ALSTOM SELECTED AS BUILDER OF VIA's NEW LDRR FLEET

Today in Thunder Bay, Prime Minister Mark Carney, with Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon at his side, just announced the single-largest procurement in VIA Rail history  - the Long Distance, Regional and Remote (LDRR) fleet, surrounded by GO Transit cars as he glad-hands the plant staff:

At the Can-Car (Canadian Car & Foundry) plant, the Prime Minister hearkened back to the plant's production of over 1,400 Hawker Hurricanes under licence during WWII, with one preserved in Virginia Beach, VA. He also wove in Canada's railway history and its current long-distance trains, the Canadian and the Ocean, while waxing poetic about a young Canadian someday riding the Canadian, made in Canada. The iconic Toronto-Vancouver Canadian, covering 4,000 km currently served by cars that have already covered 150,000,000 km. 

Linking 165 First Nation communities the fleet will serve remote areas in which alternative transportation options are limited while it connects eight major routes across Canada, Montréal, Halifax, Gaspé, Jonquière, Senneterre, Toronto, Vancouver, Churchill, Prince Rupert, Jasper, Sudbury and White River.  The announcement includes a 15-year Technical Support and Spare Parts Supply Agreement (TSSSA) valued at nearly $700 million, with the overall agreement representing a total value of $4.7 billion.

The $4.7-billion deal with Alstom to manufacture and maintain 313 new passenger rail cars for VIA Rail. The cars' structures will be designed and engineered at the firm's engineering centre in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC, where there are 1,000 engineers and rail professionals, built in La Pocatière, QC (above), then moved for final assembly, fitting, testing and commissioning in Thunder Bay (below) using components built by Alstom or procured from 900 Canadian and international suppliers. Alstom will spend $38 million [good eye, Dan!] to upgrade and modernize the Thunder Bay facility. The announcement marks the first such construction of VIA equipment in Canada since the LRC and F40's in the 1980's, and the plant's largest contract in 10 years.

The LDRR project is expected to support 4,850 person-years of employment, including approximately 615 full-time equivalent jobs annually over four to eight years for design; and for manufacturing and delivery 55 jobs annually over 15 years for technical support, spare parts and maintenance services. Michael Keroullé, French-born CEO of Alstom Americas also spoke, noting that the plant had also been selected to produce new TTC subway cars in February. The CEO noted in a Bloomberg interview that the cars and components will be tested and expected to operate between -50C and +40C.

Carney was asked about whether VIA Rail service would return to Thunder Bay, which he deferred to VIA's Interim CEO Matthieu Paquette, who said VIA now has more options and that VIA is looking at adding more services and connecting more Canadians. “These new rail cars will retain signature features such as dome cars, full-service dining and social areas, while incorporating modern amenities, improved accessibility, and greater reliability. They will help us preserve essential services to remote communities and elevate the unique onboard experience that allows passengers to discover Canada in a way that only train travel can offer. We are very proud to partner with Alstom to create lasting value for Canadians by having these new cars designed, engineered and manufactured in Canada. More comfortable, more spacious and better-connected railway cars."

Replacing 77-year-old cars with a modern fleet will set new standards for passenger comfort, universal accessibility, digital connectivity and sustainability for passengers travelling across the country’s long-distance, regional and remote routes. Technical specifications require that at least 90% of the cars’ materials are recoverable at the end of their useful life. The design will also incorporate energy-efficient lighting, improved insulation, automatic climate-control systems, optimized vehicle weight, more efficient water use and onboard facilities supporting waste sorting, recycling and organics collection. The life expectancy of the fleet will be at least 40 years, perhaps longer with a mid-life extension.

The first car will enter service in 2031, the rest by 2035 as previously predicted. The RFQ was announced in December, 2024 and is coupled to the VIA locomotive announcement made just over four weeks ago. More energy efficient for Canada's weather with safe, depandable service with accessibility. Sleepers, full-service dining, panoramic views (not using the word 'domes' at this point). The cars will be introduced progressively, allowing them to operate alongside Legacy equipment during the transition. This phased approach will support a smooth rollout and maintain passenger service as the existing fleet is gradually replaced.

To be called the Alstom Adessia (previously X'Trapolis), the Alstom press kit included eight images labelled Advanced & Creative Design included in this post (for illustrative purposes only per the fine print). The cars will retain the iconic look and feel that people love and cherish while integrating the world class experience that travellers today expect. Transport Canada breaks down the fleet (below), anticipating VIA awarding the contract for the locomotive procurement in Q1 2026 and the contract for the fleet procurement in Q2 2026. [Almost on schedule, just like VIA!]

At a cost of $12-15 million per car, the new Adessia fleet will be available in nine different car configurations to support the diverse needs of long-distance, regional and remote travel, including coach, sleeper, accessible, berth, Prestige, Panorama, dome, dining and baggage cars. Passengers will benefit from brighter and more spacious interiors and full connectivity. The fleet will also incorporate the latest cybersecurity protections to support safe and reliable operations. Alstom describes the two most revolutionary cars thus:

The Panorama Car is an accessible passenger vehicle equipped with multiple functional areas, including lounging and dining spaces. The car incorporates a common wheelchair-accessible washroom and panoramic glazing to maximize passenger comfort and scenic visibility.

The Dome Car is a partially accessible multi-level passenger vehicle comprising a lounge area, a food and beverage service zone, and a standing social space optimized for sightseeing. The car also features a dedicated dome viewing area on the upper level, providing passengers with elevated panoramic visibility.

Dining car (above), lounge car (below):

In the Prestige bedroom, the screen says bilingually, Welcome Aboard:

The route map at the vestibule shows Western Canada:

The modern rail cars for VIA Rail are part of Alstom’s diverse range of Adessia commuter rail solutions which are among the most sustainable ways to connect people in cities, surrounding suburbs and remote communities. (The Adessia portfolio includes a wide range of high-floor multiple units and coaches, available in both single- and double-deck configurations and designed to operate in all climatic conditions at speeds of 120-200 km/h on both electrified and non-electrified networks.) As the leading manufacturer of commuter trains, with more than 60 years of experience, Alstom remains committed to further enhancing sustainable operations and passenger experience. With more than 48,000 rail cars sold for over 60 commuter systems in nearly 20 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia, Adessia commuter trains deliver comfortable, safe and reliable journeys to more than 20 million passengers every day.

Compare the above renderings to those released by VIA in December, 2024 for diner and panorama cars. Each one soars upwards like a cathedral! Skylights have made it into the Alstom renderings, though!

Passenger rail expert Mark Charlebois correctly had Alstom high on his list when he made his predictions about the fleet announcement in this June post:

Alstom — X'Trapolis (Tren Maya) - highly customizable commuter shell, wheelchair friendly, diner, cafe lounge, coach, sleepers with rooms. Negatives: no domes, hot climate, not individually coupled, no baggage car, short haul overnight service plan.

I'm going to refrain from a now-and-then comparison, comparing the number of each type of car ordered versus the current VIA LDRR fleet. Why? Reports vary on the actual in-service size of VIA's fleet. Some are using AI and getting wildly-varying answers from 200 to 600. Also, we have lost frequencies and entire lines like Vancouver Island and Gaspé, patched together Ocean consists, kept the Sudbury Budds on life support, and reduced Northern Quebec and Prince Rupert consists to bare-bones two cars each. To my mind, the current fleet is deficient and the service levels are unreasonably low. It's also difficult to compare car types and seat counts to the 1950s designs. So I'll leave that comparison to the pundits. Let's start with a clean slate. I trust VIA staff building the order and government bean-counters have already designed the new LDRR fleet as best they can, to fulfil customer, political and regulatory demands. It appears the fleet size may be 20-30% larger than the current VIA LDRR fleet.

Of course, as they always do, the media is fighting the last stock video footage battle. The news story shows the new trains? No, it shows the old equipment the new trains are replacing. This does not inform the public unless they say that the stock footage shows the old equipment. Or worse...CN freights? The O-train? Really?

But a Liberal MP?

Alstom's Instagram account has some truly freakish images. Pardon my 'play' arrows:

Baggage car not quite ready for prime time:

I like the skylights. Lets in as much light as a Subaru sunroof!

Looks like a chair lift/accessible dome:

Skylights:

Bar car:

Wider video views are a little better:

Interesting dome closeup:

Meanwhile, life goes on in the comments section, where folks ask about the high cost of taking VIA, why hasn't CN been renationalized, and the colour of the carpeting in the initial renderings! Oh, and will they have wi-fi?

POSTSCRIPT: EIGHTEENTH ANNIVERSARY CONTEST

Thanks to all those who participated in this year's Eighteenth Anniversary Contest. This year there were three ways to win, all related to Canada's futuristic new Corridor line...or a favourite sandwich. The Eighteenth Anniversary Contest was lunched only a week ago, but here's an aide-memoire to aid your, you know, memory:

1. Please give us a better name than ALTO. It can be bilingual, unilingual, or in Italian (like ALTO)*

2. Let me know why you think we NEED ALTO, or conversely, why we DON'T NEED it.

3. What's your favourite sandwich? (Bread preference optional.)

The entries were enigmatic, elegiac, eclectic and elucidating, emigrating from all across North America. It was fun to read through the entries and to appreciate their variety. Even more rewarding were the good wishes sent in by loyal Trackside Treasure readers and blog partners - congratulations and kind comments. Those are my kind of comments!

The lucky winner's entry was also the first received! Within mere hours of publishing the post, Eric May submitted these entries FTW - I swear his was not chosen because of his first name....

Congrats on 18 years! I've learned a lot, had some good reminiscences and quite a few laughs. The recent Ontario Northland railbus header photo was a good one.

For the contest I would call the train Rapido. It's been done before but I think it sounds better and implies speed.

Do we need Alto? Probably yes, but not in its current form. Toronto to Montreal...but if you are going to extend to Quebec City, you might as well go west to London or Windsor as well.  I'm from Peterborough but I don't think they need a stop. Kingston does.

Favorite sandwich? Peanut butter. To fancy it up add bacon or switch to a cinnamon raisin bagel.

Three for three! The Trackside Treasure prize pack will soon be winging its way to Eric, from Eric. Thanks again to all those who collaborated in the celebration; who shared in Trackside Treasure's big day.

Now that my appetite has been appeased by a sandwich, it's back to more of the hard-hitting rail-based journalism you've become accustomed to here on Trackside Treasure. Coming soon for the prototype enthusiasts...is it, or is it not OK to spray-paint graffiti on a train? And for the model railroaders out there, is it OK to call them model trains or should we continue calling them model choo-choos?

Thanks, and now it's on to Trackside Treasure's Nineteenth Year!

-Eric

TRACKSIDE TREASURE'S EIGHTEENTH ANNIVERSARY

In many countries, 18 is recognized as the year that we enter adulthood. It's the number of holes on a standard golf course. Kingston's Scott Arniel, Mike Krushelnyski and Alyn McCauley all wore number 18 in the NHL. In this modern era, the gift of choice for an 18th anniversary is...porcelain. The Chinese began making porcelain objects 2,200 years ago. So 18 seems rather paltry by comparison. Dishes, vases, figurines, bathtubs, dentures are all made of porcelain, and, okay let's just say it, toilets. Porcelain is sturdy, non-porous and water-resistant. It is made at temperatures of 2,200-2,600 degrees Fahrenheit.  Porcelain can be graded as true, artificial or bone china. My personal shopper at Wayfair told me that "it's a timeless home material", also that "its sleek, glossy appearance elevates any space", and that it's "low-maintenance." Two minutes later, I received an email in my inbox showing this suggested custom gift idea!

...MY SINCERE THANKS! 

To celebrate the Enlightening Eighteenth anniversary of my little corner of cyberspace - into which I first rolled out my fern forest and tacked up my macrame wall-hangings way back in 2008 - I need to first turn to my blog partners over the past year. Steve Boyko, George Dutka/Don James/the late Peter Mumby, David Gagnon, Stephen Gardiner, Michael Hammond, Matthieu Lachance, JD Lowe, Chris Mears, the late Marc Simpson and Jim Sloan. 

Thanks also need to go to all those who read, contribute, digest, comment, and most importantly keep coming back week-after-week. Thank you all for sharing my Fifty Years Trackside throughout 2026 as I look back on those five decades of diesel exhaust and creosote in my nostrils, time on my hands and observing and recording thousands of trains, all trackside! Trackside Treasure is a space I like to go to, to inhabit, like my new $399 La-Z-Boy. Sometimes I come here to rock, sometimes I come here to recline, sometimes it turns into a nap...

CONTEST TIME!

Wake up! Welcome to this year's inevitable anniversary contest! You can enter one of three ways, if you dare! The news media is all abuzz about Canada's HSR HFR intercity rail project named ALTO. Since it's quite obvious that the route has not been nailed down, with villagers posting NO ALTO signs and preparing to storm town halls with pitchforks and torches all along the potential route through Quebec and Ontario, I'm guessing that the name isn't cast in stone yet, either. It's not too late to be heard! I'm looking for your input on ALTO. I truly believe blogs can be factual and fun.

To enter, simply put on your [non-tinfoil] thinking caps and answer one or all of these questions for which I've created a word-cloud to make it more...visual:

1. Please give us a better name than ALTO. It can be bilingual, unilingual, or in Italian (like ALTO)*

(*Please don't suggest SPEEDY. The Muffler King lawyers will be all over us.)

2. Let me know why you think we NEED ALTO, or conversely, why we DON'T NEED ALTO.

3. What's your favourite sandwich? (Bread preference optional.)

Simply answer by email to mile179kingstonATyahooDOTca, or as a comment to this post. It's just that easy! Entries...are now closed. A winner will be randomly selected from any and all entries, and memorable entries will be published in a postscript. Now, rush to your device to enter! The prize will be the oft-desired Trackside Treasure anniversary prize pack!

RULES: There always have to be contest rules - the lawyers absolutely demand it to keep up the lease payments on their Lamborghinis. Here goes. Contest not valid in any of the five countries (we checked!) that end in "-ania". Odds of winning are roughly one in a much bigger number. Trackside Treasure reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this contest if in its sole discretion a bot, virus, bugs or tampering (tamping is OK) of any sort is noted, or if we find out participants are not being nice to pets or not letting old ladies cross the street. No promotional emails will be sent and you will receive absolutely no special offers or anything entitled 'Tips and Tricks'. If any wildfire smoke arrives in your area while you are entering the contest, you will be charged a 50% tariff. Which, on zero, is zero. Do not use crayon to write your entry, it causes waxy buildup on your screen. No AI was used in the creation of these constant rules, unless AI stands for Amazing Intelligence or Artificial Imagination, that is! Family members are not eligible - I've had too many people claiming to be 'your favourite uncle' since I won that big lottery jackpot that I used to purchase my poodle posse (see below).

AWARDING THE ANNIBURSARY!

 <POUR PARTAGER LA PISTE>

Seriously though, if that's possible at this point, I believe in giving back. Oddly enough, one reason I started blogging was because when I began in 2008, blogging was pitched as a money-maker! Turns out it can only be successfully monetized with a ginormous and devoted fan base, tons of posts daily and hosting advertisements. Um, no thanks. So I started blogging my own way, pleased to have no editor or rules. If it weren't for Trackside Treasure, there would be no loyal Trackside Treasure readers. There would be none of the amazing connections I've made across the country and even 'round the globe with like-minded readers, and the amazing opportunities and interactions with you that I continue to enjoy. There would be none of the eight books I've created that enabled me to share information with other enthusiasts offline. There would also not be my beautiful backyard castle-themed Ye Olde Grande Halle of Suits of Armour, my 17-volume leather-bound compendium of pudding recipes (Volume Six - Tapioca!), my three-building AI compound, my richly-appointed, high-threadcount matching fez/smoking jacket/pointy slippers I'm wearing right now, nor my Honus Wagner baseball card guarded 24/7 by a highly-effective yet poorly-trained team of irritable poodles who would make any Doberman deferentially retreat in defeat!

In 2023, in order to give back and to celebrate Trackside Treasure's Crystal Anniversary, I proudly announced The Trackside Treasure Annibursary. Each August anniversary forthwith and thereafter, I bestow upon a fellow blogger, enthusiast, reader, community group or preservationist group a modest bursary to fuel their initiative, interest and ingenuity in blogging or other railway-related activity. The bursary can perhaps be used to pay for expenses incurred in sharing information, research costs for travel or materials, preservation efforts or any way the honoree decides upon. The honoree and/or Trackside Treasure will be free to publicize this award as they so choose. 

TIME TO CUT TO THE CRYSTAL!

The Trackside Treasure Annibursary comes with a curvaceous crystalline trophy inscribed with the recipient's name and year as well as the fancy French motto that describes all railway bloggers, researchers and enthusiasts and loosely translates as "To Share The Track". No-one controls cyberspace alone, we need to share: knowledge, enthusiasm and information. That is our lofty goal to which we all ascribe. (Oh, and the 'crystalline trophy' is only a jpeg file, so don't look for a soapstone carving, gold-plated trophy or any achingly-weighty tchotchke in your mail, nor some huge brown paper-wrapped package you have to pick up at the post office, or arriving at your door with accompanied by an armed escort. There's even free shipping. It gets mailed via domestic Canada Post First Class postage!)

The 2026 recipient of The Trackside Treasure Annibursary, the fourth recipient ever, is...

The Larry Paikin Literacy Express at the Eva Rothwell Centre in Hamilton, ON

Housed in imaginatively-renovated former VIA baggage-coach 9301, children step aboard to discover books, imagination, and possibility. The project's goal is to improve low literacy rates in the Hamilton's north-end Keith neighbourhood. The Larry Paikin Literacy Express provides children and youth a quiet location to interact with staff and volunteers to take the next steps toward learning. Reading programs, social media writing, and homework tutoring are offered. As published in the previous post profiling 9301's  journey from idea to reality - it's a truly inspirational story of service above self, as well as being a railway preservation success story!

Congratulations to everyone at the Eva Rothwell Centre as they celebrate the centre's 20th anniversary,

and keep up the great work!

-Eric

Don MacVicar, Founding Chair of the Eva Rothwell Centre kindly responds:

"This is such an honour as your Trackside Treasure blog is so well-presented and records the history of rail in an exceptional way. Thank-you for the bursary [...it will be put] to good use. The Larry Paikin Literacy Express has been a wonderful success as it has enhanced the literacy levels of the children from the K to 8 grades and also we have two adults who are currently at a reading level of grade one and love being on the train car with a one-on-one tutor.  Thanks ever so much - you have made my day."

Don also shared a favourite image showing reading leading kids on to success in myriad fields, "...seeing the joy of a child eagerly wanting to read is so special. This drawing always brought so much joy to me."

The Eva Rothwell Centre's executive director Sam Campanella graciously responds:

"Your support of the Eva Rothwell Centre’s Literacy Programs/Larry Paikin Literacy Express helps provide children and youth with access to tutoring, literacy resources, and meaningful learning opportunities that build confidence, strengthen reading and writing skills, and encourage a lifelong love of learning. Through the Tutoring Program, we are able to provide additional support to help young people improve their literacy skills, succeed academically, and reach their full potential. Every donation...helps ensure that children and youth in our community have the tools, encouragement, and support they need to thrive."

First past the post:

I am dedicating this post to Carole Anne MacVicar. Between the time of Don's initial email to me and this anniversary post, Don's wife Carole left us. Don notes, "Carole was with me in everything we did for 40 years. A great visionary and passionate gifted lady." Carole worked with children, youth and young moms on a daily basis as a co-founder and Executive Director of the Inner City Outreach Ministry (ICOM) for the past 35 years. Carole organized Community Christmas dinners for up to 350 people and supervised the delivery of 150 Christmas Hampers each year. Through the work of ICOM, 2,500 children have had the opportunity to attend summer camp and over 1,000 teens have taken part in winter retreats. What a remarkable life of service.

Running extra...

This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the final August 20, 2016 concert in Kingston by the city's own The Tragically Hip that was broadcast across Canada on CBC. The City of Kingston was asked to this past June to approve $350,000 worth of events throughout the summer in commemoration. Voted down by councillors, the final approved total was a more reasonable $100,000 for scaled-down schedule of events spanning three days - Forever Hip.

A lot has been said about the Hip being Canada's group, providing the playlist of fans' lives etc. The band was tight, Gord Downie was the front man, singing sometimes like he was possessed, and they clicked. Together yet separate. Tough to sing backup with a lead singer with that phrasing. Howling, not growling like that last concert ten years ago. You may have detected a few Hip hints in other Trackside Treasure posts throughout this summer.

Believe it or not, if you live here and are caught saying, "I'm from Kingston but I don't like their music", the Kingston Police send someone to your door. You are zip-tied and driven outside city limits and dropped into the ditch. It's that big a deal. It's also Kingston's longest street sign outside our downtown arena (below - Mark Charlebois photo) that often gets bent by 53-foot transports driven by roadies trying to make the corner (below - naming rights have gone to local radio station K-ROCK, Leon's furniture, now the incorrectly-spelled Slush Puppie, and who knows, if things work out your humble blogger might scrape together the $1,350.00 annual naming rights fee to get 'TRACKSIDE TREASURE' splashed across the side of the barn in six-foot neon someday! Oh wait, I just re-read that more carefully. It's $135,000. Forget it.)

They shot a movie once in my hometown/

I'm not going to debate the Hip's obvious fame, Kingston's ownership of the group, nor even the demise of its lead singer, Gord Downie. I knew Gordie. He was a grade behind me at Amherstview Public School after he transferred from Fairfield Elementary School. Born the month before me, had I not been put ahead a year into Grade 2 we would have been classmates until he left Ernestown Secondary School and went to KCVI, which is where the Hip formed. I prefer my memory of him to be the grinning, tousle-headed, happy kid who loved playing hockey (top photo - Gordie is the goalie on the left). Not the JAWS shirt-wearing worn-out front man who was trotted out like an equally-declining Glenn Campbell for just one more show, despite his obvious condition and reliance on teleprompter. His brain tumour was diagnosed in our laboratory. How's that for bookends?

/everybody was in it from miles around/

In between those elementary and ailing years, the group travelled the world, just as Gord travelled to Toronto for treatment. We saw him one last time walking Ontario Street with his family and friends. I had a few other Hip sightings here. Gord Sinclair accompanied his stepchild to my daughter-in-law's music recital, dapper in blazer, though my Dad referred to his as 'Doctor Ballard' because he was a vet appointed Queen's University Dean of Medicine. Rob Baker's house was the site of a food-bank drive stop during which my wife cut her hand and Rob's mother generously gave her a band-aid. I saw Rob and his companion walking Ontario Street with their big dog. Giving him his celebrity privacy, I was able to overhear these following immortal words, "Did you bring a bag?". Brush with stardom. Or is that stardump?

/well I ain't no movie star / but I can get behind anything/

I wrote the following in an August 20, 2016 email: "I will be watching the Hip [special] on CBC. All over Canada, streets will clear, television sets will click on, folks will arrange themselves with refreshments on their sofas, and after five minutes, people will click them off and say 'I'm not listening to that for three hours!!' Maybe I'm wrong." 

Sacrilege. It's ten years later. The cops are probably heading here right now. When Justin comes to your town to hear the final concert, you know the Hip were indeed hip. Kingstonians who couldn't get tickets rallied in the market square, thumbing their noses at the big-city elite ensconced in the air-conditioned arena with expensive canned beer, and proud to be second-class citizens because they were marking the milestone in the city they shared with The Tragically Hip.

-- It's been a long time coming / it's well worth the wait --

THE LATER LIFE OF VIA 9301

An interesting email introduced itself into my information-inundated inbox at the very end of 2025, from Hamilton's Don MacVicar. The ensuing reading and exploring was like opening a can of cranberry for Christmas dinner. Taking off the lid and enjoying the contents added so much goodness to what was just another meal, er, day. This story of the 'Larry Paikin Literacy Express' involves a lot of people: Larry Paikin, Steve Paikin, Eva Rothwell, and Don, without whom I would not have learned about where VIA 9301 has reached its End of Steel. For good. (Top photo - courtesy Don MacVicar, posted to Railpictures by Dan Tweedle.) 

DREAM BECOMES REALITY -  THE LARRY PAIKIN LITERACY EXPRESS

Rotarian Larry Paikin has given 63 years of service to the Rotary Club of Hamilton. Known for his quiet leadership and unwavering commitment, Larry has been a driving force behind countless Rotary initiatives—from literacy projects to hands-on community service. His legacy includes championing the creation of the Literacy Express at the Eva Rothwell Centre and supporting Hamilton’s cultural scene through the establishment of the Hamilton Philharmonic and Hamilton Place.

Professionally, Larry helped build the Golden Horseshoe skyline contributing to the Skydome as part of Toronto's skyline, and in his nineties could still be seen with his Lexus and its 'REBAR' licence plate.  President of Ennis-Paikin Steel, a Hamilton steel firm and industrial locomotive dealer.

In October 2010 the Paikin family met with the Eva Rothwell Centre's founding president Don MacVicar, to discuss an idea to enhance the reading skills of the children of the Eva Rothwell Centre community centre, housed in the former Robert Land School. Larry, Steve and Jeff Paikin suggested a rail car to become the new home of the program - to inspire young children with the joy of reading in a unique setting. This set the wheels literally in motion, and work on the Larry Paikin Literacy Express began in 2011 and it opened for reading programs in 2014.

The Express is a restored railcar turned-library at the Centre into which children step aboard to discover books, imagination, and possibility. The project's goal is to improve low literacy rates in the Hamilton's north-end Keith neighbourhood. Eva Rothwell was born in 1913 and attended Robert Land School as a child. She married Frank Palonek, and they continued to live in the Keith neighborhood. They were both active members of the community and owned a store in the neighborhood. She took part in fundraising for many worthy causes and loved to give back to her community. Google Maps view of the Centre and 9301:

FINDING AND REFURBISHING 9301

The search for a home for the Literacy Express imaginatively extended to inspections of used railcars in North Bay, Guelph, and Minnesota. Having found ex-VIA 9301, on May 30, 2011 Don met with 9301's owner, Wayne Ettinger at the Trillium Railway, signing an agreement to buy 9301 for $30,000. Canadian Pacific donated the cost of handling the car to RailCare in Hamilton.

A rare bird, 9301 was one of four cars converted by VIA 1984 to baggage-coaches. It began its life as CN 5608 built by Canadian Car & Foundry in 1954; cafe-coach-lounge 3015 from 1964-72; cafe-bar-lounge 2508 from 1972-84 (transferred to VIA in 1978), sold to Ontario government/ONR; leased to Algoma Central, 1990. Algoma Central removed the baggage section and doors, likely for sale in 2010. In 2013, 9301 arrived in Algoma Central overall grey, with faded yellow and maroon frame stripes on the Port Colborne Harbour Railway/Trillium Railway.

Wayne Hannon, General Manager of Railcare Inc.(now Genesee & Wyoming Inc.) started the demolition and then reconstruction of the 9301. Through CareGo, Bob Edwards was the site engineer working alongside Wayne. They hired two students to start on the demolition. CareGo also waived the demurrage of the hosting of the railcar in the yard for 18 months, saving $100,000. In total, $100,000 was raised for the project, with $125,000 of in-kind donations.

One end of 9301 features a plush lounge with comfortable recliners, while the larger section's walls are completely lined with books, many of which were donated by publisher Random House.

Inside, the original red coach seats were removed, the interior was gutted back to the steel supports, Bill Veitch and carpenters framed the interior, added three inches of foam insulation then air-conditioning and heating were installed. S&G Electrical donated time and materials. The exterior was sand-blasted and repainted in CN colours. Blair Hubber, President of Lancaster Group Ltd. wanted to  ensure the children were warm in the winter and cool in the summer - his team installed a complete HVAC system. Bruce Wells was the volunteer site superintendent from New Horizon Group, managing five trades during the last month of the project. Over eighty feet of carpet and oak panelling and Dulux Paints completed the interior.  Tables for the dining area donated by the Ancaster Old Mill. The chairs were donated by the Prince of Wales Vintage Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The curtains were designed, hand-made, donated and installed by Joyce Vanderwoude.

SITE PREPARATION AND 9301 ARRIVES

Gord Mason of G. Mason Construction and his team offered to help build the foundation for the 80-ton 9301, located on a triangular corner intersection of Munroe St. and Wentworth St. N. Gary Moran supplied the rail and P&G Rail installed the track. Gerry Rosenfeld of Fairview Landscaping removed 200 feet of the old fence surrounding the site, before installing a beautiful new fence and much needed access gates for the safety of the children. Riggers from ArcelorMittal Dofasco were on-site in the rainy early morning placing 9301's trucks onto the rails. Empire Transportation handled the move of 9301 to its new home, complete with Hamilton Police escort. Two ArcelorMittal Dofasco cranes gingerly placed 9301 onto its waiting trucks, mere steps from Hamilton harbour and the famed steel mills of 'The Hammer'.

Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell officially opened the retrofitted passenger car after being welcomed with a pipe band and red carpet. "The choice of a railway car is really quite inspired because it represents the start of a journey," Dowdeswell said. "A place that can nourish the spirit and expand their horizons." 

Steve Paikin, recently retired from TVO's The Agenda after 19 seasons, and Larry's son, was the event’s host - formerly TVO's highest paid and arguably best-known staff member. Now the host of TVO Today Live and the Paikin Podcast, and the co-host of the #onpoli podcast, Steve is also a columnist for TVO.org and the Toronto Star, and has published ten books. Steve was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada by Governor- General David Johnston, and a member of the Order of Ontario by Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, both in 2013. In 2025, Lieutenant-Governor Edith Dumont presented him with a King Charles III Coronation Medal. Guess who Steve's final guest was on The Agenda (posted to social media):

I published my original post on VIA's 9300's and 9400's in November, 2022 because it was devilishly difficult to distinguish the two car series from each other. The post garnered the Reverend Don MacVicar's reverent comment nearly three years later! Don, while pursuing higher education at McMaster University and Mohawk College, never lost sight of where he wanted to work and volunteer. As an employee of ArcelorMittal Dofasco for the past 40 years, now retired, he and his wife Carole also celebrated 35 years of volunteering as the co-directors and founders of the InnerCity Outreach Ministry. Don and Carole have both been named Hamilton Citizens of the Year, and Don is the founder of the Eva Rothwell Centre which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.  Don offered to send some photos of this amazing project, and he did!  

"I just saw your post from September and thought I would forward the photos on to you for the CN 9301 passenger car that has been renovated for the children. CN 9301 that was in Algoma then moved to Welland Ont. We then purchased it and transformed it into the Larry Paikin Literacy Express where children are on the passenger car each day Monday to Friday with a one-on-one tutor to enhance their reading. I can send photos if you like. 

-Kind regards. Don, in Hamilton, Ontario"

THE PROJECT IN PICTURES

Don did indeed send a very complete set of photos showing the work on 9301's interior, exterior, site preparation and final appearance. I'd like to thank Don for sharing these photos with me, adding an interesting chapter to the life of these unique VIA cars.

What an amazing project! As someone who has read books to two children and three grandchildren, just as my Dad read to my decades ago from the original Thomas the Tank Engine book series by Rev. W.W. Awdry, I know the excitement of seeing the lightbulb-on moments that come with the dawn of literacy.

Don shared some of his memories that inspired 9301's interior layout: 

"My first ride on a train was in 1959 travelling from Sydney, NS to Edmonton as a three year-old. Discovering the berth we had, the neat fixtures - the club car was my favourite.  I designed the Larry Paikin Literacy Express in that way. We came in the one end of the train car, picked up our books, and went to the dining area with six tables: three (two) seaters and then three (four-seater) tables. The children do their homework there and then they can go to the reading area at the far end of the passenger car and do their reading. 

Although we are in the heart of the industrial area with industry all around, the rail car is sound proof as we have four inches of insulation foam around the whole car with carpet on the floor and heated in the winter and A/C in the summer. Gord Martineau formerly of City TV said it could actually make a great sound studio as it is so well-insulated."

The car looks great both inside and out and I hope it will continue to fulfill its important role for years to come!

Lots o' links:

• Everything Eva Rothwell Centre - even a cameo from Martin Short [hold for applause].
• An excellent backgrounder on the Larry Paikin Literary Express.
• Hamilton's CHCH-TV shows the new car lettering.
• CBC profiled the lead-up to 9301's launch in 2013.
• Toronto Star covered the launch in 2014.
• Larry and Marnie's involvement with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Canadian Brass!
• Fascinating history of Hamilton's scrap dealers - interesting similarities to Kingston's.

Running extra...

Coming next week - it's Trackside Treasure's 18th anniversary. I'm looking forward to the Crystal Anniversary-inspired Trackside Treasure Annibursary going forth for its fourth time for a deserving honoree! Fore! It's my opportunity to give back to this community - I put down my pen once each year to ruminate on the big picture and what continues to inspire me to keep on pressing the 'Publish' button each week. See you there!

Atlas has an HO-scale model of the patched AEQX/Atel Leasing ex-Boston & Maine Porter 3000 cu.ft. covered hoppers, still seen in roofing granule service on CN at Belleville and CP at Havelock. A photo on the White River Division blog mentioned the high price!

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon made an announcement on rail/marine transportation costs for steel shipments in Hamilton this past week, and this was the backdrop:

Staffers adjust the height of the podium, position the speakers, but not so much the motive power: CN 4730's unusual red cab/stripes combo! I know, I know, paint doesn't determine profitability, but it does project corporate pride. Or lack of it.