Toronto, June 25, 2025: The non-profit VIA Historical Association (VHA) unveiled the first phase of its fully operable heritage train today, during a ceremony at VIA Rail Canada’s Toronto Maintenance Centre (TMC) celebrating that facility’s 40th anniversary. As part of an unprecedented lineup, the blue-and-yellow VHA heritage train was displayed beside Siemens and Budd HEP-1 equipment from VIA’s active fleet, and served as a dramatic backdrop for the event that included a speech from VIA Rail Canada CEO Mario Péloquin.
The VHA equipment on display forms the core of the larger heritage train of former VIA equipment that is being assembled by VHA to celebrate VIA Rail Canada’s upcoming 50th anniversary in 2028.
VIA had retired almost all of its former Canadian National blue-and-yellow cars by the early 1990s, when they were replaced by VIA’s then-new LRC fleet and former CP Rail Budd stainless-steel rolling stock recently rebuilt with head-end power (HEP). Most of VIA’s steam-heated former CN cars were scrapped, but the VHA’s preservation and restoration efforts — volunteer based and funded entirely by supporter donations — are ensuring that this formative era of VIA’s existence is remembered in a tangible and very visible way.
The VHA heritage train of former CN/VIA equipment on display was led by FP9A 6539 (which ended its VIA career as modernized FP9ARM 6303). This locomotive, built by General Motors at London, Ont., in 1958, was acquired by VHA from the Ontario Southland Railway in 2023 and was restored to its late-1970s VIA paint scheme in 2024. It is the only fully operational F-unit wearing VIA colours.
The three former CN cars included in the display — baggage car 9604 and Dayniter coaches 5700 and 5714 — were acquired by VHA from Ontario Northland (ONR) in 2023. Dayniter 5700 is notable as the first of that car type to be converted by CN under a program launched in 1972, with standard coach seats replaced by low-density leg-rest seating for overnight and long-distance comfort. Equipped with HEP during their time on ONR, the three cars were restored to VIA colours in 2024 and represent the first completed phase of VHA’s heritage train project. They will be joined later in 2025 by two more former CN/VIA cars: baggage car 9636 and café-bar-lounge car 2514, acquired by VHA in 2024 and currently being prepared for restoration.
The VIA Historical Association is a registered charitable organization and relies entirely on private donors for funding. Please visit https://viahistory.ca/donate for more information.
VHA’s unique mission includes preserving and restoring examples of VIA Rail Canada rolling stock and locomotives for public exhibition and operation; educating the public about VIA’s vital role in Canada’s transportation network; and documenting VIA’s history through archival materials, exhibits and publications. VHA’s fully bilingual magazine Panorama is distributed at no charge to VHA donors and supporters.
VHA’s growing fleet includes former CN Pullman-Standard sleeping car Edmundston, two Dayniter coaches, café-bar-lounge car 2514, two baggage cars and a group of Budd Rail Diesel Cars including former CN/VIA 6110, built in 1949 as the very first RDC.
The VIA Historical Association is incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, and is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada), R.S.C. 1985, c.1 (5th Supp.). The VHA is not affiliated with VIA Rail Canada, and no endorsement of VHA by VIA Rail Canada is implied or intended.
