VIA's Venture Mondays On-Time Performance, November 2024 to Present

Way back in October, 2024 when CN issued its first Crossing Supplement, imposing crossing speed reductions on VIA's Venture fleet, not only was I not sure of what was happening on the nearby CN Kingston Sub and elsewhere in the Corridor, I didn't know why it was happening. Chat text from VIA's 'message us' section of its website (top image).

By the end of October, the full extent of the reductions had become apparent and I began recording how the reductions were affecting VIA timekeeping. Rather arbitrarily choosing Monday due to the higher number of Venture-equipped trains on that day of the week, I've continued to record Ventures' On-Time Performance (OTP) each Monday since, from November, 2024 to the present...and beyond...until these measures are finally removed.

Originally published in this initial post published on October 12, 2024 (containing buffer cars in the URL because it seemed we were going back in time, and perhaps VIA was about to add additional cars to Venture sets to meet CN's rather arbitrary axle requirements), I've since decided it's about time to break out these observations, giving them their very own post. The introduction of the crossing speed reductions should stand as a moment in time, and the effects thereof that have been felt since are in this post.

Remaining in the original post are any developments or news stories directly relating to the imposition of the Crossing Supplement. Here are Venture Mondays' OTP for the last nine months plus!

* * * THE OBSERVATIONS * * *

To measure the Ventures' OTP, I employ a three-step process each Monday:

• Ascertain which trains that Monday will be Venture-equipped using the traincar dot info website. This useful site, hosted by Barry Gettman, harvests reservation information from VIA and presents it for each train giving us a very good indication which are Ventures.
• Throughout the day (and night!) gather departure and arrival times from the asm dot transit docs website. This comprehensive site is populated with VIA (and Amtrak) train arrival and departure times from each station along a given route.
• Create a weekly update including the Number of Venture trains that day, Minutes Late for each train, Average OTP for Toronto-Montreal and/or Toronto-Ottawa trains, and any Notes.

The above methodology has become slightly more specific, and I hope useful and reflective of actual OTP,  as the months tick by. For instance, removing 'doublavay' OTP from the average because those trains are not subject to the Crossing Supplements' provisions. Some have suggested using mean instead of average, and occasionally I do throw out data that unrealistically skews the average, but I've kept the math simple and I believe it's able to reflect operational changes that affect OTP going forward.

MON. NOV.4 UPDATE

(Now) Eleven-Venture Monday's OTP by Train No. (Minutes Late): 40(40), 41(76*), 42(37), 44(116*), 45(18 may not be a Venture), 47(39), 54(30), 59(58), 641(60), 643(60), 644(33). (Symbols: *departed 20-30 minutes late).

Average OTP = 63 minutes late.

MON. NOV.11 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture Monday's OTP by Train No. (Minutes Late): 40(27), 41(46), 42(27), 44(83*), 45(56), 47(31), 54(107?), 59(62), 641(N/A), 643(39), 644(53). (Symbols: *departed 20-30 minutes late; ?departed 51 minutes late).

Average OTP = 53 minutes late. 

Elsewhere: Quebec-Montreal 40; Quebec-Montreal-Ottawa 25 (though time often made up on Montreal-Ottawa segment); Toronto-Windsor 50.

MON. NOV.18 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture Monday's OTP by Train No. (Minutes Late): 40(45), 41(44+), 42(25+), 44(135?), 45(44), 47(39), 54(102), 59(46+), 641(32+), 643(47+), 644(47+). (Symbols: ?departed 38 minutes late due to arriving Toronto 47 minutes late as No 643; +on time Brockville-Ottawa portion of trip).

Average OTP = 55 minutes late.

MON. NOV.25 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture Monday's OTP by Train No. (Minutes Late): 40(19*), 41(42+), 42(39), 44(113?), 45(48), 47(47+), 54(47), 59(58), 641(80+), 643(45+), 644(51). (Symbols: ?departed 38 minutes late due to arriving Toronto 45 minutes late as No 643; +on time Brockville-Ottawa portion of trip; *was 27 minutes late at Kingston).

Average OTP = 54 minutes late.

MON. DEC.2 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture Monday OTP could not be assessed statistically due to Nos 45 and 53 non-Ventures, No 643 J'd with No 43, massive delays over 4 hours near Toronto. VIA Nos 40, 59, 644 departing 20-40 minutes late; No 44 departing 117 minutes late. Continuing schedule and operational turmoil after a weekendus horribilis. Let's try Tuesday....

TUES. DEC.3 UPDATE

...Ten-Venture Tuesday difficult to assess due to Nos 41/68 not Ventures, No 47 J-trained with Legacy equipment (18), No 643 J-trained with Legacy equipment (departed 2+ hours late). That leaves seven Venture-equipped trains for analysis: No 40 (46), 42(36); 45(87); 48(109)?; 59(89)?; 641(59); 644(45). (Symbols: ? departed 25-30 minutes late).

Average OTP = 67 minutes late.

MON. DEC.9 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture (actually nine) Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 40(69), 41(43), 42(52), 44(67?), 45(not a Venture), 47(61?), 54(not a Venture), 59(89?), 641(31), 643(48), 644(39). 

(Symbols: ? departed 20-30 minutes late).

Average OTP = 55 minutes late.

MON. DEC.16 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture (actually eight) Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 40(52),  41(not a Venture), 42(78), 44(93?), 45(42), 47(cancelled most days Dec 16-Jan 8/25), 54(cancelled most days Dec 16-Jan 8/25), 59(59), 641(28), 643(61), 644(48). 

(Symbols: ? departed 30-40 minutes late)

Average OTP = 58 minutes late.

MON. DEC.23 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 40(not a Venture), 41(104X), 42(91), 44(115?), 45(59?), 47(cancelled most days Dec 16-Jan 8/25), 54(cancelled most days Dec 16-Jan 8/25), 59(59), 641(31), 643(40), 644(64). 

Unusually Venture-equipped trains: 52(64), 55 (130X), 63(89), 

(Symbols: ? departed 20-30 minutes late; X departed 40-60 minutes late)

Average OTP = 77 minutes late.

MON. DEC.30 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture (actually ten) Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 40(not a Venture), 41(28), 42(30), 44(134), 45(108), 47(cancelled most days Dec 16-Jan 8/25), 54(cancelled most days Dec 16-Jan 8/25), 59(39), 641(25), 643(41), 644(34). 

Unusually Venture-equipped trains: 52(46), 55 (39). 

(Symbols: ? departed 15-40 minutes late)

Average OTP = 43 minutes late. (44 delayed by police operation near Brighton - not included in average)

MON. JAN.6, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture (actually ten) Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 40(44), 41(47), 42(not a Venture), 44(119), 45(88), 47(cancelled most days Dec 16-Jan 8/25), 54(cancelled most days Dec 16-Jan 8/25), 59(57), 641(31), 643(482), 644(21). 

Unusually Venture-equipped trains: 52(6), 55(39). 

Average OTP =  43 minutes late - outliers 52, 643 not included in calculation of average. 

MON. JAN.13, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven-Venture (actually nine) Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 40(45), 41(39), 42(56), 44(31), 45(not a Venture), 47(39), 54(not a Venture), 59(58 ?), 641(43), 643(19*), 644(30). 

(Symbols: ? departed 37 minutes late; *Speedster)

Average OTP = 40 minutes late.

MON. JAN.20, 2025 UPDATE

Nine-Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

40(46), 41(55), 42(34), 44(57), 47(38?), 59(40), 641(30), 643(48), 644(13*). 

(Symbols: ? departed 30 minutes late; *Speedster)

Average OTP = 40 minutes late.

MON. JAN.27, 2025 UPDATE

Nine-Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

40(45), 41(75), 42(24), 44(65??), 47(135?), 59(54), 641(31), 643(40), 644(19*). 

(Symbols: ? departed 117 minutes late; ??departed 17 minutes late; *Speedster)

Average OTP = 54 minutes late.

MON. FEB.3, 2025 UPDATE

**NOW Fifteen! Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

40(61), 41(44), 42(93), 44(61), 46(47), 47(60), 55(45), 59(163?), 61(113??), 69(92), 641(32), 669(more than 60).

62/52 Venture J-train (22) at Kingston, (24Mtl/11Ott) [not counted in average due to not subject to speed reductions due to axle count >32]

60/50 Venture/HEP (26) at Kingston, (64Mtl/na) [not counted in average either]

(Symbols: ? departed 100 minutes late; ??departed 50 minutes late)

Average Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 67 minutes late. 

Average Montreal-Toronto non-J OTP = 88 minutes late.

MON. FEB.10, 2025 UPDATE

Fifteen (only 11 this Monday) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

40(18*), 41(not a Venture), 42(cancelled Feb 10-Mar 2), 44(40), 46(38), 47(31), 55(cancelled Feb 10-Mar 2), 59(57), 61(56), 69(60), 641(24*), 669(not a Venture).

62/52 Venture J-train (26) at Kingston, (73Mtl/26Ott) [not counted in average due to not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

60/50 Venture/HEP (26) at Kingston, (83Mtl/na) [not counted in average either]

(Symbols: *Speedster [40 was 30 minutes late at Kingston!])

Average Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 42 minutes late.  

Average Montreal-Toronto non-J OTP = 58 minutes late.

(These average OTP's for each leg will be listed separately. Venture J-trains should be able to operate on time Toronto-Brockville, and Venture trains Brockville to Ottawa. I expect increased Montreal-Toronto Venture-equipped non J-trains will arrive about 60 minutes late.)

TUE. FEB.18, 2025 UPDATE

Major snowstorm over the previous weekend, effects still being felt with huge delays due to 40+ cm snow in Montreal and a derailment at/near CN Taschereau Yard. Fifteen (only 14 this Tuesday) Venture Tuesday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

40(65?), 41(76), 42(cancelled Feb 10-Mar 2), 44(not operating eqpt. shortage), 47(not a Venture), 55(cancelled Feb 10-Mar 2), 59(not operating), 61(held at Dorval), 69(not operating), 641(93?), 644 (not a Venture), 645(not operating), 669(not operating).

62/52 Venture J-train (98) at Kingston, (360+ Mtl/97Ott) [not counted in average due to not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

60/50 Ventures running separately (74) at Kingston, (holding at Cornwall/65Ott) [not counted in average either]

(Symbols: ? departed 30 minutes late)

Average Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 79 minutes late.

Average Montreal-Toronto non-J OTP = not calculated due to storm-related issues beyond VIA's control.

MON. FEB.24, 2025 UPDATE

Fifteen (16 this Monday) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

40(55?), 42(cancelled Feb 10-Mar 2), 44(38), 46(48), 47(34?), 53(31), 55(cancelled Feb 10-Mar 2), 59(44), 61(85), 68(145), 69(91), 641(31), 643(32), 669 (95?)

62/52 Venture J-train (1) at Kingston, (40Mtl/8Ott*) [not counted in average due to not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

60/50 Venture/HEP (25?) at Kingston, (46Mtl/43Ott) [not counted in average either]

(Symbols: ? departed 15-30 minutes late; *Speedster)

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  44 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP =  104 minutes late.

MON. MAR. 3, 2025 UPDATE

Now! Eleven (12 this Monday) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(47), 46(32), 47(39?), 59(48), 61(96), 69(135?), 641(36), 644(61?), 669 (134)

62/52 Venture/HEP not J'd at Kingston, (50Mtl/na) [not counted in average due to not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

60/50 Venture J-train(24?) at Kingston, (49Mtl/44Ott) [not counted in average either]

(Symbols: ? departed 15-40 minutes late)

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  44 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 121 minutes late.

MON. MAR. 10, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven (14 this Monday) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

41(17), 44(36), 46(32), 47(15), 61(42), 69(61), 641(32), 643(1*),  644(34), 669 (54).

60/50 Venture J-train(5) at Kingston, (43Mtl/20Ott)  [not counted in average due to not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train ( OT at Kingston, (12*Mtl/OT Ott) [not counted in average either]

(Symbols: *Speedster)

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  24 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 52 minutes late.

MON. MAR. 17, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(40), 46(65), 47(59),  59(58), 61(47), 69(61), 669 (44).

60/50 Venture J-train(3) at Kingston, (34Mtl/18Ott)  [not counted in average due to not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (31) at Kingston, (48Mtl/38Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  56 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 51 minutes late.

MON. MAR. 24, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven (today Fourteen) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(38), 45(73), 46(57), 47(240?), 53(44), 61(75), 68(59); 69(56), 643(59); 669 (41).

60/50 Venture J-train(7) at Kingston, (25Mtl/23Ott)  [not counted in average due to not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (6) at Kingston, (10!Mtl/16Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  86 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 57 minutes late.

(Symbols: *Speedster; ?departed 81 minutes late)

MON. MAR. 31, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(72), 46(44), 47(16*), 59(46) 61(74), 69(91); 669 (28).

60/50 Venture J-train(11) at Kingston, (41Mtl/21Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (47/35) at Kingston, (37Mtl/42Ott) not J'd after Cobourg?[not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  44 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 64 minutes late.

(Symbols: *Speedster)

MON. APR.7, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(36), 46(40), 47(26), 59(29), 61(53), 69(79); 669 (52).

60/50 Venture J-train (3) at Kingston, (Mtl31/17Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (20) at Kingston, (51Mtl/15Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 33 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 61 minutes late.

No significantly late departures!

MON. APR.14, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(36), 46(35), 47(59), 59(35), 61(63), 69(58); 669 (42).

60/50 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 41 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 54 minutes late.

No significantly late departures!

MON. APR.21, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(54), 46(30), 47(5!**), 59(57), 61(71), 69(56); 669 (30).

60/50 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston, (Mtl20/8Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (3) at Kingston, (21Mtl/3Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 44 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 52 minutes late.

(Symbols: *Speedster; **arrived 19 minutes late at Guildwood but able to make up 10+ minutes due to Guildwood-Toronto stops 30 minutes apart instead of the usual 20 minutes!)

No significantly late departures.

MON. APR.28, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(46), 46(45), 47(19*?), 59(56), 61(70), 69(69?); 669 (40).

60/50 Venture J-train (7) at Kingston, (Mtl28/13Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (10) at Kingston, (21Mtl/9Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 41 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 59 minutes late.

(Symbols: *Speedster; ?departed 20 minutes late)

MON. MAY 5, 2025 UPDATE

Eleven (today Twelve) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(52), 45(??118 was J-trained with No 53), 46(20*); 47(?16*), 59(40), 61(72); 69(46); 669 (27).

60/50 Venture J-train (8) at Kingston, (Mtl31/16Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (8) at Kingston, (26Mtl/OTOtt) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 49 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 48 minutes late.

(Symbols: *Speedster; ?departed 21 minutes late; ?? departed 78 minutes late)

Re: the speedsters - these vastly-reduced late arrivals into destination stations are - in the words of one VIA engineer, "Good engineers who are comfortable doing their job. You run hard and hit the whistle posts at 45, then right back to throttle 8".

MON. MAY 12, 2025 UPDATE

With the addition of two Venture sets to the Corridor rotation...

Fourteen (today sixteen!)Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(67x), 46(26), 47(15*), 53(17*), 59(57), 61(72); 68(54), 69(46), 641(42), 643(32), 644(34), 669(33).

60/50 Venture J-train (1) at Kingston, (Mtl7*/8*Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (8) at Kingston, (9*Mtl/OTOtt) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  36 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP =  50 minutes late.

(Symbols: *Speedster; x=mechanical problems near Smiths Falls)

No significantly late departures.

MON. MAY 19, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen (today thirteen!)Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(63), 46(31), 47(1*), 53(not a Venture, 6 HEP cars!), 59(56), 61(64); 68(56); 69(87), 643(43), 669(29).

60/50 Venture J-train (8) at Kingston, (Mtl26/21Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (3) at Kingston, (41Mtl/OTOtt) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  38 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 59 minutes late.

(Symbols: *Speedster)

No significantly late departures.

MON. MAY 26, 2025 UPDATE

Change of card so changes are afoot.

Fourteen Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(na), 45(42), 46(33), 47(31), 53(47), 59(42), 61(42); 69(59), 643(29), 669(52).

60/50 Venture J-train (36) at Kingston, (49Mtl/23Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (12) at Kingston, (28Mtl/39Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  38 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP =  51 minutes late.

No significantly late departures.

MON. JUNE 2, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen (today thirteen) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(?115), 45(40), 46(48), 47(??60), 59(35), 61(59); 69(65), 643(69), 669(26).

60/50 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston, (17Mtl/25Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston, (22Mtl/OTOtt) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  56 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP =  50 minutes late.

(Symbols: ?departed 77 minutes late; ?? departed 27 minutes late since No 33 arrived 91 minutes late)

MON. JUNE 9, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(34), 45(26), 46(27), 47(57), 59(42), 61(59), 68(59). 69(44), 643(50), 669(24).

60/50 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston, (16Mtl/19Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (4) at Kingston, (47Mtl/20Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 39 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 47 minutes late.

No significantly late departures.

MON. JUNE 16, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(54), 45(43), 46(22), 47(?44), 59(43), 61(59), 68(62). 69(56), 643(58), 669(26).

60/50 Venture J-train (19) at Kingston, (27Mtl/45Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (15) at Kingston, (Mtl/Ott) [not counted in average either - Sets 26/2 respectively at Belleville (above) image courtesy Railstream, LLC.]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  44 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP =  51 minutes late.

(Symbols: ?departed 20 minutes late)

MON. JUNE 23, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen (today seventeen! after last night's operational challenges in SW Ontario) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

41(48), 44(?147), 45(71), 46(??120), 47(?84), 59(45), 61(?45), 63(87), 68(73), 69(117), 643(51), 668(82), 669(61).

60/50 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston, (42Mtl/19Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (14) at Kingston, (119Mtl/49Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 77 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 80 minutes late.

(Symbols: ?departed 20 minutes late, ??departed 40 minutes late)

MON. JUNE 30, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(45), 45(99), 46(33), 47(45), 59(100), 61(59), 68(55), 69(115), 643(56), 669(60).

60/50 Venture J-train (10) at Kingston, (19Mtl/22Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston, (10Mtl/13Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  63 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP =  72 minutes late.

No significantly late departures. Additional delays likely due to temperatures above 35 degrees C.

MON. JULY 7, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(44), 45(43), 46(31), 47(53), 59(60), 61(70), 68(54), 69(55), 643(51), 669(26).

60/50 Venture J-train (11) at Kingston, (25Mtl/19Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston, (11Mtl/1Ott was 14 at Brock!) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 47 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 51 minutes late.

No significantly late departures. 

MON. JULY 14, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen (today Sixteen) Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

43(57); 44(39), 45(98), 46(34), 47(49), 59(42), 61(44), 67(?45); 68(61), 69(56), 643(32), 669(27).

60/50 Venture J-train (OT) at Kingston, (4*Mtl/10Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (20) at Kingston, (53Mtl/11Ott) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP =  50 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP =  47 minutes late.

(Symbols: *Speedster; ?departed 28 minutes late)

MON. JULY 21, 2025 UPDATE

Fourteen Venture Monday's OTP by Train No.(Minutes Late): 

44(?185), 45(46), 46(?116), 47(148), 59(32), 61(45), 68(??86), 69(48), 643(61), 669(50).

60/50 Venture J-train (10) at Kingston, (30Mtl/16Ott) [not counted in average; not subject to speed reductions Toronto-Brockville due to axle count >32]

62/52 Venture J-train (4) at Kingston, (13Mtl/3 minutes early Ott, was 13 minutes late at Brockville) [not counted in average either]

Average non-J Ottawa-Toronto OTP = 43 minutes late.  

Average non-J Montreal-Toronto OTP = 55 minutes late.

(Symbols: ?departed 30-45 minutes late, ??departed 10 minutes late)

Nos 44, 46, 47 delayed west of Belleville due to a crossing accident involving No 65 and not included in average.

A Train Grows - Venturing into VIA's Success

After the annus horribilis that VIA Rail Canada has been experiencing with its CN's crossing speed reductions on its new Siemens Venture trains, the operation of one slightly-longer Corridor train screamed 'success!' this week. Doubters, cynics and pessimists can consider this post TLDR - but this post is unbridled optimism bordering on fanaticism and perhaps fantasy, and I think we need it right now! 

Let's rewind a bit...

(In this post, I'll use the terms trainset, Set and consist interchangeably. I'll also refer to the length of Venture trains by units, incorporating locomotives, cab cars and Economy and Business Class coaches, instead of by the number of the latter only.)

THREE IMPORTANT DATES FOR ONE TRAINSET

Here are a few significant dates from this third VIA Ventures in Service post:

June 3: VIA operated train No 631-03 comprising Set 12 with two cars (one Economy Class and one Business Class) taken from Set 7, Montreal-Ottawa return. This is the first known remarshalling of a Venture set, and perhaps the most sensible way to meet CN's 32-axle minimum requirement in order to operate without crossing speed reductions! Consist: 2311-2811-2911-2906 (Set 7 coach)-2706 (Set 7 Business Class)-2711-2611-2211. (Top photo taken at Caron/Mile 19.21 Kingston Sub on June 3, 2025. I'm indebted to Lion Liu for sharing all the photos in this post.) The augmented trainset looks remarkably similar to a regular six-unit trainset, but requires coach-counting using fingers on both hands.)

July 5 - The early-June augmented consist experiment apparently ended. Reports hinted that the idea was not being pursued by VIA. The augmented consist had been disassembled: 2211-2611-2711 sitting outside at east end with end door of 2711 sealed. Four photos at the MMC on July 5, 2025:

The other cars and cab car 2311 are coupled to guard unit 6445. 

Set 7 (donor) remained as a four-unit set, at right (below), next to Set 30 which arrived at the MMC on June 7. On June 3, Set 30 had operated as test train VIA No 636 between Montreal and Ottawa. Spot the blue & yellow baggage car and RDC!

The 'ajoutay' trainset reunited - July 12, 2025 at MMC:

Then this happened...

July 14 - Augmented Set 12 operated as Nos 67-79. The first use of this set since its June 3 test. The 'ajoutay' consist left the MMC on-time, but inexplicably departed Central Station 28 minutes late. Thereafter, with its CN-approved axle count and track speed, it only lost another 17 minutes all the way to Toronto, arriving only (!) 45 minutes late. 

July 15 - Augmented Set 12 operated as No 72-66. Despite an on-time departure, the lateness profile resembled the standard Venture falling-behind and arriving in Montreal 73 minutes late. (I have to wonder if this action was hurriedly taken based on the result, perhaps yet undivulged, of VIA's Quebec court case.) Lance Gleich kindly shared these excellent photos from the Roncesvalles Avenue pedestrian overpass along the Gardiner Expressway, showing the 'ajoutay' set's augmented length:

Lance notes wryly that's a Siemens hi-rail pickup!

July 16 - Augmented Set 12 to operate as No 67. A last-minute equipment swap to 6411-7 LRC. Departing Montreal 18 minutes late, an hour earlier the crews' chatter included the terms "bad bearings, locked axles, hot journal" with the MMC controller by radio. Reportedly, none of the Augmented Set 12 cars' refrigerators are working properly!

***UPDATES ***

July 21 - Set 12 departed Ottawa as VIA No 24 after being at the MMC on the evening of July 20.

July 22 - Set 12 operated as VIA No 79.

VIA No 67 Meeting EXO at Rue Bridge Sud on July 14:

THE FIRST AUGMENTED / 'AJOUTAY' CONSIST IN REVENUE SERVICE

The initial consist was reportedly augmented as early as May 22, 2025, comprising Set 12 with two cars (one Economy Class and one Business Class) taken from Set 7: 2311-2811-2911-2906 (Set 7 coach)-2706 (Set 7 Business Class)-2711-2611-2211. 

VIA sources suggest that the use of the augmented consist (I'm considering using term 'ajoutay' for such consists, just as I use the term 'doublavay' to represent J-trained Venture consists. Not only do both applications of Venture trainsets deserve their own Venture-specific terms, but both are marginally bilingual!) on July 14 was a game-day decision. 

Some have expressed concerns about whether the Ventures were ever intended to operate in variable-length consists, despite many quoting the 'NGEC' PowerPoint that shows 3-, 5- and 7-car consists. Unlike hitching up steam lines and air lines on a bunch of steam-heated coaches at Spadina or Pointe St Charles  and you're good-to-go, there are lots of 'black boxes' on Ventures that have to operate throughout a train with any number of cars. Each car, for instance, has its own interior  and exterior signage that is constantly updated. There would also be sensors, status lights, HVAC, light and power and many more systems that are controlled from one point then throughout the consist.

There is only one important number right now. It's not the number of minutes late, the number of passengers sick of arriving late and fleeing VIA, it's the number of axles CN is forcing VIA to run its Venture-equipped trains with. Or else. The magic number is 32! With a standard, six-unit Venture totalling 24 axles, the additional two cars add the requisite eight axles. 

So, 24 + 8 = success!

THE VENTURES' ANNUS HORRIBILIS

Let's look at the VIAriety of terrible, negative punishment that VIA's image and internal morale has taken over the past nine months, perhaps more precisely a novem menses horribilis!

• the overnight introduction of the completely-unexpected and unprecedented CN Crossing Supplement as an over-reach, over-reaction and technically groundless weapon against VIA.
• the thousands and thousands of hours that lawyers spent crafting a legal strategy to battle CN, collecting affidavits and sifting through the previous three years of communication with CN.
• the crushing blow that the jurisdictional argument dealt to VIA's case, not even getting a hearing in Federal Court in Montreal.
• VIA shifting the case from Federal Court to Superior Court in Quebec, in which its interlocutory injunction was not only denied but then upheld on appeal.
• both court cases pointing to VIA's case against CN not being a legal issue, not even a commercial contract issue, but a regulatory issue that needs to be not solved by the courts but by the Federal regulator.
• Transport Canada's intransigence and foot-dragging as a regulator, now six months of inaction even after CN supplied requested crossing signal data.
• the resulting fall-out from CN's actions dealing huge blows to VIA's ridership, reliability, public perception, on-time performance and public image.
• VIA's apparent reticence to name CN as an aggressor, instead having to politely refer vaguely to the 'infrastucture operator/host railway' due to its inability to advocate for itself.
• the extent to which CN's crossing speed reductions has hampered VIA's Venture roll-out.

TRACKSIDE PROGNOSTICATOR

In this initial post on the CN-imposed speed reductions that was not only published in real-time in October, 2024 as we tried to figure out the what and why, but has also been maintained each Monday with Venture-equipped trains' on-time performance as a way of ensuring that we don't miss the timely demise of said reductions, I predicted the following solutions:

• probable SHORT-TERM SOLUTION: Continued speed restrictions at affected crossings causing Venture trains to operate at the 30-60 minute late range.
• probable MEDIUM-TERM SOLUTION: Lengthening Venture consists with unused Venture cars. 
• probable LONG-TERM SOLUTION: Shunt-enhancer installation on Venture sets. 

At this point, my short- and medium-term predictions are coming true, while the long-term is cloudy and confusing. Not only would this require technology and testing not only not operating in Canada, but only recently approved and not-yet implemented in the US.

OTHER SOLUTIONS

Other solutions that VIA could attempt are few, but they do exist:

ADD LEGACY CARS TO VENTURE TRAINSETS - There are lots of Legacy cars currently sitting in VIA's maintenance centre yards. HEP cars like spare Chateau sleepers or coaches seem the most likely, since the majority of LRC cars are still in use or stored, not spare. The HEP cars are now surplus, and it only takes two per train to reach the magic number. These additional cars do not have to be 'part' of the train for operational purposes, and yes, require running-around at destination. Consider them passenger-less place-holders.

ORDER MORE VENTURE CARS - The purchase of Siemens Ventures was to secure VIA's Corridor future. Imagine the current Federal government, up to its eyeballs in issues that are important to every Canadian such as tariffs, pipelines, housing, inter-provincial trade, artificial intelligence, jobs, pensions, increasing defence and NATO spending, border security, the drug war, etc., shelling out millions for additional equipment to satisfy a bully of a host railway in a very profitable but very small part of VIA's national network. Especially since it was just announced that federally-funded institutions and Crown corporations like the CBC and VIA are expected to propose their own cuts under the Liberal government’s sweeping efforts to find $25 billion in annual savings from the federal budget in the next three years

CONVINCE CN THAT THEY'RE JUST PLAIN WRONG - However, CN has not only doubled-down on its claims of safety and philosophy of risk-aversion, it has in true Canadian fashion double-doubled-down, dug in its corporate heels, put out its corporate horns and fought VIA tooth-and-nail on this. All this in a toxic environment of a Train Service Agreement that neither party has been able to agree on for years.

WHAT THE RAILFANS WANT (AND WHY THEY SHOULDN'T WANT IT!)

JUST ORDER MORE VENTURE CARS - our newly-elected Federal government would have to approve this purchase, right? You know, that government that is awash in the fraught files listed above. And VIA is going to go to that government, cap in hand and ask for millions of dollars (not to mention one to two years even if approved) to settle a dispute that only recently emerged between VIA and CN, two current/former Crown corporations. One that could be proven at any time to be without basis and magically dispensed with.

THE VENTURES ARE 'JUNK' AND SHOULD BE RETURNED/SCRAPPED - a non-starter, don't you think? This isn't like an item you order on Amazon, comes with one piece missing and they send you a replacement the next day with all the pieces. The Ventures are the best option VIA arrived at, and now that they've arrived, continuing to question their implementation is pointless.

THEORIES ON HOW MANY TRAINSETS VIA NEEDS - the original order was for 32. Railfans reason that when you build an eight-unit consist, somewhere there is a four-unit consist sitting there idle. Yes, but the hope would be that this is a short-term coping mechanism only. 

THEORIES ON HOW VIA SHOULD CONFIGURE ITS VENTURE TRAINSETS - what car can go where, which cars have end-doors, which cars have which type of coupler. Are the two augmented cars being sold as passenger space, and will this conform to VIA's sales protocols? Not important right now. Remember, the magic number of 32, whether the cars' space is sold or not.

'AJOUTAY' CONSISTS ARE TOUGH TO TELL APART FROM REGULAR VENTURE TRAINSETS - well, that's true. When passing at 90 mph, two additional cars painted the same and with minuscule numbers are difficult to discern because they only take one second to pass by! Flying by covering 132 feet per second is scarcely time to appreciate the new, longer, improved and of-railfan-interest 'ajoutay' consist'.

'AJOUTAY' CONSISTS CAN'T POSSIBLY FIT INTO VIA'S CORRIDOR ROTATION - VIA has slowly but consistently found its creative chutzpah when it's come to dealing with the ripple effects of CN's actions: 

• cancelling certain perpetually-late Venture trains caused by late arrivals on the previous leg. 
• making near-daily Nos 60/50 and 62/52 'doublavays' as far as Brockville, resulting in far improved on-time performance at Montreal and Ottawa, respectively. 
• experimenting with other 'doublavay' trainsets elsewhere in the Corridor
• shifting Ventures away from early-morning 'commuter' runs like Ottawa-Toronto Nos 641 and 41. 
• temporarily pausing implementation of Ventures to South-West Ontario, before reintroducing Ventures to Toronto-Sarnia train Nos 84-87 and now sparingly to Windsor.
• stationing readily-available guard consists at the TMC and MMC to replace last-minute problematic trainsets prior to departure.

With continued scheduling synergies, there are likely other ways to get the best utilization possible from 'ajoutay' consists, especially now that VIA has been able to lengthen most Montreal-Toronto trains to seven or eight LRC cars.

VIA needs to break through its 13-Venture rotation at which it has been stymied for months now! It's not crew training, and with 31 trainsets now on the property, it's not supply. It's not even maintenance, because VIA seems to have a handle on some of the mechanical problems dogging the new technology, steadily increasing the sets in service and reducing the number of 'shop-queens' not available for service. Here are the facts to support that contention. 

The effect that CN's crossing speed reductions have had on VIA's Venture roll-out has been significant. Despite a continually-increasing drumbeat of delivered trainsets, the implementation thereof has reached a plateau, with relative numbers in the last two years especially disappointing:

• 2021 - 1 trainset delivered
• 2022 - 1 trainset delivered - 1 in revenue service of 2 available
• 2023 - 9 trainsets delivered - 6 in revenue service of 11 available
• 2024 - 14 trainsets delivered - 14 in revenue service of 25 available
• 2025 - as of July, 7 trainsets delivered - 13 in revenue service of 31 available

'Ajoutay' VIA No 67 at Ste Anne de Bellevue also on July 14:

WILL 'AJOUTAY' CONSISTS CONTINUE?

Questions remain, and we watch and wait to see if this success is sustainable and if more augmented consists will follow:

• How will 'ajoutay' consists affect the use of VIA's maintenance centres in Montreal and Toronto that are apparently designed to only handle the as-delivered six-unit consists, not these eight-unit consists.
• What will the impact be of additional 'ajoutay' consists on VIA's Venture fleet utilization and availability on the whole?

Running extra...one-liner edition...

This AI-generated YouTube thumbnail defies description:

This EG-generated PowerPoint awaits presentation:

Bristles gone from the street-sweeper made their way to my gons!

Glittering condos on the site of Kingston's grain elevator. Artist's conception:

Walker's reality:

First past the post...

Thanks to Lion Liu for his assistance with this post. His fine drone photos have certainly added much to my droning on-and-on about VIA's Ventures! He may not always share my rampant optimism, but I respect his realism.

Rapido's Super-nova! S-13 and RS-23!

As I am typing this, the Rapido Trains Inc. universe has experienced a Super-nova. As in S-13 where 'S' stands for 'S'uper-nova. And 'RS'-23 stands for 'Rapido's 'S'uper-nova. What do I mean by that? The announcement of production of the long-awaited, often-teased but only last-minute-announced MLW S-13 and RS-23. We all know that any modeller representing CN's Spadina shops and coach yard just west of Toronto Union Station needs S-13's. And if one is modelling CP subdivisions with road-switchers that are comparatively light but powerful, it's the RS-23 that is absolutely needed! Rapido's newsletter puts it this way, "These much asked for (especially by Jason) locomotives have been been in the works for quite a while now and we're excited to show them to the world."

And yet, with Rapido reaching the ripe old age of 20, it's really past time in that the plastic is hitting the molds! Long past time, actually. I mean, those in this pastime can order obscure US prototypes like Chicago subway cars (see them on the inside cover Rapido ad in the current Model Railroader magazine), US Department of Defence flat cars and everything but pickle cars already made by Rapido. Actually, they announced Halliburton cement cars at the same time - obdurately obscure! Rapido artwork:

Rapido describes the two locomotive models:

"These two models are virtually identical from the frame up. In fact, they both used the same MLW-style switcher body and underframe of the previous S-11 and S-12 designs. Under the hood both used an ALCO 251c prime mover which generated 1,000hp. The major difference between the two versions was the S-13 rode on Canadian “switching style” AAR trucks while the RS-23 utilized road trucks in either standard or lightweight versions.

• British Columbia (formerly PGE) received the first S-13s with an order of 3, delivered in January 1959.
• Canadian National was the largest owner of S-13, rostering 49 units with the first also arriving in 1959. Some of their duties found them working in Spadina, switching out passenger consists, local freight service and general yard operations. A number of S-13s would continue earning their keep well in the 1990s! Some would later be sold off to Canadian and American shortlines.
• Canadian Pacific was the largest owner of the RS-23 locomotives with a total of 34. These were classified as “Diesel Road Switcher, 1,000hp” (DRS-10c) and Initially assigned to Ontario. Many RS-23s were reassigned to the Atlantic Region and Saskatchewan and it was not uncommon to see them working in sets of four or five units on branchline freights. As road switchers, CP’s RS-23s often ran in multiple with larger 4-axle and 6-axle freight locomotives."

I don't use the term super-nova lightly. Or even all that brightly.

And no, I'm not referring to the Chevy concept car of the 1960s. 

It's this deafening definition: "the last evolutionary stages of a massive star". 

Let's rewind a little...

Just before this product announcement, in a bit of non-Flaherty flattery, Bob and Doug Faux-kenzie appeared in a Great White North video based on the inimitable SCTV non-Levy levity of the running sketch featuring Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis. The long-and-the-[Martin]-short of the video was to show that hey, Rapido is still a Canadian company and hey, anyone that says we just produce American products is like, a hoser, so take off, eh? In the video, several models are cleared off the [normally stubby-laden] coffee table while non-Ramis rambling reference is made to an upcoming all-Canadian locomotive announcement and images of an RS-23 and S-13 are flashed on the screen for 23 milliseconds and 13 milliseconds respectively. Surreptitiously subliminal. Oh! O'Hara! Before throwing my TV off my thirteen-storey high-rise balcony, I Zaprudered the video down to individual frames and the two units were plainly visible around the 7:00 mark. Screenshots from the YouTube video (top photo and below):

This post is not only celebratory in nature, it's also somewhat forensic. I don't plan to plumb the depths of Rapido history, dissecting various live videos in which this project is discussed, denied, postponed, minimized and maddeningly mused about, with the resulting lighting-up of the Comments section promoting their production! Here are some obsolete posts from the old-fangled discussion boards formerly known as yahoo groups, now known as groups io - as always, click for a larger image. These posts prove just how long these models have wandered in the pre-production desert!

An October, 2011 yahoo groups post by Bob Morrison:

And a March, 2015 yahoo groups post by the Candy-like David Hill. How I miss his posts!

Annd an August, 2013 yahoo groups post by Jason:

Annnd a controversial November, 2005 yahoo groups post also from Jason:

It appears to your humble blogger and very occasional Rapido product purchaser that the above S-13 sentiment has since become a self-fulfilling prophecy - synchronicity. 

In a bit of synchronized synergism, Rapido recently held a team-building event at Waterloo Central Railway, with the inimitable Bob Fallowfield at the throttle - and in this video not only enjoy their S-13 in action via drone video (no, not VIA!), but also watch it transmogrifyingly translate into multiple units through some computer wizardry! An also-Zaprudered screenshot:

Saturning back to my prediction of the Super-nova. (Hey, that has a ring to it. Seven, actually.) This announcement may mark the final Canadian prototype model that Rapido produces. Stay with me on this...with its evolutionary, revolutionary shift into the American orbit, there is apparently much more to be made by making American models. And the plethora of Canadian models that Rapido has already produced has perhaps left little that is do-able and profitable.

In the GWN video, the Faux-kenzie brothers actually complain that American modellers are ordering more Canadian products than Canadians are (the CP Rail GP9u given as one example), and that if you Canadians don't support this announcement, well....you're not supporting the Canadian economy. And then, we overtly observe that Rapido's balloon-top coaches - operated by CN and then VIA at Spadina and elsewhere - are actually being out-ordered in the opaquely obscure Cape Cod Central and not the Canadian schemes! International intrigue and demographic derring-do!

There are already the old reliable reliquary of reflexive responses in response to the RS-23/S-13 announcement as there are to any reported Rapido roll-out:

• are you making it in [N/O/G/HOn2 1/2/TT] scale?
• when are you making the [U33CS/CN GP-7/other obscure locomotive]?
• there goes my [bank account/credit limit/life savings/Aunt Andrea's inheritance/seven years' grocery money/kids' braces/operation for the dog/macrame cord allowance/beer money/non-indexed pension/sizeable speeding fine payments and thereby ever renewing my Ontario driver's licence]
• the Rapido Effect kicks in, so "Anybody want to buy a Kaslo?"

To buy or not to buy? List price is $449. (And it's not clear whether that's for DC or DCC with Sound.) Add tax and shipping (and tariffs in there somewhere) and it's half-a-thousand dollars, or for any Romans reading this, a C-liner (or five C-notes). Like many other current offerings, the list price is just too far above my price-point, just like the Hawker-Siddeley caboose ($150) and book on the Cars of VIA ($125).  (Dealers may sell for less. Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt. Taxes and freight extra. With approved credit. Plus dealer-installed options. Owner loyalty rebate. [That's something Rapido won't offer. You can own a whole basement-full of Rapido products and the exhortation is to BUY MORE!!] All renders shown are based on our actual design files and artwork. Details are subject to revisions and refinements before production. [That last one is real!])

The unfortunate thing about a non-purchase is that in the late 1970's I was standing trackside, feet firmly planted in the CP Rail era, as a CP RS-23 actually operated into Kingston, and I have good memories of watching CN S-13's smokily switching Spadina! There are even some scintillating scenes taken by other photographers such as 'Diesel' Don McQueen showing script and block-lettered CP RS-23's along Kingston's waterfront in my modelled era. My humble Proto S-3's might have to suffice!

The shimmering stainless-steel silver-lining of all this is that Rapido CEO and Spadina-supporter Jason Shron now has a year or so to finish Spadina yard on his home layout. Then, when these switchers are produced and put into those sea cans to cross the sea from China, he'll have a yard full of cars ready for them to switch! 

I'm sure that he and all of Rapido's senior management (OK that's just him. With the reported deportation of fellow Faux-Kenzie brother and faux-CEO Jordan to Buffalo, or at least that's what I herd) will approve of the sentiment of this post due to the three words in Rapido's motto: 

Quality. Style. Spirit. 

No, no, no that should read:

 Irreverence. Humour. Free publicity!

EPILOGUE

I took the chance today to sit on the front step and read through some accumulated June-published articles with a cool beverage in hand:

• Railroad Model Craftsman June, 2023 Diverging Routes article by Jason 'Where Did It Start, Part 2'
• same issue's Perspective article by Jim Martin 'Souvenirs from the Past'
• Winnipeg Free Press June 7, 2025 Passages article by John Longhurst 'Powered by Passion'
• CN Keeping Track June, 1968 article on CN's new Tempo trains kindly sent by faithful Trackside Treasure reader Bill Staiger

I realized that all of these articles had one thing in common - beginnings and endings. Jason mentioning a trip to 2011 to Quebec City, reminding me of the first time we met on a similar trip in 2008. Jim leading off his article, "How many of us 'experienced' modellers can remember the special thrill we felt when we started on this vast, creative hobby we call model railroading?" John's subtitled 'Model train enthusiast changed the landscape for Canadian railroading fans' sensitively describing the successes and challenges faced by his friend and colleague the late Morgan Turney in life and when he started Canadian Railway Modeller magazine. The article Bill sent is an original photo-essay on the then-new revolutionary CN trains and it made me think how I wouldn't even be hearing from a fellow VIAphile from the US were it not for this blog that began in 2008. 

It's OK for things to start and for things to end. This Sunday, Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time for everything - a time to plant and a time to uproot, for instance. A time to be born and a time to die. And a time for things to morph and a time for things to change.

I need to publish a post on the undeniable influence Morgan had on Canadian railway modellers. Morgan emailed me the year CRM ceased publication: "Hi Eric: I just wanted to thank you for recognizing Canadian Railway Modeller magazine in your list of '150 Great Things'. Very well done, Eric, and well worth your time and effort in putting it together."

And I need to publish a post on the Tempo because translated to English ... it's time.

Running extra...

Fifty years ago on July 5, 1975 while operating as the third unit on a westbound CP freight, CP 4062 caught fire and was uncoupled from the train about two miles east of Franz, ON. A Ministry of Natural Resources forest-fire suppression crew, including the photographer, was dispatched from Wawa to the scene to prevent the fire from spreading into the adjacent forest. Photo by David Carroll, posted to social media by Debbie Carroll. Not the famous frame published in TRAINS magazine!

First past the post...

CN and OSR hogger Steve Lucas wrote this this week on whether only professional railroaders know what they're talking about: "Just one person of many putting the lie to the notion that only professional railway people are qualified to opine on the industry is retired laboratory technologist Eric Gagnon of Kingston, Ontario.  Eric's blog and other prose flowing from his fingertips shows some thought and understanding of the railway.  His latest piece on Via's Venture Vicissitudes [and then Steve linked to my most recent post. Extra positivity from me for the alliteration there!