VIA FP9ARM
Encyclopedia
The Via Rail
FP9ARM was a re-manufactured version of a GMD
FP9A Diesel passenger locomotive.
F40PHs was expected to be announced, Via needed to something in the interim to improve service on its routes.
Via Rail
had a surplus of steam-heated GMD
Via FP9A units built in the 1950s and so fifteen of these units were chosen to be re-manufactured. The first twelve units, 6300–6311, were re-manufactured at the CN
Pointe St-Charles shops in Montreal, Quebec while the final three, 6312–6314, were re-manufactured at the CN
shops in Moncton, New Brunswick
shops. As part of the re-manufacturing many original components were replaced or upgraded - the original 16-567C engines were rebuilt with 645E series piston and cylinder assemblies, raising the horse power from 1750 HP to 1800 HP.
The first five, re-manufactured in 1983 and early 1984 were outshopped without steam generators
became Via Rail
class GPA-418a while the remainder, re-manufactured with Vapor-OK steam generators in mid-1984 to mid-1985 became Via Rail
class GPA-418b.
By 1997 Via Rail had retired virtually all of its older steam-heated rolling stock. It was felt that many of the FP9ARMs were still usable, and some of the units had their steam generators and associated piping removed and were retrofitted with head end power
alternators. 6300, 6302, 6304, 6307, 6308, 6311 and 6313 all had this done, with the remainder of the units put into storage.
All units were retired and stricken from the active roster upon the completion of delivery of the 900-series P42DCs in late 2001.
.
In later years the locomotives were used on services in Northern Manitoba and in Northern Quebec. There use on these lines allowed for the GMD
Via F40PH-2 previously used on these lines to be transferred to other duties. They remained on these lines until retirement.
, located at Saint-Constant, Quebec
. A second unit, 6300, is currently used by Via Rail as a shop switcher in Vancouver, B.C.
.
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
FP9ARM was a re-manufactured version of a GMD
General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel was a Canadian railway diesel locomotive manufacturer.-History:General Motors Diesel, Limited, was created in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro Motive Division of General Motors located in the United States...
FP9A Diesel passenger locomotive.
History
In the early 1980s, Via was suffering from reliability problems with its motive power. While an order for GMDGeneral Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel was a Canadian railway diesel locomotive manufacturer.-History:General Motors Diesel, Limited, was created in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro Motive Division of General Motors located in the United States...
F40PHs was expected to be announced, Via needed to something in the interim to improve service on its routes.
Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
had a surplus of steam-heated GMD
General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel was a Canadian railway diesel locomotive manufacturer.-History:General Motors Diesel, Limited, was created in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro Motive Division of General Motors located in the United States...
Via FP9A units built in the 1950s and so fifteen of these units were chosen to be re-manufactured. The first twelve units, 6300–6311, were re-manufactured at the CN
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
Pointe St-Charles shops in Montreal, Quebec while the final three, 6312–6314, were re-manufactured at the CN
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
shops in Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton is a Canadian city, located in Westmorland County, New Brunswick. The city is situated in southeastern New Brunswick, within the Petitcodiac River Valley, and lies at the geographic centre of the Maritime Provinces...
shops. As part of the re-manufacturing many original components were replaced or upgraded - the original 16-567C engines were rebuilt with 645E series piston and cylinder assemblies, raising the horse power from 1750 HP to 1800 HP.
The first five, re-manufactured in 1983 and early 1984 were outshopped without steam generators
Steam generator (railroad)
Steam generator is the term used to describe a type of boiler used to produce steam for climate control and potable water heating in railroad passenger cars...
became Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
class GPA-418a while the remainder, re-manufactured with Vapor-OK steam generators in mid-1984 to mid-1985 became Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
class GPA-418b.
By 1997 Via Rail had retired virtually all of its older steam-heated rolling stock. It was felt that many of the FP9ARMs were still usable, and some of the units had their steam generators and associated piping removed and were retrofitted with head end power
Head end power
Head end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
alternators. 6300, 6302, 6304, 6307, 6308, 6311 and 6313 all had this done, with the remainder of the units put into storage.
All units were retired and stricken from the active roster upon the completion of delivery of the 900-series P42DCs in late 2001.
Operations
After rebuilding the FP9ARM units could be found in service across CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In later years the locomotives were used on services in Northern Manitoba and in Northern Quebec. There use on these lines allowed for the GMD
General Motors Diesel
General Motors Diesel was a Canadian railway diesel locomotive manufacturer.-History:General Motors Diesel, Limited, was created in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro Motive Division of General Motors located in the United States...
Via F40PH-2 previously used on these lines to be transferred to other duties. They remained on these lines until retirement.
Preservation
One example, 6309, has been loaned to the Canadian Railway MuseumCanadian Railway Museum
The Canadian Railway Museum Musée Ferrovaire Canadien) is a rail transport museum in Delson/Saint-Constant, Quebec south of Montreal.-Collection:...
, located at Saint-Constant, Quebec
Saint-Constant, Quebec
Saint-Constant is an off-island suburb of Montreal in the Roussillon Regional County Municipality of southwestern Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 23,957.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
. A second unit, 6300, is currently used by Via Rail as a shop switcher in Vancouver, B.C.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Fleet details
| Key: | Preserved | Scrapped | Still with Via | Sold |
|---|
| Numbers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63xx | ex 65xx | Serial | Build date | Remanufactured | Notes |
| 6300 | 6524 | A1196 | 04/57 | 12/83 | Still occasionally used as a switcher at the Vancouver Maintenance Centre |
| 6301 | 6534 | A1394 | 05/58 | 12/83 | Stored at the Montreal Maintenance Centre |
| 6302 | 6533 | A1393 | 05/58 | 12/83 | Sold Georgia Southwestern Railroad 6302 |
| 6303 | 6539 | A1399 | 07/58 | 12/83 | Sold Railink #1400 |
| 6304 | 6509 | A639 | 12/54 | 03/84 | Sold IFE Leasing 6304 |
| 6305 | 6508 | A638 | 12/54 | 06/84 | Sold Les Trains Touristique St. Laurant |
| 6306 | 6520 | A1050 | 03/57 | 06/84 | Sold Les Trains Touristique St. Laurant |
| 6307 | 6515 | A1045 | 01/57 | 10/84 | Sold Ohio Central Railroad 6307 |
| 6308 | 6521 | A1051 | 03/57 | 12/84 | Sold Georgia Southwestern Railroad 6308 |
| 6309 | 6528 | A1200 | 05/57 | 12/84 | Loaned to Exporail/Canadian Railway Museum Canadian Railway Museum The Canadian Railway Museum Musée Ferrovaire Canadien) is a rail transport museum in Delson/Saint-Constant, Quebec south of Montreal.-Collection:... |
| 6310 | 6532 | A1204 | 05/57 | 12/84 | Wrecked, 09/04/1993 |
| 6311 | 6529 | A1201 | 05/57 | 12/84 | Sold IFE Leasing 6311 |
| 6312 | 6523 | A1195 | 03/57 | 12/84 | Sold Railink 1401 |
| 6313 | 6526 | A1198 | 04/57 | 03/85 | Sold Ohio Central Railroad # 6313 |
| 6314 | 6527 | A1199 | 04/57 | 05/85 | Wrecked, 09/04/1993 |