Railpictures.ca - A.W.Mooney Photo: Back in the very early days of VIA. So what ID do you go by? The nose or the flanks? I enjoyed grabbing shots with this scheme; “CN” on the nose for while it lasted. Power on this westbound is CN (VIA) 6778 and CN 6868. But what train is this? Sun angle suggests it must be #83 but usually it consisted of one diesel and two or three coaches. A very late #72 perhaps. Not sure who is down by the switch. Image shot with Kodak 200 ISO film using a Pentax K-1000 manual camera, which I considered easily the best 35MM camera out there for the money. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

Back in the very early days of VIA. So what ID do you go by? The nose or the flanks? I enjoyed grabbing shots with this scheme; "CN" on the nose for while it lasted. Power on this westbound is CN (VIA) 6778 and CN 6868.
But what train is this? Sun angle suggests it must be #83 but usually it consisted of one diesel and two or three coaches. A very late #72 perhaps. Not sure who is down by the switch.
Image shot with Kodak 200 ISO film using a Pentax K-1000 manual camera, which I considered easily the best 35MM camera out there for the money.

Caption: Back in the very early days of VIA. So what ID do you go by? The nose or the flanks? I enjoyed grabbing shots with this scheme; "CN" on the nose for while it lasted. Power on this westbound is CN (VIA) 6778 and CN 6868. But what train is this? Sun angle suggests it must be #83 but usually it consisted of one diesel and two or three coaches. A very late #72 perhaps. Not sure who is down by the switch. Image shot with Kodak 200 ISO film using a Pentax K-1000 manual camera, which I considered easily the best 35MM camera out there for the money.

Photographer:	A.W.Mooney [2427] (more) (contact)
Date:	11/08/1978 (search)
Railway:	VIA Rail (search)
Reporting Marks:	CN 6778 (VIA) (search)
Train Symbol:	unknown (search)
Subdivision/SNS:	CN Oakville Sub (search)
City/Town:	Bayview Junction (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=47797

Click here to Log-in or Register and add your vote.


18 Favourites	Photographers like Gold.Log-in or Register to show appreciation
View count:	1475 Views

Share this image on Facebook, Twitter or email using the icons below
Photo ID: 46524

Sorry, there is no map for this photo. Photographer did not add GPS co-ordinates. Please add next time or ask for a correction to this photo.

All comments must be positive in nature and abide by site rules. Anything else may be removed without warning.

5 Comments

bruce

January 26, 2022 at 9:47 pm

Any idea who were the people trackside??
awmooney

January 26, 2022 at 9:56 pm

No,I kept thinking they were 3 American fans that were up for the day.
terry.oshell

January 28, 2022 at 9:08 pm

A great action shot, always nice to see the guys who help in keeping the trains moving in your photos.

Looks like Signal guys to me, the one guy appears to be carrying a one gallon bucket of what is most likely graphite dry lubricant. Graphite was applied with a paint brush onto the switch plates, when dried the graphite created a coating to reduce sliding friction between the underside of the switch points and the switch plates when the switch points were moving. Graphite was applied by the Signal Maintainer at regular intervals to ensure reliable operation of power switches.
awmooney

January 28, 2022 at 9:15 pm

Thanks. I thought I could see a hard-hat back there, but wasn’t sure.
Appreciate the “lessons”. Always do.
Todd Steinman

September 25, 2026 at 10:20 am

As for the reporting marks, going by memory there are a few options (can’t remember exactly):

- CN on front nose to indicate switch of CN passenger to VIA. CP didn’t do the same thing.
- CN on front nose to indicate VIA trains running on CN trackage
- CN on front nose, refers to now “ex” CN engine used?

All possibilities, but someone with more clear wisdom will be able to confirm this.

Cancel reply

To comment you must log in. Not a member? Click here to register