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Caption: CN Z4a boxcab electric locomotives 6723 and 6722 pose at Val Royal station, working Montreal area commuter duties on the Deux-Montagnes line. Built in the mid-20's by English Electric for the National Harbour Board, the units worked with similar looking GE boxcar electrics and would be renumbered once or two over the decade, until the end of their operation in 1995 (the old electric fleet was replaced during a modernization program of the line). Val Royal station, originally named Lazard, was renamed again and is currently AMT's Bois Franc station.
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Very cool shot Bill, it’s unfortunate these locomotives were retired.
It’s fortunate for local commuters that the 80 year old equipment was retired! It’s unfortunate that none of these English Electric’s were preserved on the other hand.
What was wrong with it?
For one thing, they were falling apart. For a second thing, they could not even provide heat or air conditioning to the also ancient cars.
They could have at least kept a few for summer service/excursions. These locomotives represent 80+ years of history in the Montreal area.
I’m not saying they’re not important historically. But that would have been impossible anyways as the entire electric system was completely changed, different voltage, etc.