The VIA Historical Association was founded in 2020 by a group of dedicated VIA Rail Canada enthusiasts and historians. Building upon the collection assembled by model railroad manufacturer Rapido Trains Inc., the VHA aims to assemble a representative collection of VIA train cars and locomotives to fulsomely interpret the history of Canada’s national passenger railway.
Since its incorporation in 1978, VIA Rail Canada has established itself as a significant and permanent presence in Canada’s railway history. To date, very few artifacts of VIA equipment have been preserved for future generations of Canadian historians and railway enthusiasts to appreciate. As VIA approaches its 50th anniversary, members of the VHA believe it is long past time to celebrate and interpret the history of our nation’s passenger railway.
In the next few years, the majority of VIA’s fleet will be retired and replaced. If we don’t act now, most of this heritage equipment will be either scrapped or dispersed across North America like VIA’s conventional fleet was in the 1990s. The VHA collection will allow VIA’s history to be preserved, and our aim is to maintain the equipment in operational condition according to Transport Canada regulations. We hope that the VHA collection will be used to celebrate VIA’s history during milestone events, such as VIA’s 50th anniversary, festivals, holiday fundraisers and major sporting events. We also hope that VIA will use our collection to operate railfan excursions, charity events, VIP charters, etc. The collection will serve as a travelling museum and educate the public about VIA’s history.
The VIA Historical Association also looks forward to sharing VIA’s history through online exhibitions, printed publications, and in person at railway-related events across the country. While VIA modernizes its fleet to serve the travelling public of the future, the VHA will celebrate the equipment, people and stories of VIA’s past.