Black & White VIA Photography

While working on my second VIA Rail book, I was fortunate to have access to the photo collection of Brian Schuff.  Brian and I have quite a few things in common: we both railfanned in Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.  We are both VIAphiles, with an interest in VIA's early years, and we're both of a similar vintage, though I am slightly older but likely no wiser.    Brian is in Winnipeg, I'm in Kingston, and though he's not 'online' yet, hopefully Santa will help him with that.  Once Brian knew I was working on a VIA Rail project, he graciously sent photos, in abundance.  While the book is in its final production stages, I'd like to share some photos from Brian's collection, most of which he took himself.  These are photos you may not have seen before, and won't see in my book, so I hope you find viewing them as enjoyable as I did.  One more thing...these are all black & white, and many show VIA blue & yellow. 

VIA F40PH-2 6401 was one of the first of the new units VIA purchased for transcontinental service to reach Winnipeg, shown here inside and out in February, 1987.  Notice the initial VIA pure paint scheme - thin blue stripe, small Canadian flag, and an absence of garish politically-inspired 'Canada' wordmarks and large, waving flags that were applied later.

In contrast, only four months sooner, Brian caught No 2 at Kenora, with some old-school VIA motive power: ditchlight-equipped and MU hatch-open ex-CN FP9 6530 in the lead, on October 4, 1986.  Usually at home in the Corridor, 6530 and other higher-numbered passenger units found their way west, as VIA's motive power squeeze reached its most precarious time, just before the delivery of the new units.  By 1995, 6530 was on its way to the Ohio Central Railroad.  Behind an E-series sleeper, one of CP's former Park cars brings up the rear:

CP sent its RDC fleet to VIA, and these were also rebuilt to match the ex-CN RDC's.  I really wanted to learn more about the fate of CP's passenger fleet, and I was able to amass lots of useful material on CP's RDC's, E-units, F-units and smooth-sided coaches and baggage cars that VIA inherited (but didn't always use), for my second VIA book.  VIA also rebuilt CN RDC's.  Brian photographed rebuilt ex-CN RDC3 6351 as RDC-2 6225 undergoing maintenance at Toronto's Spadina Shops.

This CN RDC did not fare as well.  CN RDC-4 6451 is shown at Winnipeg's Transcona yard on December 29, 1986.  After a collision in 1969, 6451 had been at CN's Fort Rouge terminal since 1972, and was in no condition to go to VIA.  Brian caught it in the company of ex-CN equipment and other ex-VIA equipment in 1986.  (Another RDC-4 that did go to VIA, 6453 was out of VIA service about the same time.)  Notice the shop freight trucks:

Grant Anderson photographed CN SD40-2 5724 assisting VIA's Canadian at Winnipeg in June, 1986.  CP could always be counted on to help VIA, and there are photos in Brian's collection showing a wide variety of CP motive power rescuing VIA: Centuries, road switchers (both RS' and Geeps), SD's, you name it!  I find these rescue movements fascinating, and I was able to uncover several pages' worth of them.  Of course CN had their share too.

This is my favourite shot from the entire collection, although you'll only see it here, not in my second VIA book.  On May 20, 1985 two ex-CP eastbound units meet a third ex-CP westbound unit in Winnipeg, heading for the wye at Portage Jct. on CN's freight line.  Having been on this platform, I can smell the diesel exhaust.  I can hear the characteristic GM idle.  I can feel the wooden platform under my feet, as well as the warmth of the setting prairie sun as it throws its long shadows.  Looking down the track, I see Winnipeg's Warehouse District skyline rising in the distance.  Hey, is that the throb of an approaching CN grain drag with three SD's I hear?

Running extra...

A round trip to Toronto this week on VIA Nos 651 and 48 found both trains well-patronized, likely the result of VIA's recent 50% sale.  Our morning arrival at Toronto Union included a plethora of GO trains and one of the last Northlander consists, facing east on the next track behind two ONR Geeps: 1809-1800-202-604-615-612-703.  The ONR train's last run was Friday.  I had an enjoyable trip in 1994 to Timmins, where I took in a work-related convention and a scintillating performance by what one participant called 'TheTimmins Ballet'.  Truly memorable, and the trip (not the dancing) will be the subject of an upcoming post.

Some dog in Saskatoon caused a house fire by turning on the stove when the owner was out.  Too bad the owner hadn't trained Rex to operate the fire extinguisher.  Meanwhile, Canadian pizza-makers are smuggling subsidized U.S. cheese over the border to increase their profit margin.  And some bad, cheesy cops are involved, to the tune of $200,000! I never really thought about it, but apparently 80% of the cost of a pizza is in the cheese.  Grate, just grate! 

Speaking of  stupid pet tricks and small-town news, David Letterman is finally getting the recognition he deserves, to go along with his multi-million-dollar annual salary.  It's about time.  The Kennedy Center Honors will include Dave on December 2, to be broadcast December 26.  I wonder who will be his 'sponsors'...Bill Murray? Newsmen Dan Rather and Brian Williams? Former staffers like Chris Eliot? Paul Shaffer - of course.  Bermuda!!  And don't forget Canada's Walk of Fame honorees, including the incomparable Randy Bachman, to be broadcast by Global TV October 14.  Set that P-VR now!