VIA's FP9Aus 1991-1993

CN re-manufactured 15 FP9As, which it had sold to VIA, at its Pointe St-Charles and Moncton shops between 1983 and 1985. These locos had been built by GM between 1955 & 1957. The re-manufactured locos, except 6300 to 6304 retained their steam generators and were often used to provide steam heat in conjunction with the the new F40PH-2s which only provided electric heat. The units ran behind the F40PH-2s because those locos did not have steam heating pipes. Usually they ran backwards so that the crews had easy access through the rear door to the steam generator. Seven of the fifteen locomotives are seen in operation between 1991 and 1993.

[@MikeG42]

This was a great era of VIA back then. I love those F40ph units and Budd cars in this scheme and the old blue FP9's and passenger cars. The Canadian was a beautiful train to ride. Excellent video. 👍

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Great video from the VIA.

[@CNFAN79]

These were my favorite VIA units, thanks for sharing David!

[@david-othen]

+CNFAN79 I happen to be an ALCO fan but the FP9s did look graceful!

[@CNFAN79]

+David Othen I guess I'm a little biased given that the last few were re-manufactured in Moncton. When I was small anytime my parents would go to Moncton my dad would take a detour past the shops so I could have a look.

[@david-othen]

+CNFAN79 I did the same thing myself. I even managed to get a private tour of the shops!

[@CNFAN79]

+David Othen That would have been incredible. I never got to see the inside of the main shops but I was in the the Gordan Yard diesel shop a few times.

[@david-othen]

+CNFAN79 I remember the huge presses that pushed the wheels on to the axles and the blacksmiths shop that made the points and crossovers. I too have visited Gordon Shops on many occasions and had both group and personal tours.

[@j_eldridge]

I miss the old train cars, the blue paint scheme really suited the company well

[@david-othen]

+Josh Eldridge Agreed

[@Edwards-Videos]

I 100% agree!

[@SeaboardStudios]

Agreed

[@nssteampunk4865]

0:52 6307 used to run with Ohio Central between 2001 and 2005!

[@MichaelSaraka1980]

She’s now working for CP Rail’s Heritage fleet since 2007 after Jerry Jacobson sold the OC Railroad then got repainted into its maroon and gray heritage colours and was renumbered to CP 4106

[@daveboydell2896]

The WCRA in Squamish has just restored CN 6520 back into the 60's wet noodle scheme. It's absolutely beautiful!

[@ZiggEnt86]

I have a couple of Tim Reid's photos of the old FP9's. They were some good looking locomotives. I miss the FP9's and the LRC's.

[@david-othen]

+General Malarky One of the LRCs is being restored at Toronto Railway Museum. Many of the FP9s are still at work on short lines and tourist railroads!

[@mikeboyd2218]

Is 6432 still in service?

[@mspaddyg]

We used to travel a lot on the old Super Continental in the CN days before Via, it was a much more civilized way of travelling than jammed up in a car and winding up sleeping in run down motels!

[@david-othen]

+paddyg My first train trip after coming to Canada was on CN's Suoer Continental from Edmonton to Winnipeg behind an FP9A & B

[@glenpower1677]

My favorite locomotive!

[@WAYNE1980AA]

thanks for sharing

[@david-othen]

+WAYNE1980AA You are most welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jamie514]

Beautiful ending of the yellow and blue dominance at VIA. I miss that rolling stock a lot.

[@david-othen]

+jamie514 Yes I like the livery too but the metal in the ex CN cars rusted badly whereas the ex CP stainless steel cars are much more durable and they would not look so good in the blue and yellow.

[@jamie514]

Oh I agree the ex CP cars should never be anything but bare stainless with an accent stripe in the corporate colour. Its a shame though that VIA found it unfavourable to salvage the 40-50 of the ex CN CC&F day coaches they would've needed for the HEP2 program instead of the older Budd coaches they sourced and did heavy work on anyway. Several of those blue cars were viable enough to remain in service with Rocky Mountaineer and others were still in tourist road operation for a number of years after VIA withdrew them. And VIA's lounge car Glenfraser is of course from that same pool of equipment. It would've been cool to step into one fitted out like an LRC!

[@david-othen]

+jamie514 We used the former CN cars on the Salem & Hillsborough Railroad in New Brunswick but many parts were rusting out and had to be replaced especially steps, platforms and doors but also window frames!

[@jamie514]

Yeah... To me that sounds like work VIA would have needed perform in the HEP2 Budd rebuild anyway, but I guess at considerably lower magnitude cost even factoring for acquisition expense. They really weren't built to last the same way were they! I just loved their iconic look especially the CN noodle and then the VIA colours.

[@david-othen]

+jamie514 No they were certainly not as robust as the stainless steel cars

[@mmandmcb14]

6300 is now at the Heber Valley Railroad.

[@atsf47legit]

I know I'm late to this, but when is 6300 seen? I know she's a Hinton survivor.

[@maritimerails2493]

How do you find out when the trains are running in Cape Breton central Nova Scotia railway. If it's a site what's it called. I bin trying to film the train but when the trains stoped in parts of Cape Breton it's harder I only seen it one time :(

[@david-othen]

+Train Conductor 98 Yahoo group AtlanticRails is a good source of information. Trains tend to run to a rough schedule. Most start at Stellarton in the morning and go to Truro to interchange with CN but not every day, Then after extensive shunting they return to Stellarton and again shunt. From there they go to Havre Boucher and back often at night. Local trains run from Stellarton to the Michelin plant and to Trenton and from Port Hawkesbury to Havre Boucher and to Tupper to switch the industries there.