enjoy them. With a leisurely schedule (compare 7 hrs 55 mins to the Turbo's 4 hrs 30 mins in 1980), the Cavaliers meandered along the Kingston Sub. Nos 58 and 59 often deadheaded equipment, and hauled CN and VIA private cars on the tail-end. It was not uncommon for the trains to be met at Kingston station by police cars and/or ambulances, likely due to a combination of the late hour, alcohol and whatever transpired before boarding the train at 2335!

Here are a few Cavalier consists, from 1979 to 1987, all VIA paint scheme except as noted:

March 22, 1979
0307 EB

6775
6632
9670
Manitou (stainless steel)
5423 (CN)
5217
5531
5284 (CN)
3033
5733
Fortune Bay
Edmunston
GHM-1 (Private car)

October 3, 1981
0303 EB

6521
9673
5481
3035
5726
Fortune Bay
Chateau Latour
Riverlea
Riverside (CN)

February 23, 1986
0308 EB

6781
6862
5652
5495
2510
5719
Chateau Lemoyne
Enterprise
96

March 23, 1986
0316 EB

9401 (CN)
15461
118
5622
750
5719
Chateau Lemoyne
Erickson

March 30. 1986
0455 WB

4220 (CN)
9412 (CN)
SGU
5488
5452
5622
750
5719
Chateau ?
Excelsior

March 31, 1986
0315 E

9317 (CN)
15405
Endako
5487
5488
5452
5622
750
5719
Chateau Lemoyne
Excelsior
Chateau Jolliet
6907 (dead)

November 8, 1986
0305 EB

6760
15456
Erickson
5441
5533
3032
Elgin
Glace Bay
9639
15205

November 13, 1986
0255 EB

6771
6631
15430
2510
2512
Edmonton
5441
5474
3039
Ellerslie
Glace Bay
9653

December 15, 1986
0256 EB

6553
6510
Ethelbert
5516
5441
5474
3039
Ellerslie
Fortune Bay
Chateau Vercheres
9639
15165 Tawaw

March 5, 1987
0300 EB

6408
6652
Elrose
5603
5497
3033
Everett
Glace Bay
9648

Running Extra:

Are you a fan of the Greater Winnipeg Water District? I recently came across some mind-boggling photos on rrpicturearchives.net, in Vern Wigfield's collection. Check out the amazing assortment of equipment used on this line, which ensures Winnipeg's water supply:
http://tinyurl.com/7rr5om

If you're interested in Manitoba railways, scroll down a bit more, past my list of VIA car types, and click on that purple button to join a YahooGroup devoted to flatland ferroequinology of all eras. Conducted by CN hogger Mark Perry, this lively group averages 200 purely prairie messages monthly.

4 comments:

Canadian Train Geek said...

I love the GWWD! I have some photos from a few years ago that I'll have to put online.

Thanks for the tip about MB-SKrails. I'll have to join that.

Eric said...

Hi Steve, it's a unique shortline with a unique purpose. I like it so much that I decalled a Bachmann 44-tonner GWWD. Re: Yahoo, please do join us. There's a good range of modern to vintage MB-SK info on the group. Peter Lacey, author of "The Muskeg Limited", a book about the GWWD is a group member. Thanks for stopping by!
Eric

jddc.trains said...

A coworker of mine who is good friends with Peter Lacey, just today lent me a copy of his book to look at. She helped with the typing of the manuscripts. I've only skimmed through it this evening, and it looks interesting. I intend to read it in more detail this weekend.

Cheers,

Jason

Eric said...

It's a great book Jason, and it's always great to have the opportunity to see more of Canada's rail diversity, such as the GWWD. Enjoy the read!
Eric