SALFORD, Ontario — It was fitting that on Oct. 31, a ghost of VIA Rail Canada’s past was officially brought back to life.
The VIA Historical Association completed a full restoration of FP9A No. 6539 back into its classic blue and yellow paint scheme. The unit debuted at the Ontario Southland Railway shops in Salford, following completion by OSR crews and painter Bob Merriam. For the historical group, this was the culmination of a vision conceived when the organization announced it was raising $250,000 to purchase and restore the unit.
“It’s very meaningful to see a locomotive preserved and restored into VIA Rail Canada colors,” said VHA President Jason Shron during the unveiling. “Most of the retired VIA Rail equipment ends up being repainted into shortline colors or back into Canadian National colors. It’s very rare to celebrate VIA Rail Canada in and of itself as a railroad with an important place in North American railway history.”
The association is a not-for profit historical group dedicated to preserving the history of the Canadian passenger carrier. This is the first time an F-series locomotive has been restored to operation adorned in VIA Rail colours. When the group announced its intention to acquire the locomotive in November 2023, it was No. 1400 of OSR, a busy short line that operates over two leased CPKC branchlines to Tillsonburg and St. Thomas.
Shron said working with OSR during the process of restoring the locomotive, which now wears its original VIA road number, was an absolute dream.
“They’re supportive, they’re helpful, and they would give regular updates,” Shron said. “They were collaborative in terms of making sure the paint and lettering was all accurate and the quality was good.”
No. 6539 was one of 43 FP9A locomotives that were built at the General Motors plant in London, Ont., from 1954 to 1958. Manufactured for Canadian National, the FP9A hauled passengers across Canada and were used in freight service during service on CN. While employed by VIA, the FP9As operated across the country in passenger duties.
With the restoration officially completed, VHA is setting its sights on the future. “The plan for 6539 is to lead VIA Rail’s 50th anniversary train in 2028,” Shron said. The group recently completed repainting several vintage coaches in the blue and yellow colors at another shop in Southern Ontario; those cars will also be part of this anniversary train.
— Updated at 8:35 a.m. to correct titles for Ontario Southland officials in caption below.
Except for the retention of the runds and hand rails on the nose and front of N° 6539, the restoration is beautiful.
Numerous Pullman-Standard and Canadian Car & Foundry lightweight passenger cars have been scrapped to the point of scarcity. Meanwhile, the Budd cars are still on VIA Canada’s roster. VIA Historical Association would do well to preserve the Pullman-Standard and Canadian Car & Foundry cars that remain. These are former Canadian National cars acquired by VIA Rail Canada. They were assigned to CN’s premium trains, the ‘Super Continental’ and the ‘Ocean’.
Great looking locomotive.