NS VIA FAN wrote:And here's a CN, pre-VIA consist.
CN #73 At Montreal Central Station, February 20, 1976
*6712 GE Electric Box Cab
*6714 GE Electric Box Cab
6787 MLW FPA-4
6636 GMD FP-9B
9332 Baggage
1815 ALANDALE (8 Sec. 2 Comp 1 DR) Heavyweight Sleeper – Build 1923
1087 CAPE BRETON (2 Bdr. 2 Comp. Buffet Lounge)
5227 Coach
5298 Coach (Set off at Arvida)
5187 Coach (Set off at Jonquiere)
*5287 Coach (To #75 at Hervey Jct)
*431 Dinette (To #75 at Hervey Jct)
*1807 CAMPBELLTON (8 Sec. 2 Comp 1 DR) (To #75 at Hervey Jct)
*6712 & *6714 were ancient Electric Box Cabs. They hauled the entire consist out of Central Station through the 3 mile Mt. Royal Tunnel. At Eastern Jct. they cut off and returned to Central Station. (6712 & 6714 had been in service since the Tunnel opened in Oct. 1918 and were actually still hauling commuter trains on the last day of operation in June 1995. The Deux Montagnes line reopened later that year with new Bombardier Electric MUs)
CN #73 operated from Montreal to Jonquiere and Chicoutimi. At Hervey Jct. it set out through cars (*5287, *431 & *1807) to be picked up by CN #75 operating from Quebec City to Senneterre & Cochrane.
Today’s VIA #601-#603 follow a similar route: Montreal to Hervey Jct where they split into sections for Jonquiere and Senneterre but no longer exit Central Station through the Mt. Royal Tunnel. They now follow a route west around the city to rejoin the original route at Eastern Jct.
Well, sorry it took me seven years to respond to your material, Mr. NS
I think back to August 1956 when I rode round trip Montreal-Kapitachuan Club (let's try to forget about "the interim"; canoeing up to Chibougamau before there were rails and highways there is "not really my cup of tea", but my Mother and Father thought otherwise so off I went), a steam locomotive was added and cut at Eastern Jc. I can recall the 8 Sec, 2CP, 1DR cars. Westward, the car was "Anticosti Island" Eastward "McDougal". I thought CN's "portholed" vestibule doors were "unique' and while at Hervey, I was invited into the cab of the steam locomotive by a "sort of" English speaking Engineer.
Just some random thoughts that remain with me fifty six years after the fact.