MONTREAL — Five VIA Rail Canada F40PH-2Ds head for CAD Railway Industries in Lachine, Quebec, on Saturday, Sept. 28, for the start of the latest round of rebuilding of the passenger operator’s longtime workhorses. The VIA F40 fleet last went through rebuilding between 2007 and 2012, also by CAD. VIA solicited bids for refurbishing its fleet of 51 F40s late last year, saying the goal was to extend the lifespan of 39 of the units until 2035. VIA’s website says the company has 53 of the locomotives, built between November 1987 and April 1989, but online information indicates two have been retired as a result of wreck damage.
The F40 is simply the best corridor/commuter locomotive ever built. They are still around for a reason. They even found a home on long distance trains when other options faltered. Long may you run.
My only knock against original F40s was lack of separate HEP.
Another site states the units are: 6426, 6436, 6442, 6456, and 6437.
Thank You
Does anynoe the numbers of those 5 engines? I can read 6426 & 6436. But which are the others?
I always liked the F40’s. They seemed to be very reliable units, as much simpler than the computer heavy units now. Like my Honda S2000, which does not have all the electronics of modern cars. What it was designed to do, it does very well, incredible handling, performance, and simplicity.
I am a fan of the F40PH-2Ds. Have ridden behind them a few times and they seem to haul a big load with gusto over the Rockies.
Better thana straight F40PH in that the F40PH-2Ds have separate HEPs and so don’t have their prime mover screaming all the time.
Long live anything with an EMD 2-stoke.
The Via F40 fleet were built when I started work as a librarian in San Antonio, Texas. I have since retired, and these F40’s may outlive me. [Baldwin 1875
4-4-0 Sonoma and Eureka outlive generations of people.]