Comments on: A pair of freshly painted RS-18m Tempo units with Tempo coaches approach Bayview Jct. The short hoods of these units were extended to house the Head End Power equipment. Interestingly, when these units were converted, they were initially painted in the CN green and gold paint scheme. They sure looked nice and shiny.

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 15:56:59 +0000

Great shot (again) Dave. I worked as a yardman on CN in Toronto for 6 months before quitting & hiring on CP in London. Once & a while yardmen would be called off the spareboard to man CN road trains. CN had a job out on Mimico that ran to Oshawa. It used passenger power laying over between runs. I caught the job one night & we had an FPA-4 leading to Oshawa & a Tempo RS-18 leading the return trip. Those Tempo RS-18s had dual controls so the cab was rather crowded.I guess this was to avoid the need to turn the units at the end of the run. Once & a while they would lead long hood forward, although it seems short hood was the norm.

By: Dave Burroughs

Dave Burroughs — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 13:39:27 +0000

Jacob, thanks for digging out the additional information.

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 05:43:48 +0000

Trains 141/146 (to Windsor) would become Tempo beginning Wednesday, July 10, 1968.

Also of note, train 151 took the Guelph Sub westward, returning east as 150 via the Dundas.

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 05:08:58 +0000

Doing some digging through UCRS articles, this would appear to be one of the two round trip employee introductory runs on June 9, 1968 between Toronto and London. Service would begin on Monday, June 17, 1968.

Initially, Tempo equipment was used on trains 147/142, Toronto to Windsor via the Dundas Sub, and trains 151/150, Toronto to Sarnia via the Guelph Sub.

By: Dave Burroughs

Dave Burroughs — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 21:31:38 +0000

Found one picture of a unit in green and gold. I am sure I have another one that wall fully painted and looked real nice. Here is the Tempo before Tempo paint job.
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=28250

By: Dave Burroughs

Dave Burroughs — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 19:47:03 +0000

Steve, I believe they were painted in the Tempo scheme before entering service. I have a couple of shots of the short hood in the green and gold scheme. Will have to go searching for them. Will post them if they are good enough pics.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 16:48:57 +0000

Oh my. This is very nice.

I’m curious, Dave, did the Green and Gold enter service and/or did anyone get photos of these painted before the Tempo scheme came out?

By: pierre fournier

pierre fournier — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 22:05:11 +0000

I worked on one of them at PSC shops in 1968,an engine was put in the lenghtened short hood for the HEP.

By: Dave Burroughs

Dave Burroughs — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 21:18:40 +0000

CN did do test runs with the trainsets for a while before going into full service. Not sure what date Tempo service began.

By: First954

First954 — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 16:00:16 +0000

Very interesting photograph! This appears to be a test train, note the white extra flags on the lead unit, with the new Tempo equipment, perhaps for crew training. Train has two of the original 5 car sets coupled together, perhaps for the first time. Cars were delivered starting in April of 1968. When did actual Tempo service begin?