Caption: VIA 6790 and a sister FPA4 thunder over the Port Hope viaduct, handling a sizable VIA train from Toronto eastbound over the Kingston Sub. The stone abutment viaduct around Mile 270 of CN's Kingston Sub was built by CN predecessor Grand Trunk in the 1850's to span the Ganaraska River and harbour area. One can see two sets of crossbucks along Hayward Street below for industrial spurs off CN's Port Hope Town Spur that accessed the harbourfront industries to the south (including the Eldorado Nuclear Limited uranium conversion facility, that had sidings off the harbourfront and to the west). CP's Belleville Sub crosses over the adjacent viaduct in the background.

While the 6-axle PA1 was regarded as Alco's "Glamour Girl" flagship model, the Canadian-built 4-axle MLW FPA4 and FPB4 units were real passenger workhorses, and enjoyed long careers hauling mainline passenger trains on CN and later VIA (long after most of their US Alco FA/PA conterparts were retired) until retirement in the late 80's. Many US shortlines and tourist railroads scooped them up, being more modern 251-powered units, well maintained, and a stylish facsimile of the US-built Alco units that had been, for the most part, retired and scrapped years ago.

Dennis Nehrenz photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.