Comments on: VIA units pulling freight on the old TH&B: During CP’s lease-anything-that-runs era in the 90′s, Reg Button was out on a cold February morning in 1995 to catch a rather odd lashup: CP SD40-2 5679 leading GP9u’s 8239 and 8236, that are bracketing a pair of leased VIA F40PH-2 passenger units (VIA 6451 & 6449). They’re seen at the head-end of CP train #526, cresting the climb up the Niagara Escarpment on CP’s Hamilton Sub at Vinemount. At one point amid all the rent-a-wrecks and lease units CP had running around the system, they had eight surplus VIA F40′s running around in freight service, working all sorts of locals, turns, wayfreights and mainline trains with CP power (mostly in the Toronto/southern Ontario area, and the Windsor-Toronto-Montreal corridor). Reg Button photo, Dan Dell’Unto collection slide.

By: Noe

Noe — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:53:37 +0000

One reportedly even made it to Owen Sound as well on the CP Owen Sound Subdivision.

By: bruce

bruce — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 17:04:48 +0000

Trust Reg to get this combo.

By: RTCDave

RTCDave — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 19:18:03 +0000

Rode the CP 2nd Oak one evening from Lambton to Oakville and return with two VIA’s. The conductor completly stumped the Oakville Yardmaster when he called using the engine number only asking for yarding instructions.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 10:55:21 +0000

VIA units running locals as well?! Amazing. Thanks for sharing.