Comments on: The first run of the new VIA-Amtrak “Maple Leaf” cross-border train service ran on April 26th 1981 with Amtrak F40PH 344, a baggage and six Amfleet cars. But, the next day on April 27th was a ceremonial run with Amtrak F40PH’s 343 & 348, a baggage, 9 Amfleets and a private car on the tail end. Here, the train is shown on Track 12 at Toronto’s Union Station at sunrise, with a ceremonial Maple Leaf banner being put up on the lead unit (for photo-ops? another photo of the train taken passing through Hamilton that day shows it removed from the lead unit). Also note the dual US-Canadian flags. The short baggage car behind the lead units is one of Amtrak’s conversions from a former US Army ambulance kitchen car build in the 1950′s. Amtrak apparently picked up a bunch of these hardly used cars in the mid-70′s and converted some into small baggage cars. Replacing the old CP/VIA (nee-TH&B) Toronto-Buffalo Budd run, the joint Maple Leaf continues to run to this day, albeit with Amtrak P42′s pulling the Amfleets instead of F40′s. Photographer unknown, Dan Dell’Unto collection slide.

By: David Vincent

David Vincent — Fri, 01 May 2020 00:43:23 +0000

Of course no baggage cars anymore, either!