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“ Who'd thunk it ? “


First generation diesel power in it's fourth decade.


When you and me ( the federal government ) relieved the railways of passenger service in 1978 – to reduce the deficits, increase efficiencies and reduce duplication – who believed that those F's and FPA's would survive through the 1980's? And some into the 90's?


(And steam ( heat )  alive and well ?)


Perhaps a tribute to the quality of CN's maintenance services ?


And conversely an indication of CP's interest in maintaining passenger service /  equipment ?


Or a condemnation: the acute  lack of funding  ( interest ) in rail  “modernization” ? ( Note that the 'LRC' equipment is now in it's fourth decade ! )


Consider that the forty year old Pickering Airport plan continues to move forward – while Canada's high speed rail, after multiple 'studies' (in various decades),  is where ? And Japan's Bullet Train is now six decades in service?


Do consider: IF high speed rail EVER makes it to Canada – get your passenger pics at Bayview /
 Hamilton Jct. / Hamilton West Jct.  now -  any new high speed line will avoid the sharp curves (slow speeds)  through said junctions ! 


Nevertheless, one of my favourite places Hamilton West Junction, the 1980 version of  train #74 slows to a 15 m.p.h. crawl for the curves and turnouts with the venerable – fourth decade in service -  1957 GMD built FP9A 6530 in charge.


 6530 was retired by 1991.


January 1980 Kodachrome by S.Danko.


More F units? Lots to choose in this website!


Some of my favourites:


 F for Freight !   


 Luv those stripes !   


sdfourty
Copyright Notice: This image ©sdfourty all rights reserved.



Caption: “ Who'd thunk it ? “

First generation diesel power in it's fourth decade.

When you and me ( the federal government ) relieved the railways of passenger service in 1978 – to reduce the deficits, increase efficiencies and reduce duplication – who believed that those F's and FPA's would survive through the 1980's? And some into the 90's?

(And steam ( heat ) alive and well ?)

Perhaps a tribute to the quality of CN's maintenance services ?

And conversely an indication of CP's interest in maintaining passenger service / equipment ?

Or a condemnation: the acute lack of funding ( interest ) in rail “modernization” ? ( Note that the 'LRC' equipment is now in it's fourth decade ! )

Consider that the forty year old Pickering Airport plan continues to move forward – while Canada's high speed rail, after multiple 'studies' (in various decades), is where ? And Japan's Bullet Train is now six decades in service?

Do consider: IF high speed rail EVER makes it to Canada – get your passenger pics at Bayview / Hamilton Jct. / Hamilton West Jct. now - any new high speed line will avoid the sharp curves (slow speeds) through said junctions !

Nevertheless, one of my favourite places Hamilton West Junction, the 1980 version of train #74 slows to a 15 m.p.h. crawl for the curves and turnouts with the venerable – fourth decade in service - 1957 GMD built FP9A 6530 in charge.

6530 was retired by 1991.

January 1980 Kodachrome by S.Danko.

More F units? Lots to choose in this website!

Some of my favourites:

F for Freight !

Luv those stripes !

sdfourty

Photographer:
sdfourty [707] (more) (contact)
Date: 01/xx/1980 (search)
Railway: VIA Rail (search)
Reporting Marks: VIA Rail train #74 (search)
Train Symbol: VIA Rail train #74 (search)
Subdivision/SNS: Hamilton West Junction (search)
City/Town: Hamilton West Junction (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
Share Link: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=12853
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Photo ID: 11833

Map courtesy of Open Street Map

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2 Comments
  1. Hamilton West was THE best location in Sou Ontario, in my humble opinion, for variety and traffic count. Sure, many will argue the Bayview Jct itself was better, but I liked the lay of the land at Ham W., and there is always the chance of something rolling down the CP line as well. Nicely done photo; perhaps it is a “standard” for that era, but, alas, that era is long GONE.

  2. And just like on the F40′s that displaced them, the MU flap is open ;)

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