Wednesday, November 30, 2022
The Report that Hatched Buffer Cars
Thursday, November 24, 2022
Invista Outbound Cars & Derailment
- SRLX Southern Rail Leasing
- PLCX General Electric Rail Services, formerly Pullman Car Leasing until 1986
- UTCX Union Tank Car Company
- INVX Invista
- ACFX General Electric Rail Services, formerly American Car & Foundry until 1997
Running extra...
- Nov. 27 Houghs/Disney (ABC)
- Nov. 29 Michael Buble (NBC)
- Nov. 30 Rockettes and Kelly Clarkson (NBC)
- Dec. 1 Dolly Parton (NBC)
- Dec. 8 CMA Christmas (ABC)
- Dec. 11 Tree-Lighting (CBS)
- Dec. 13 Mormon Tabernacle Choir (PBS)
- Dec. 20 Mariah Carey (CBS)
- Dec. 23 The Grove (CBS)
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Manitoba Western Railway Layout, 1984
- Rivers Subdivision - most of the main line and Portage yard inside the right end of the dogbone
- Glenboro - the three-bridge embankment
- Carman - inside the left end of the dogbone
- Gladstone - addition under the beer bottles
- Winnipeg Terminals -final stub-ended yard addition
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Buffer Cars in the News
On November 9, reporter for the Quebec media newspaper network Le Soleil Gilles Gagne published this article. I was pleased to collaborate with Gilles. He was knowledgeable about the issue, and I was able to provide some additional information and context. This article is an important step forward in bringing the issue forward to a wider audience of not only rail enthusiasts, but passengers and taxpayers. Since the article is from the Le Soleil webpage with its limited number of available views, and originally published in French, I've translated and reproduced it here with permission. What follows is the published French version translated to English. Light edits that I made for clarity are in [brackets].
Monday, November 7, 2022
Postscript: Buffer Cars Added to VIA HEP Trains
Not to worry. Due to excellent sources and various online reports, Trackside Treasure can continue to publish updated information on just what's going on! Watch for updates to this post, which will not concentrate on cars in use, but will instead focus on testing and subsequent steps after the first three weeks of this disturbing debacle.
The Transport Canada Rail Safety order requires testing of four cars, though it seems that one car of each type (baggage, coach, diner, Chateau, Manor, and dome) may be tested. These will likely be cars that are out of service for various reasons, including mechanical issues. The cars will be moved from Toronto or Montreal Maintenance Centres (TMC and MMC) to CAD Railway Industries in Lachine for stripping, thence sent to the National Research Council facility in Ottawa for strength testing, to be completed by January 31, 2023 per the order. There is speculation that cars already at CAD will be sent. But Strathcona Park and 4006(?) have been there for some time, the former with loose fixtures and equipment inside, and the latter with boarded-up windows. They don't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon! These were, in fact, never intended for stripping and testing, having been at CAD before the buffer-car issue arose.
NOVEMBER 6 UPDATE: Rumours have been flying over the past three days about an impending move of cars out of VIA maintenance centres for testing. Perhaps one source can't be deemed reliable, but triangulation and confirmation sure helps. Two shrink-wrapped cars arrived in Ottawa's Walkley Yard around 0630 today. The cars, a coach and a sleeper, appear to have underframe equipment removed.
The move from CAD to MMC took place on the afternoon of Saturday, November 5. 'Love the way' wrapped VIA 6420 led the two cars - Chateau Richelieu and coach 8138. The train arrived in Ottawa's Walkley Yard around 0630 today. Chateau Richelieu was one of the cars stranded in Churchill in 2017 and not reported in service since, and 8138 has not been reported in service since early-2021. On the tail-end was Chateau Laval. Operating as Extra 627 between Montreal and Ottawa, the unit and Chateau Laval were observed on an east-side stub-end track at Ottawa Union Station the day after. It's interesting that the Montreal-Ottawa movement was made at night, similar to some of the early Siemens trainset testing!
Cue the railfan rumour mill/conspiracy theorists, "What the **** is VIA hiding?!", asked one.) Well, interestingly, it turns out the AEI car reader tags from the two cars had also been removed. Though the locomotive and trailing car registered on CN's AEI reader at Coteau at 0438 on November 6, the wrapped cars did not - only that two four-axle cars were mid-train. (Though tarped, the tarps would not impede the radio signals.) There are no AEI readers between Coteau and Ottawa, nor between Ottawa and Brockville, so there is no record of these movements in and out of Walkley Yard.
NOVEMBER 8 UPDATE: Two baggage cars and a diner are expected to travel from Montreal to Ottawa on the 9th for subsequent NRC testing.
NOVEMBER 10 UPDATE: Gilles Gagne' of Le Soleil news network in Quebec has just published this this investigative article. In it, Gilles lists the detailed questions has asked of VIA Rail, for which he received no answer. Gilles also reports [translation from French] the discovery of a crack of a few centimeters very close to the trucks, the assembly including the wheels, at a place where the stainless steel was welded to the steel atop the upper part of the trucks.
DECEMBER 20 UPDATE: Inquiries to the National Research Council regarding VIA car names/numbers undergoing testing elicited this response: "Thank you for your interest, but due to a non-disclosure agreement, which is commonplace with our clients, the NRC is not in a position to share details about the research. The details of the research and testing are the property of the client. For more information, please contact VIA Rail directly." An inquiry to VIA Rail, already keeping the lid tightly closed on the informational cookie-jar, would likely result in a similar NDA-centred response. An email inquiring about the Access To Information request process was replied to by a VIA Legal Affairs paralegal - fifteen days after it was sent.
DECEMBER 27 UPDATE #1: A coach in the 'D&H' scheme, a Chateau (possibly Ch. Roberval?) as well as 8517, Strathcona Park and Waterton Park were noted at CAD by Mark Charlebois today. Mark kindly shared these outside-the-fence photos:
Other cars previously noted at CAD and/or part of the NRC testing 'rumour mill':
- Strathcona Park with only emergency, dome and bathroom windows. Moved from VIA's MMC, where it had been since spring 2020, (as was Revelstoke Park, also at MMC), to CAD. Strathcona Park disappeared from public view in early January!
- Business Class car 4006 in the (grey) "D&H" scheme, on the same track as Strathcona Park.
- Coach 8126.
DECEMBER 27 UPDATE #2: It is now expected that no further cars are to be tested, only VIA 8138 and Chateau Richelieu. This is based on the Transport Canada order for VIA to conduct a static compression test of at least two unrepaired HEP cars. Or to put it another way, two.
JANUARY 6 UPDATE: A reply concerning early testing reults, from an anonymous industry source, as posted to social media:
JANUARY 15/23 UPDATE: An RDC-2 took the place of Strathcona Park in the CAD yard, with 8517 and Waterton Park still visible.
JANUARY 27 UPDATE: Following the Access To Information request I submitted to VIA Rail, this response was provided: "VIA Rail train cars #8222 and #8138 were prepared and shipped to the National ResearchCouncil on November 6, 2022." Although I continue to hear rumours and opinions that more cars are to be tested, I'm satisfied with this response. This process will work well, and I will submit another request upon the emergence of concrete proof of additional cars being sent for testing.
Also on January 27, and just four short days before the mandatory Transport Canada reporting date of the structural testing, VIA released a Notice of Market Consultation, stating in part, "VIA Rail intends to renew its existing long distance regional and remote fleet by selecting a supplier to design, manufacture, test, supply, deliver and commission cars and motive power and ancillary equipment (on-board and offboard) with a prescribed capacity of car types (seated coaches, sleeper, diners, multi-purpose, baggage) through an open competitive procurement process (the “Long Distance Regional and Remote Fleet Renewal Project”).
VIA Rail will proceed with pre-procurement activities regarding its Long Distance Regional and Remote Fleet Renewal Project. As part of these pre-procurement activities, VIA Rail intends to engage in consultations with motive power and rolling stock manufacturers to solicit feedback on VIA Rail’s proposed technical specifications, maintenance’s scope of work as well as commercial & contractual related terms."
* * * * *
I'm publishing this post on November 7, which some have termed National Railway Day. On this date, 137 years ago the CPR was completed with the driving of the Last Spike at Craigellachie, BC. Those builders and pioneers could scarcely have imagined the changes brought to Canada's railways since!
Top photo - screen capture showing VIA Extra 627 at Walkley Yard, from Twitter video posted by @MattPinder1 Beyond the Automobile
Friday, November 4, 2022
VIA 9300's and 9400's
Four baggage-coach cars, 9300-9303 were converted in 1984 from 1954-built ex-CN CC&F coaches. (Number of coach seats and length of baggage section unknown.)
Spotting features: prominent roof hatch. Window-door arrangement was: six full-size windows-small window-baggage door.
New and previous numbers, eventual disposition:
- 9300 ex-5653, cafe coach lounge 3016 from 1964-72, cafe bar lounge 2511 from 1972-84, to Les Trains Touristique St-Laurent, May 1995, to Waterloo-St Jacob's Rly in 1997.
- 9301 ex-5608, cafe coach lounge 3015 from 1964-72, cafe bar lounge 2508 from 1972-84, sold to Ontario government/ONR, leased to Algoma Central, 1990.
- 9302 ex-5535, Dayniter 5710 from 1972-84, sold to Ontario government/ONR, leased to Algoma Central, 1990.
- 9303 ex-5475, Dayniter 5723 from 1972-84, sold to BC Rail, January 1997.
- Sep 16/85 9301 WB
- Jun 13/86 9303 EB
- Jun 18/86 9302 EB
- Jul 5/86 9300 WB
VIA 9400's
CN (later VIA) 9475-9488 comprised 14 baggage-dormitory cars, each with a baggage section and 14 roomettes.
Built for New York Central in 1948 by Pullman-Standard as 22-roomette cars, the cars were bought by CN in 1959 and renamed the Val-series. Eight of the roomettes at the non-vestibule end were replaced by baggage space by CN in 1973 and renumbered into the high 9400-series. All were transferred to VIA in March, 1978 with some still in service in 1990, but all stored by 1992.
Spotting features included roof weld lines. Window-door arrangement was: vestibule door-seven full-size windows- then six-foot baggage door.
New numbers with previous numbers and names, eventual disposition:
- 9475 ex-2070 Val St Patrice (Sleeper Car Line, June 1995)
- 9476 ex-2054 Valcartier (Ontario Northland, November 1983)
- 9477 ex 2065 Valjean (Pacific Railcar Services, San Bruno, CA June 1992)
- 9478 ex-2066 Valois (L Smith/Rail Voyages Ltd, Washington DC, 1990)
- 9479 ex-2067 Valparaiso (Nashville, TN June 1995)
- 9480 ex-2068 Valpoy (L Smith/Rail Voyages Ltd, Washington DC, 1990)
- 9481 ex-2074 Val St Michel (scrapped 1995)
- 9482 ex-2053 Val Brillant (Halton Cty Radial Ry, January 1997)
- 9483 ex-2057 Val D'Amour (Uncommon Journeys, California, August 1995)
- 9484 ex-2060 Val Douchet, off roster by 1988
- 9485 ex-2061 Valhalla, off roster by 1988
- 9486 ex-2069 Valrita (Global Comms, Williamston, MI, Blue Water Chapter NRHS 1983)
- 9487 ex-2071 Val Gagne (Mountain Vista Railtour Services, July 1990)
- 9488 ex-2073 Val Rose (Mountain Vista Railtour Services, July 1990)
In Service: The 9400's saw widespread use with VIA. From 1976-89, CN practice was followed with 9400's used on Nos 11/14/15/16/17 in the Maritimes, and Nos 9/10 to Prince Rupert. In 1985, 9478 was on No 73 at Windsor. In 1986, 9476 made it to Churchill. In 1989, 9475 was on No 8 at Hornepayne. In 1990, 9482 was on VIA No 107 at Capreol, and 9481 was on No 1 at Jasper.
I took some photos on my trip between Jasper and Prince Rupert in 1985 with 9487 ahead of me. No 5’s consist at Edmonton: 6514-9487-5512-752-and two E-series sleepers.
My observations at: date, car, train, location:
- Dec 30/79 9483, Christmas rush, Kingston
- Jan 1/80 9483 Christmas rush, Kingston
- Jun 13/80 9478 Winnipeg
- Oct 26/80 9475, 9481 Wpg
- Aug 22/81 9480 on my No 3, off Capreol
- Jun 10/82 9477, 9480, 9483 Wpg
- Jun 22/82 9481 on No 109 Portage
- Jun 24/82 9477, 9479 Wpg
- May 24/84 9481 Wpg
- Jun 4/84 9475 first No 3/5 Portage (below)
- Jun 5/84 9488 No 3/5 Portage
- Jun 6/84 9477 No 3/5 Portage
- Jun 7/84 9482 Wpg
- Sep 27/84 9480 Royal Train Kingston (above)
- May 24/85 9480 No 1/55 Kingston
- Sep 17/85 9477 No 7 Wpg
- Sep 23/85 9486 Edmonton
- Sep 27/85 9477 Wpg
- Sep 30/85 9482 No 107 Wpg
Disposition:
Ex-VIA 9479 and Clearwater River are land-locked in Nashville, TN wearing dark grey with blue striping.
Running extra...
As you may have noticed, I'm trying out some new titles for this blog, to make it more hip and relevant to the online crowd. So far I've tried iTrackside Treasure and Trackside Treasure Tok. Watch for more....maybe even a Trackside Treasure Twit!
The first quasi-revenue run of the new Siemens trainset departed Montreal for Montreal on October 18. The youtube video shows a few interior views as well as some of the fields and fall colours! I'm not sure if these were VIA employees or not, but I didn't see or hear any toddlers or old people, so I think so.
Rail Fair Kingston, hosted by the Associated Railroaders of Kingston and last held in 2019, drew healthy crowds including your humble blogger. Though I picked up many items at Bob Farquhar's table, I missed this one, which appeared later among some of the remaining items - Walthers' Red Wing Milling!