6539 Is On The Move
Our FP9A locomotive, ex VIA 6539, is being moved from the Ontario Southland Railway (OSR) shops in Salford, Ontario to join the rest of our fleet in Toronto. The locomotive was winterized by the OSR, then wrapped in the shops
The Dayniters Join the Fleet
The VIA Historical Association’s two Dayniter cars and their baggage car have joined the rest of the fleet in Toronto. Dayniters 5700 and 5714 and baggage car 9604 spent a week in transit and arrived in Toronto on November 29.
VIA 6539 is Fully Painted
The VIA Historical Association’s ex VIA Rail locomotive, #6539, was released from the paint shop in time for Halloween – no trick! This FP9A locomotive was repainted into the traditional VIA blue and yellow. This beautiful paint work was generously
6539 Painting Progress
Ex VIA 6539 is being painted into the classic blue and gold scheme. Here are a few progress photos sent by the painter, Bob Merriam.
It’s a Wrap
Our two Dayniters, 5700 and 5714, and our baggage car 9604 have been repainted into the classic blue and gold scheme. Now they need to join the rest of our fleet in Toronto!
6539 Saved!
The VIA Historical Association is very pleased to announce that we have successfully acquired ex VIA 6539. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, and the previous owner, the Ontario Southland Railway, we now own an operational FP9A locomotive.
Baggage Car 9604
On December 1, 2023 the VHA announced that we acquired three “new” rail cars. These three cars included two Dayniter cars and a baggage car. Baggage car 9604 was built in 1954 by National Steel Car for the Canadian National
The Dayniters
On December 1, 2023 the VHA announced that we acquired three “new” rail cars. These three cars included two Dayniter cars and a baggage car. The two Dayniters were built in 1954 by Canadian Car & Foundry for the Canadian
New Z Channel for Edmundston
Even with all the excitement of the future locomotive for the VHA, we still need to continue restoration work on our existing equipment. Chief Mechanical Officer Chris Fox was doing some under-floor work on our E-class sleeper Edmundston recently. He
Saving VIA 6539
The VIA Historical Association (VHA) is excited to announce its first major fundraising campaign. We are purchasing and restoring VIA Rail Canada FP9A locomotive 6539 (later numbered 6303) to lead our 2028 VIA 50th Anniversary heritage train. This will be