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Caption: It is a steamy hot and hazy August morning and this comes down the hill at Bayview heading East. I marked it as #80, the morning VIA, but I cannot recall now whether this train had a baggage car or not. I keep thinking it was always a 5 car train. And the unusual leader, MLW M-636 #2326, has 'extra' flags. What gives? Yes, we know it is extra unusual and the probable Tempo engine of the day has crapped out somewhere. One thing for sure, railfans even back then no doubt would pay a tad extra to ride behind this behemoth just to listen to her work. Unit was retired by 1996.
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Wow! What a unique photo.
1984 was late in the game for the Tempo Fleet on VIA; only four cars made it to 1986 (the first order of LRC’s was already on the property). With 2326 at the helm there would have been no lights and even worse, NO air conditioning! Perhaps an equipment repositioning event? Note that there are two (of three originally constructed) Tempo car types in the consist.
Thanks for this, Stuart. I kept looking at this photo and knew there was something very wrong with this consist. I thought about an equipment move but why not just tack them onto a couple of eastbound regular trains? Some of you guys out there amaze me with your in-depth knowledge of the railroads.
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Great picture. I was lucky enough to have had the privilage of running 2336 and her sisters.
That would be an interesting unit to ride behind. Nice shot.
How lucky can you get to record such a consist of a big Alco and those Tempo cars following. First and only time I’ve seen that happen. Seems anything is possible in the railroad game of life. Thing is to know about it or to be just plain lucky.
Tes, Robert….this came under “sheer luck” as I was moaning and whining about the humidity and the friend I was with said to me, “Hang on for a few minutes, Arnold. There is bound to be something good this morning”…..as a result we caught this, and then packed it in and went off to the local Timmies. Since my car had no a/c, I would have otherwise packed it in and headed out on the highway.
What an awesome catch!