VIA FP9ARM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Via Rail FP9ARM number 6309 at the Canadian Railway Museum in St.Constant, Quebec waiting for restoration on 15th June 2006.
Via Rail FP9ARM number 6309 at the Canadian Railway Museum in St.Constant, Quebec waiting for restoration on 15th June 2006.

The VIA Rail FP9ARM was a remanufactured GMDD FP9A.

Contents

[edit] History

In the early-to-mid-1980s VIA needed units equipped with Head End Power (HEP). VIA Rail had a surplus of steam-heated GMDD VIA FP9A units built in the 1950s and so fifteen of these units were remanufactured. The first twelve units, 6300–6311, were remanufactered at the Pointe St-Charles shops in Montreal, Quebec while the final three, 6312–6314, were remanufactered at the CN shops in Moncton, New Brunswick shops.

The first five, remanufactured in 1983 and early 1984 became VIA Rail class GPA-418a while the remainder, remanufactured in mid-1984 to mid-1985 became VIA Rail class GPA-418b

The original 16-567C engine block was replaced with a 16-645C engine block, raising the horse power from 1750 HP to 1800 HP.

[edit] Operations

After rebuilding the FP9ARM units could be found in service across Canada.

In later years the locomotives were used on services in Northern Manitoba and in Northern Quebec. There use on these lines allowed for the GMDD VIA F40PH-2 previously used on these lines to be transferred to other duties. They remained on these lines until retirement.

[edit] Accidents

The 6310 and 6314 were both wrecked in 1993.

[edit] Preservation

One example, 6309, has been preserved by the Canadian Railway Museum, located at St.Constant, Quebec.

[edit] 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 Georgetown Southwestern Railway #6303
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 Donated Canadian Railway Museum
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