VIA Trains - Rescued!

In a previous post, I highlighted VIA trains that I'd observed being rescued by CN and CP units. In this post, I'll profile many, many more VIA trains that were recorded as being rescued in a similar fashion, all across Canada! Presented without photos, or any commentary, I'll let these OS's speak for themselves. In the above linked post, I included all the rescue trains I'd photographed. (Top photo - taken on December 27, 1983 by Bill McArthur from the Dan Dell'Unto collection on Railpictures dot ca, shared with permission from Dan.)

The paucity of pre-1982 rescues probably pertains predominantly to the non-prevalent practice of jotting down and sharing of consists in print. In the next ensuing years, VIA's first-generation inherited power was getting older, and rail enthusiasts were sharing rescue consists. In late 1986, VIA began taking delivery of its new 6400's, which immeasurably helped locomotive reliability and allowed VIA to selectively sideline some of its sickly cab units. The progression through perilously paltry post-1990 recorded rescues pertains predominantly to CN and CP expecting VIA to often send out its own rescue locomotives except if otherwise dictated by extraordinary emergency exigencies! 

This is not intended to be an all-time or exhaustive compilation. VIA rescue train listings include the following if known: date, rescuing and rescued original locomotives, VIA train number, location observed or portion of run rescued, and any remarks. 

Pre-1982

• Jan/77 - CP FP7A 4031 rescued No 45 Eng VIA 6791 at Smiths Falls, to Toronto.
• May 13/80 - CP 5825 led No 2 into Calgary with 1962‐CP 8516
• Jan 5/81 - CP 5519 rescued the Canadian 6535-6569, observed at Ottawa 10 hours late.
• Sep/81 - CP 1811 rescued the eastbound Canadian 6798-6627, observed at Ottawa.

1982

• Jan 4/82 - CN 4587 from Kitchener rescued No 668 CN Eng 3103 after auto collision.
• Mar 25/82 - CN 4415 rescued No 660 Stratford to Toronto 6135‐6100‐6005‐6006‐6209.
• May 4/82 - CN 5041 rescued 6917-seven LRC cars-6918, observed at Kingston.

• May 25/82 - CN 2529 rescued No 1/55 6539-6625-CN3115, observed at Kingston.
• July 1982 - CN 3668 rescued No 63, observed at Kingston.
• Aug 5/82 - CN 9583 rescued No 1/55 6900-6625-6863, observed at Kingston.
• Aug 13/82 - CN 3716 rescued No 45 just west of Ottawa.
• Aug 21/82 - CP 8526 led No 197 VIA 6125 after collision with livestock between South Edmonton and Calgary.
• Sep 16/82 - CN 2043 rescued the LRC consist of No 33 east of Ottawa, continuing to Toronto as No 45.
• Thanksgiving/82 - GMD-1’s 1901-1902 led No 22’s LRC consist between Montreal and Ste Foy, QC.
• Nov/82 - CN 3735 rescued No 37 VIA 6900-SGU-four blue & yellow cars from Coteau to Ottawa.
• Dec 27/82 - VIA 6767 rescued No 83 VIA 6900-LRC consist Toronto-Sarnia. 
• Dec 27/82 - CN 3769 rescued No 19 VIA 6760 east of Drummondville, QC.

1983

• Apr 7/83 - CN 25xx from CN No 318 added to VIA No 45’s LRC consist at Kingston.
• Sep 11/83 - CP 8732 rescued No 1 VIA 6523 Sudbury- Winnipeg.
• Dec 27/83 - CN 4120 rescued eastbound train led by VIA 6911 through Hamilton West (top photo).

1984

• Jan 9/84 - CN 4100 rescued No 46.
• Jan 27/84 - CP 5552 rescued No 2 VIA 6502 into Toronto.
• Mar 11/84 - CN 2322 rescued No 74, 6 cars 6528 bad‐order.
• Mar 18/84 - CP 5563 led No 2 into Winnipeg.
• Aug 8/84 - CP 5502 rescued No 2 VIA 6505, Sicamous, BC to Calgary.
• Aug 17/84 - CN 3223 led No 68.
• Sep 18/84 - CN 3115 was leading No 43. Rescued by CN SW1200RS 1307 after failing west of Ottawa.
• Nov 7/84 - CN 3121 led No 46 after VIA 6901 had headlight problems.
• Dec 6/84 - VIA 6763 rescued failed VIA 6929 on No 46.

1985

• Jan 10/85 - CN 4401 rescued No 37 CN 4361, between Coteau and Ottawa.
• Jan 13/85 - CN 1305 rescued No 44 VIA 6786 after an engine room fire.
• Feb 13/85 - CN 4417 rescued No 36 VIA 6779.
• Feb 14/85 - CN 3643 rescued No 37 CN 3118 at Lachine.
• Feb 15/85 - CN 3737 rescued CN 3123 at Coteau.
• Mar 9/85 - CN 1242 and a sister unit rescued No 56, leading Oshawa, ON to Montreal.
• Mar 10/85 - CP 4500 rescued the Canadian, leading into Toronto.
• Apr 22/85 - CN 3119 rescued No 37 and its failed CN 4362.
• May/85 - CP 3037 led the Canadian VIA 6305-6309 into Vancouver.
• May 31/85 - CN 3726 rescued No 31’s freshly-rebuilt VIA 6314 at Coteau.
• Jun 8/85 - VIA 6763 rescued No 45 VIA 6902 at Ottawa.
• Aug 4/85 - CP 5903 rescued No 4 VIA 6309, leading east from Coquitlam, BC.
• Aug 8/85 - CP 4713 rescued No 2 VIA 6788 west of Ottawa.
• Sep 1/85 - CN 4302 rescued No 45 VIA 6922, returning the train from Wass to Otttawa station. 
• Sep 16/85 - CP 8783 rescued No 2 VIA 6790. 
• Sep 19/85 CP 1823 rescued No 2 VIA 6502.
• Sep 20/85 - CN 1300 led No 44 Brockville-Ottawa, then No 38 Ottawa-Montreal, since no VIA unit was available at Brockville, having been previously borrowed to power a westbound to Toronto.
• Oct 11/85 - CN 4484 rescued No 37 VIA 6924 from Maxville to Ottawa, arriving three hours late. On CP’s Brockville Sub, 6924 died a second time. This time, CP 8679 rescued the train, returned the consist to Smiths Falls, then led the now-empty cars to Toronto.
• Oct 12/85 - CN 4496 rescued No 46 VIA 6771 at Brockville.
• Dec 10/85 - CP 4215 rescued No 2 VIA 6557. 
• Dec 13/85 - CP 8750 rescued No 2.
• Dec 19/85 - CN 4365 from Ottawa’s Walkley Yard rescued No 43.

1986 

• Jan/86 - CP 8785 rescued No 1, replacing damaged VIA 6774 west of Ottawa.
• Jan 14/86 - No 40 VIA 6905 had frozen brakes at Brockville. CN 2580 led the emptied consist on January 15 as a passenger extra between Ottawa and Montreal.
• Feb 2/86 - CP 1828 rescued No 2 west of Ottawa.
• Feb 21/86 - CP 1819 rescued No 2 at Ottawa.
• Mar 28/86 - CN 3124 from London rescued No 74 CN Eng 9316 Glencoe‐Toronto.
• Mar-Apr/86 - Rescue units on VIA trains at Ottawa: Mar 19 CP 4201; Mar 23 CN 3735; Apr 1 CN 3100; Apr 5 CN 4394; Apr 18 CN 4530.
• May 2/86 - CP (Expo) 5614‐CP 6032 rescued No 2 east from Vancouver.
• Jun 15/86 - CN SD50AF 9900 rescued No 14 in Moncton NB.
• Mid‐1986 - CP pulldown units 1200‐1246 rescued Havelock‐Toronto RDC 6127 near CP's Toronto yard.
• Jun 23/86 - CN 5082 rescued No 78 Eng 6516.
• Jul 27/86 - CP 8758 rescued the westbound Atlantic’s two VIA MLW units and 14 cars.
• Aug 4/86 - CP 4202 rescued No 2 into Ottawa.
• Aug/86 - Rescue units on VIA trains at Thunder Bay, ON: Aug 8 CP 5629; Aug 9 CP 5015; Aug 10 CP 1832.
• Aug 10/86 - CP 4231 rescued No 2 into Ottawa.
• Sep 21/86 - CN 5128 rescued VIA 6911, Alexandria, ON to Ottawa.
• Sep 22/86 - CP 3132 rescued No 10 6550‐6623 into Toronto.
• Nov‐86 - Rescue units on VIA trains at Thunder Bay, ON: Nov 14 CP 5951; Nov 21 CP 8792; Nov 24 CP 8766; Nov 25 CP 5525.
• Dec 28/86 - VIA 6530 rescued No 46 at Ottawa after 6400 died, while leading 6918 and 5 LRC cars out of Ottawa.

1987

• Jan 21/87 - CP 4216 rescued No 2 Eng 6783 at Ottawa.
• Jan 20/87 - VIA 6911 rescued Amtrak Maple Leaf Toronto‐New York.
• Jan 23/87 Guilford GP38 205 rescued Amtrak Adirondack New York‐Montreal.
• Feb 9/87 - Thunder Bay ON CP 3135‐6401‐6621‐15454‐6 cars.
• Feb 17/87 - CP 5756 rescued No 10 6507‐6631 into Toronto.
• Mar 19/87 - CP 4212 rescued No 2 Eng 6770 Ottawa‐Montreal.
• Mar 25/87 - CP 4220 rescued No 33 Eng 6913 Montreal‐Ottawa.
• Jun 16/87 - VIA 6781 rescued No 11 VIA 6412 at Moncton, replacing CN 17xx that had led from Halifax. 
• Jul 22/87 - CP 4223 added to No 2 at Ottawa.
• Jul 23/87 - CN 3213 rescued No 33 Eng 6918 into Ottawa.
• Aug 2/87 - CP 4563 rescued the Atlantic VIA 6412 into Saint John, NB replaced there by CN 5261 which led west to Montreal.
• Aug 15/87 - CP 4205 rescued No 2 Eng 6525 into Ottawa.
• Aug 16/87 - CP 5519 rescued No 2 Eng 6768 replaced by CN 3568 Ottawa‐Montreal.
• Aug 22/87 - CN 9594 rescued No 46 6918‐4 LRC cars‐6925 Kingston‐Ottawa.
• Sep 18/87 - CP 4250 rescued No 2 Eng 6779 6779 derailed at Carleton Place ON.
• Sep 22/87 - CN 3540 rescued No 46 6771‐5 B&Y cars after 6771 replaced an LRC locomotive.
• Oct 4/87 - CN 3509 rescued No 46 Eng 6900 due to broken windshield Belleville ON‐Ottawa.
• Nov 17/87 - CP 4222 rescued No 2 Eng 6550 Sudbury‐Montreal.
• Nov 22/87 - CP 1809 rescued No 45 Smiths Falls ON‐Toronto.
• Dec 16/87 - CN 4105 rescued No 62 Eng 6925 east of Toronto.

1988

• Feb 2/88 - CP 3080 rescued No 1 at Calgary 6403‐15443‐7 cars.
• Feb 2/88 - CN 4247 rescued No 3 into Edmonton 6504‐6505, CN 5276 replaced 4247‐6505 at Edm.
• Feb 5/88 - CN 9172 assisted No 4 at Biggar SK 6569 (idling)‐6652.
• Feb 23/88 - CP 8633 rescued No 2 Sudbury‐Ottawa due to defective speedometer on 6789.
• Feb 23/88 - CN 3529 rescued No 9 into Toronto 65xx‐66xx‐SGU‐8 cars.
• Feb 24/88 - CN 3529 rescued No 10 6429‐6624‐15423‐9 cars.
• Mar 10/88 - CN 1391 rescued Nos 48/89 Eng 6768.
• Mar 12/88 - CN 9531 rescued No 3 into Edmonton along with 6611‐15488 to Jasper.
• Mar 20/88 - CN S13u 8703 rescued VIA Atlantic Windsor Jct‐Halifax NS.
• Mar 23/88 - CP 3046 rescued No 1 6406‐6602 (ailing) Kamloops‐Vancouver, CP van on tailend, brakes cut out on Park car.
• Apr 13/88 - CP 4554 rescued No 2 at Renfrew ON ailing 6777, CN 3124 took over Ottawa‐Montreal.
• May 29/88 - CP 5783‐5756 rescued No 1 into Winnipeg trailing two SGU's.
• Jun 23/88 - CP 4209 rescued No 2 Eng 6530 into Ottawa, replaced there by CN 4380.
• Jun 24/88 - CP 1819 rescued No 1 Eng 6786 at Pembroke ON.
• Jun 29/88 - VIA 6918 rescued No 49 with ailing 6514 Ottawa to Brockville, 6418 and two cars returned to Ottawa as No 48 with three units: 6418‐6918‐6514.
• Aug 8/88 - CP 3047 rescued No 2 Eng 6788 into Ottawa.

1989

• Jan 22/89 - CP 3079 rescued No 2 Eng 6783 into Ottawa.
• Feb 14/89 - CN 5092‐6604 on No 3.
• Mar 5/89 - CN 9444 rescued ailing 6540 on No 2, CN Sudbury to North Bay ON CP North Bay‐Ottawa‐Montreal.
• May 1/89 - CP 6033 rescued No 10 into Toronto 6420‐6610‐6634.
• May 9/89 - No 41 at Smiths Falls ON CN 4008‐6413‐3 LRC cars, CN 4008 had rescued ailing 6919 on May 8, returning west.
• May 19/89 - CN 3543 rescued No 47 into Ottawa.
• Jun 12/89 - CP 3101 rescued No 2 Eng 6415 into Ottawa.
• Aug 16/89 - CP SD40‐2F 9003 rescued No 1 into Vancouver.
• Aug 25/89 - CP 5970 rescued No 1 VIA 6408-6620, observed at Field, BC.
• Sep 23/89 - CP SD40‐2F 9010 rescued No 1 into Vancouver.
• Nov 19/89 - CP 5562 rescued No 2 Eng 6425 into Ottawa.
• Dec 25/89 - CP SD40‐2F 9019 rescued No 1 into Vancouver.

1990-1999

• Apr 13/91 - CN 3536 rescued westbound Atlantic into Saint John NB, CP 1857 took over at Saint John.
• May 11/91 - CN SW1200RSm led 4 LRC cars from Windsor to Toronto after 6445 derailed in Windsor ON.
• Mar 25/92 - CN 9444 led No 133 6506‐6306‐2 cars from Jonquiere to Montreal QC due to brake problems. Train routed via CN Taschereau Yard due to Mount Royal Tunnel clearance.
• Nov 27/93 Recently‐remanufactured CN SD40u led No 1 Engs 6445‐6402 into Edmonton, 6445 was ailing.
• Jan 11/94 - CN 9654 rescued No 76 with ailing 6411.
• Dec 10/95 - CN 2508 rescued VIA No 1 Engs 6454-6452 on CN's Yale Sub.
• Feb 11/96 - VIA 6454 led southbound Northlander replacing normally‐assigned ONR FP7A‐205‐4 ONR cars.
• Jan 5/99 - CNNA 9551 led VIA 6409, observed at Kingston, ON.

2000+

• Jan 15/03 - CN GP9RM 7003 led 10‐car Ocean Quebec‐Halifax, then Halifax‐Montreal on Jan. 17 after ailing 64xx removed, second unit was 6416.
• Jun 22/06 - CN 2661 led 64xx and VIA No 70's eight HEP cars from Brantford to the Toronto Maintenance Centre.
• Sep 21/13 - CN 4806 led No 14 VIA 6434 between Moncton and Halifax.
• Dec 27/23 - CN 2337 led VIA No 14 east from Moncton after multiple issues with the train in Quebec the day before.

Running extra...

I have an neighbour who has foregone his old Ford Windstar minivan from the 1990s and is now driving a brand-new Ford Bronco! He is 86.

I have a neighbour who interestingly cuts his large, pie-shaped lawn in an outward spiral. When complete, it looks as if aliens visited and left a crop circle on the lawn!

I have a neighbour who has a large number of cats, and to satisfy city solid-waste requirements, precisely weighs out the two bags of litter, and tape-labels them with their weight - at or just under the maximum out for pickup!

I have a neighbour who has two little dogs named Molly and Ollie. One even has a middle name!

I have a neighbour who, when he talks to you, pushes up on his own upper denture up to four times in one conversation!