Caption:

…. yard power …. and given....

... GMD F's and MLW FPA's were so common – unlike VIA F40PH-3's today, which are really uncommon compared to the numbers of F's and FPA”s (at that time) on the respective CN – CP rosters...

….CN #8231 was an interesting contrast....

MLW built S-7 ( circa 1957) awaits next assignment

at CN Spadina, spring 1977 Kodak Tri X negative by S. Danko

what's interesting

Note the plain bearing axles on those trucks – no MU cables – 'road' diesel horn

all CN 8200's retired or sold by 1985 – to my knowledge VIA did not 'own' any S-7's ( or S-13's )

assignments for CN 8200's included coach yard duties at Spadina ( and in Montreal too I believe) to deliver and retrieve passenger, baggage, mail and express cars to / from the coach yard and station, express and post office platforms as well as road power deliveries to / from the service facilities - and in later years the younger S-13 8500's took over some duties

...background left, that is a converted conventional baggage car ( CCF built ) with head end power plant ( electric generator ) to supply power for TEMPO cars ( when a head end generator equipped RS-18m not available ie CN 3150 to 3155 )...

...[ the TEMPO cars, built by HS and based on the TTC subway cars of same vintage, did not last long in VIA service: most TEMPO equipment sold ( 1988 ? ) to D&RGW for their Ski Train and in 2009 bought by ACR Inc. a subsidiary of CN to service the ACR tourist route – an interesting 're-purchase' given CN originated and ordered the TEMPO equipment new ( an exception for CN ) from Hawker Siddeley (Thunder Bay plant ) ]

line up 8200's & 8500's

8500's on duty

sdfourty