Comments on: It’s the Northland! Southbound at 07:45 (a.m.), after 545 miles with only 6 miles to Toronto Union Depot, the towers of Thorncliffe Park provide a backdrop for Via CN train #98 powered by ONR’s classic green and yellow FP7-A #1521 and #1501. The power is coupled in the normal Northland ‘elephant style’. The last passenger pool train in Canada? April 1977 Kodachrome by S.Danko.

By: sdfourty

sdfourty — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:09:47 +0000

Appreciate the update smallspy, good observation: the sleeper is one of two CN stainless steel sleepers (CN had 4 SS sleepers in the roster): either 1190 Green Gables or 1191 Greenock, acquired from BAR in 1965: 80 North Twin Lake / 81 South Twin Lake. You are correct: those double lavatory windows are the unique identifier, the sleepers had 6 roomettes – 6 section – 4 double bedroom. Per my prior posting Windigo and Manitou are the former FEC: Scott M. Loftin and Jamaica, respectively and were acquired from FEC in 1967. It is absolutely amazing how CN scoured the U.S. roads for good quality surplus passenger equipment! sdfourty.

By: smallspy

smallspy — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:36:01 +0000

Windigo and Manitou (both former FEC cars) may have been regularly used on the Northland, but that car is not one of them. That is one of the former B&M/BAR 6-6-4 sleepers renamed into the “Green” series. The two small windows at the forward end of the car – for the bathrooms located there – give it away.

By: sdfourty

sdfourty — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:25:58 +0000

The Northland attracted some interesting equipment. Here, the last car is an ONR green coach lettered ‘Polar Bear Express’ with white images of a polar bear at each end of the words. (A car train of these ONR coaches operated in GO Transit service in 1969 – with a plain wide cab GP40 at each end plus a steam generator – someone may have pix?). The second car in this Northland is one of two unique CN stainless steel sleeping cars that were regularly assigned to the Northland throughout the seventies: #1700 Windigo or #1701 Manitou (24 berths (beds): 4 section, 4 roomette, 5 double bedroom, one compartment (the latter would sell as a large bedroom for two passengers, however could sleep 3). Windigo & Manitou built 1954 by Pullman Standard for (? trying to determine from what road CN acquired 1700 & 1701 from…), sdfourty.

By: Cameron A.

Cameron A. — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:49:38 +0000

Lovely! I wonder who the last coach belonged to…?