VIA Rail Canada 6400-6458
VIA Rail Canada 6400-6458 are GMDD F40PH-2D locomotives.
Engine | Horsepower | Gearing | Top Speed | Passenger heating |
---|---|---|---|---|
EMD 16V645E3C | 3,000 hp | 58:19 | 90 mph | 500kW alternator driven by CAT C-18 engine |
History
Order
The F40PH locomotives were purchased to allow for the retirement of much of VIA's run-down and antiquated locomotives that they received from CN and CP. The fleet was meant to become the primary long-distance motive power for VIA, with the LRC locomotives providing the bulk of the Corridor service. Three orders were made for a total of 59 units, with deliveries occurring in 1986, 1987, and 1989. Like most EMD locomotives destined for the Canadian market, they were built at the GMDD factory in London, ON.
These units are amongst the last F40PH locomotives built, and are some of the most advanced. While they are classified as -2's, they are closer in technology to 50-series units, with radar wheelslip systems. Much as most other F40PH units, the HEP alternator was gear-driven from the prime mover, meaning that the prime mover must run at a constant RPM regardless of the speed of the actual locomotive. The "D" at the end of the model designation signifies the desktop control stand that the units are equipped with.
Modifications
In the late 1990s, most units had a livery update, featuring large Canadian flags applied to the sides, a thicker blue stripe, and a "Canada" wordmark added.
The clean air room air intake vents on the roof of the units changed to a different style over the years. Most were re-equipped by the early-mid 2000's, but unit 6414 carried its early style intakes until (at least) late 2007. A few units were retrofitted with an extra high-output spot beam just below the main headlights, before this became standard through the mid-life rebuild program.
All units were delivered with the Nathan K3L 3-chime horn. During rebuild, these units received additional 5-chime K5CA-LS 'emergency' horns, mounted on two brackets above the cab, in compliance with new Transport Canada regulations. This type of horn plays the first three bells in 'soft' mode, while all five bells play in 'emergency' mode. In recent years, train crews have been using the 'soft' mode of the K5CA in lieu of the original K3L horns, due to the ineffectiveness of the original horns especially when the locomotive is travelling at full speed.
The Canadian train was featured on the $10 banknote released by the Bank of Canada between 2013 and 2018. Unit 6403 was displayed in the artwork as the lead engine. In order to avoid the number being "immortalized" with an accident, the locomotive was renumbered to 6459 on July 23, 2013.
Deployment
The F40PH fleet serves on all long-distance routes, including all trips on the Canadian, Ocean, Churchill-Winnipeg, Montréal-Jonquière, Montréal-Senneterre, and Prince Rupert-Jasper routes, as well as some service along the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.
As the F40PH fleet was equipped with head-end power (HEP), initially most units had to operate in service with either a steam generator car or another locomotive equipped with steam generators, as VIA still had a significant fleet of steam-heated passenger cars. By the 1990s, most of the steam-heated passenger cars had been retired or rebuilt with HEP, which eliminated the requirement to operate with steam generator cars.
Some surplus units were leased to power-short Canadian Pacific in the 1990's to operate in freight service, often combined with other CP units or lease units on freights.
In the 2000's, most of the lower numbered units were assigned to the east out of Montreal, and most of the higher numbers to the west out of Vancouver for maintenance. A few higher numbered units were assigned Winnipeg as well.
Advertising wraps
During the late 1990s and 2000s, a number of units were given special full body wraps and paint schemes for promotional and advertising purposes. The length of time the wraps were applied varied depending on the promotion and contract details. The Spiderman 2 wrapped units lasted longer than normal: apparently, when VIA tried removing the wraps on two of the wrapped units it damaged the paint underneath, hence the wraps were left intact on the remaining units until the rebuild program.
Rebuild
In the mid-2000s, the fleet was approaching 20 years of age, with heavy usage, and a major mid-life overhaul was required to keep the fleet in a good state of repair. 6400 was sent to CAD Railway Industries Lachine, Quebec to be used as a prototype for a major rebuild program, and was completed in 2006.
Features of the rebuild program included a new prime mover, new traction motors and electricals, plug-in layover system, and a computerized control and diagnostic system. Rebuilt units were also repainted in the new "Renaissance" livery, and received and extra high-output spot beam just below the main headlights.
Pleased with the performance of 6400, in late 2007 VIA announced that the rest of the fleet would be similarly rebuilt. The remaining units would receive refurbished prime movers and a separate HEP genset (instead of an alternator driven by the prime mover), in an effort to make the units more fuel efficient and reliable. CAD began the overhaul of eight locomotives at a time once the testing and debugging process was completed. All units were completed between 2009 and 2012. It is expected that rebuilt units will be able to provide another 15 years of reliable service.
Details
Fleet number | Thumbnail | Date | Serial | Status/Disposal | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6400 | 11/1986 | A4597 | Retired 2010 - Wrecked |
| |
6401 | 11/1986 | A4598 | Active |
| |
6402 | 1986-87 | A4599 | Active |
| |
6403 | 1986-87 | A4600 | Renumbered to 6459 |
| |
6404 | 1986-87 | A4601 | Active |
| |
6405 | 1986-87 | A4602 | Active |
| |
6406 | 11/1986 | A4603 | Active |
| |
6407 | 1986-87 | A4604 | Active |
| |
6408 | 1986-87 | A4605 | Active |
| |
6409 | 12/1986 | A4606 | Active |
| |
6410 | 1986-87 | A4607 | Active |
| |
6411 | 1986-87 | A4608 | Active |
| |
6412 | 1986-87 | A4609 | Active |
| |
6413 | 1986-87 | A4610 | Active |
| |
6414 | 12/1986 | A4612 | Active |
| |
6415 | 12/1986 | A4613 | Active |
| |
6416 | 1986-1987 | A4614 | Active |
| |
6417 | 1986-87 | A4615 | Active |
| |
6418 | 1986-87 | A4616 | Active |
| |
6419 | 01/1987 | A4617 | Active |
| |
6420 | 1987 | A4695 | Active |
| |
6421 | 1987 | A4696 | Active |
| |
6422 | 1987 | A4697 | Retired January 2001 - Wrecked |
| |
6423 | 1987 | A4698 | Retired July 1999 - Wrecked |
| |
6424 | 07/1987 | A4699 | Active |
| |
6425 | 07/1987 | A4700 | Active |
| |
6426 | 1987 | A4701 | Active |
| |
6427 | 07/1987 | A4702 | Active |
| |
6428 | 08/1987 | A4703 | Active |
| |
6429 | 08/1987 | A4704 | Active |
| |
6430 | 1989 | A4631 | Retired January 2001 - Wrecked |
| |
6431 | 1989 | A4632 | Active |
| |
6432 | 04/1989 | A4633 | Active |
| |
6433 | 04/1989 | A4634 | Active |
| |
6434 | 04/1989 | A4835 | Active |
| |
6435 | 1989 | A4836 | Active |
| |
6436 | 1989 | A4837 | Active |
| |
6437 | 04/1989 | A4838 | Active |
| |
6438 | 1989 | A4839 | Active |
| |
6439 | 1989 | A4840 | Active |
| |
6440 | 1989 | A4841 | Active |
| |
6441 | 1989 | A4842 | Active |
| |
6442 | 1989 | A4843 | Active |
| |
6443 | 1989 | A4844 | Active |
| |
6444 | 1989 | A4845 | Retired 2012 - Wrecked |
| |
6445 | 1989 | A4846 | Active |
| |
6446 | 1989 | A4847 | Active |
| |
6447 | 1989 | A4848 | November 1998 - Wrecked |
| |
6448 | 05/1989 | A4849 | Active |
| |
6449 | 1989 | A4850 | Active |
| |
6450 | 1989 | A4851 | Retired January 2001 - Wrecked |
| |
6451 | 1989 | A4852 | Active |
| |
6452 | 1989 | A4853 | Active |
| |
6453 | 1989 | A4854 | Active |
| |
6454 | |
1989 | A4855 | Active |
|
6455 | 1989 | A4856 | Active |
| |
6456 | 1989 | A4857 | Active |
| |
6457 | 1989 | A4858 | Active |
| |
6458 | 1989 | A4859 | Active |
| |
6459 | 1986-87 | A4600 | Active |
|
Wraps
Below is a summary table of VIA F40PH-2 wraps, listing the wrap livery, units wrapped, timeframe and other important notes. Some units were briefly wrapped for a promotional tour or train and never saw regular revenue service, others wore their wraps for years or until rebuilt by CAD Rail.
Wrap/Livery | Units | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Diet Pepsi | 6400 | 1990 (brief) |
|
CBC 50 Years | 6403 | 2002-2010 |
|
Operation Lifesaver | 6411 | 2003-rebuild |
|
Home Hardware | 6429 | 1997-2000? |
|
Telus | 6429 | 2006-2011 |
|
Kool-Aid | 6404, 6405, 6406, 6411, 6424, 6432, 6433, 6439, 6453, 6454 | 2000 (brief) |
|
Spiderman 2 | 6401, 6406, 6408, 6413, 6424, 6434 | 2004-various |
|
Budweiser | 6424 | 2005-2006 |
|
Coors Light | 6408, 6445 | 2011 |
|
Canadian Football League | 6445 | 2012 (brief) |
|
Canada 150 | 6402, 6416, 6436-6437, 6454 | 2017 |
|
VIA 40th Anniversary | 2018 |
| |
Love the Way | 2018-current |
|
References
- Canadian Trackside Guide
- Personal notes & sightings
- Canadian Passenger Rail Yahoo Group
- Manny Jacob's VIA F40PH-2 site
Current Routes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corridor | Ottawa-Montréal-Québec - Sarnia-Toronto - Toronto-Montréal/Ottawa - Windsor-Toronto - Toronto-Kingston - Toronto-London - Maple Leaf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Long Distance | Canadian - Prince Rupert-Jasper - Montréal-Gaspé - Montréal-Jonquière - Montréal-Senneterre - Ocean - White River-Sudbury - Churchill-Winnipeg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current Fleet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locomotives | 201-204 900-920 2200-2231 6401-6402 6404-6459 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Passenger cars | 1720-1722 1750 2300-2331 2600-2631 2700-2731 2800-2831 2900-2931 3248 3300-3372 3451-3475, 3477-3478 4000-4009 4100-4125 7000-7011 7100-7113 7200-7232 7300-7316 7400-7402 7500-7526 7600-7602 8100-8129 8130-8147 8201-8229 8301-8342 8401-8418 8500-8517 8600-8617 8618-8623 8701-8718 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Railroads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|