VIA's ex-CP Canadian Cars - Scrapped!

In September 1978, CP transferred 169 cars of its 173 Budd-built Canadian fleet to VIA. The following scrapped cars were no longer on CP's active passenger roster at the time of the transfer to VIA:

• CP 3011 and 3014 scrapped by CP after being damaged in a washout in Terrace Bay, ON on April 17, 1965 (top photo) along with U-series tourist sleeper 'Upton' and locomotives 1401-1906 which became parts sources for CP GP-35's! Reports of  crew operating through 10 mph slow order for the previous washout at track speed.
  
• 128 scrapped by CP after being damaged in a rockslide near Revelstoke, Clanwilliam, BC on August 26, 1968. Thanks to Bruce Chapman for sharing a fascinating clipping of this unfortunate incident:
  
• Fundy Park retired after collision at Gull Lake, SK in August, 1959 

Included in the transfer were Glacier Park, Revelstoke Park and Yoho Park, all of which had been stored at Glen Yard in the early 1970's, after normal wear-and-tear and minor accidents. The three were used as part sources for other Park cars - subsequently returned to service by VIA.

VIA retired some of the Budd-built cars in the mid-80's, reportedly during a 'house-cleaning'. Perhaps a 'yard-cleaning' would be a more appropriate term:

• 114 retired by VIA in 1980's, for parts in Winnipeg as of 1984, observed through Ottawa, still in CP colours, on a CN freight in April 26, 1986.
• 508 in CP Rail colours in Montreal 1977 wrecked in Telford, MB on train No 2 in September, 1976, transferred unserviceable to VIA in March, 1978. Deep in Pointe St Charles yard in November 1981, retired 1982, coupled to Dayliners 905x at the end of a track, still sidelined for parts in Montreal as of 1984, at Pointe St Charles in June 1985, scrapped in late 1980's. Thanks to Dave Chalmers for corroborating the above information.

• 603 damaged in rockslide near Revelstoke, BC in 1970's, retired for parts in Montreal as of 1984. Winnipeg's Mike Lisowski recalls 603 being moved through Winnipeg still in CP Rail colours, approximately 1985, for scrapping at Mandak Metals.
• diners Alhambra, Cartier and Selkirk received unserviceable from CP, not operated by VIA. The three diners were sold to VIA based on their depreciated book value, with no allowances for condition or lack of parts. One or more of the diners was kept as stationary dining car training at the Glen (per Earl Roberts). Selkirk was reported at Glen Yard in 1975-76 with corner damage, and parts removed were tagged for replacement if the car ever re-entered service. Due to reduced need for CP diners in the pre-VIA era, this was unlikely! A 1976 Phil Mason photo at the Glen shows Cartier, with another diner visible and two Park cars - Glacier Park has a broken dome window and all cars are covered with snow! This 1977 view shows a diner at the Glen. Cartier and Selkirk were still at Pointe St Charles shops in June, 1985. All three diners were sold for scrap in 1985.

Three Park cars were not included in the Head End Power rebuilding program, retired in autumn, 2001:

• Algonquin Park, sold to Luxury Rail Car/Bill Harman in 2004.
• Riding Mountain Park, sold to Harry S Purnell/Adrian & Blissfield RR in 2004, then sold to the Fort Wayne Railroad History Society in November, 2022.
• Sibley Park, moved to the Canadian Railway Museum in St-Constant, QC in August, 2004.

The three unrebuilt domes, photographed at Ottawa 1996 where they were stored from October 1993 to December 1998 (railpictures.ca photo) from left to right: Riding Mountain Park, Sibley Park and Algonquin Park:

The demise of CP 508 - photographed in a Quebec City-area scrap yard in August 1987, John Godfrey photo:

This photo shows CP Dayliner 9020, held for parts until scrapping in 1985, and look behind it - a diner! With other ex-CN equipment and a wrecked dome. Pointe St Charles, Pierre Fournier railpictures photo:

The following Budd-built cars in VIA service were retired by VIA over the last 40 years:

• 513, 617 scrapped after Hinton, AB derailment in February, 1986.
• Aylmer Manor retired due to fire damage in Toronto''s TMC, January 1987. Hulk used in HEP conversion project.
• 8111, 8115, 8121, 8607, Champlain, Dufferin Manor damaged in the Biggar, SK derailment on September 3, 1997, most retired April, 1998 then scrapped, except 8111-8121 which were retired in September 2001.
• 8514 damaged by fire in Halifax, NS on December 22, 1997 and stored, scrapped for parts after donating some to 8503 to repair damage sustained in the Stewiacke, NS derailment on April 12, 2001.
• Wascana was cut up on site after the Stewiacke, NS derailment.
• 8605 has not operated since the Togo Sub derailment on the Churchill line in 2013.
• Chateau Richelieu, 8138 and Waterton Park were compression-tested at NRC, Ottawa in 2022-23.
• Chateau Rouville, 8618, Stuart Manor, Alexandra, Strathcona Park, and 8505 were tear-down tested at CAD, Lachine in 2022-23.

Photos taken during a tour of VIA's MMC in 2003 by Claudette Cousineau and posted to social media show two cars on shop trucks (above) one of which is a Park car. Coupled to VIA 6309 is diner Champlain (and a Manor car?) also on shop trucks:

Earl Roberts kindly added that VIA 8610 and 8136 (ex-NYC 2919) were damaged in a logging truck collision in McKay, AB in January, 2005, with 8136 being retired. Hey -  this could be a follow-up post - VIA's ex-CP Canadian cars - Bent-Crashed-Damaged! Here's VIA 8610 (Peter Mumby photo) on CN flat car 639941 passing through Belleville, ON:

Running extra...

Speaking of vintage VIA, here's a video showing a ride across Canada in 1989. Lo and behold, at the 7:00 minute mark, we see a familiar face. It's John Cowan!

It's been awhile since I've posted anything in Running Extra from the world of entertainment. But enough about US politics! Thank goodness that President Obama is keeping it classy - tonight's CNN Presidential Town Hall at Fort Lee, VA. If you have a short attention span like me, just watch the first 7 seconds where the Commander-in-Chief walks in and the military audience just keeps on standing up.

Speaking of keeping it classy, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are touring BC and Yukon. Their childrens' only public appearance is to be a tea party with Prince George and Princess Charlotte meeting children of military families. Children, remain seated!