VIA 6765

In my very limited number board collection, I have a board from VIA 6765. 6765 was built in 1958 by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) for CN as one of 6 in class MPA-18, with serial number 82274. It was transferred to VIA when CN's passenger business became VIA Rail.

I asked my good friend David Morris if he had any photos of 6765. David is a great resource for passenger train information. He found that 6765 was never on the Atlantic but did lead the Scotian at least once, as well as train 18.

Here is 6765 at the head of train 12, the Scotian, at Sackville NB on May 12, 1977. Note the CN logo on the nose, an indication that this was the transition era where VIA was a unit of CN, before CP transferred its passenger equipment to VIA. Also note the CN RS18 as the third unit.

The complete consist was VIA 6765, VIA 6625, CN 3119, 9640, 5419, 5444, 5505, 5722, SOIREE, 1366, and GREENRIDGE.

David also found a photo of 6765 leading train 18 in "Cape" (wherever that is) on April 27, 1980. Here the VIA logo has replaced the CN logo on the nose. This is a shorter train, but notice the dome car.

The consist was VIA 6765, 15410, 9616, 5440, 515, and 5489.

VIA 6765 was retired between 1987 and 1989. As it happens, she survives today at the Canadian Railway Museum in Delson, Quebec. Here is a photo I took of it in 2005 in its original CN livery.

AWESOME cab ride in the Matapedia valley

"Al in Vancouver" put an excellent cab ride video on YouTube. He took a cab ride with his father in a CN freight around 1970, from Campbellton to Sayabec and back, and captured it on 8mm.

The train had CN 3205 leading another engine and a mixed freight train, including what looks like some CN passenger cars. 3205 was a MLW C-424 built in 1966. It was leased to Mexico in 1978 and finally sold to Mexico in 1983.

The video features the train going through Morrissey Rock just outside Campbellton, crossing the Matapedia River, and meeting the Scotian passenger train with an F unit on the point. Al told me it was the Scotian and I believe him, especially since the Ocean would have been running in darkness.

There's no sound but the footage is just great. I can't say enough good things about this video! :) Thanks so much for posting that, Al.