Why does VIA Rail still have the F40PH-2s?

Amtrak replaced all of their's in the earlier this decade and relies on the P42DC. VIA still uses their's for cross country trips. Is there a retirement date the the F40PH-2?
PS. Is this bad for the locomotives and how is the ice removed?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=134122
BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Easy answer is VIAs F40PHs are newer. VIA 6400 was built 11/86, VIA 6458 was built 07/89. VIA only had 59, 54 remain today. Amtrak 200 was first of a group built in '76 (200-229). 230-409 were built with parts from former SDP40F units between '77-88. 410-415 were purchased used from GO Transit, Toronto, Ontario, these were built in '78. VIA rosters 21 P42DCs built in 2001. Hey, VIA still has 5 Budd RDCs built in the mid to late 50s! Ice isnt a problem.

The backbone of VIA's long haul service, skeletal as it may be, still relies on F40s. The P42's (minority of the locomotive fleet) are only found in Eastern Corridor service, and even the corridor trains use F40s. VIA has talked about re-painting the F40 units - I think to match the P42 paint scheme. Course not sure how well that will go with the stainless steel fleet. VIA will likely have the F40s around for a while - and as previously posted, they've been upgraded, built, or overhauled differently than former Amtrak F40 units.

2spot wrote:Hey, VIA still has 5 Budd RDCs built in the mid to late 50s! Ice isnt a problem.

Make that six RDC's, 3 in Victoria and 3 in Sudbury.

Hey, ENR3870. I know about 6133, 6135 and 6148 working between Victoria and Courtenay, though I dont remember the last time I saw 6133 in service. I only list 6205 and 6215 in service between Sudbury and White River. Did you find another?

2spot wrote:Hey, ENR3870. I know about 6133, 6135 and 6148 working between Victoria and Courtenay, though I dont remember the last time I saw 6133 in service. I only list 6205 and 6215 in service between Sudbury and White River. Did you find another?

VIA RDC-4 6250 also operates on the Lake Superior route. It has no passenger seating and is used for carrying cargo. Over the last several years the Sudbury - White River line has almost always had 3 RDCs in service, while Victoria - Courtenay has often had to get by with 2 (or just 1).

6133 hit a tree not too long ago and has yet to be repaired.

Ken V. I missed RDC4 6250. My bad. ENR 3870. Do you have any idea if 6133 will be repaired? It doesnt get much use. I thought the E&N historical society had their eye on it. It was built by CC&F right? For that matter, wasnt VIA wanting off the island?

I always thought that first and foremost, the reason for still using these Units is that VIA is cash-strapped.

Dieter./

2spot wrote:Ken V. I missed RDC4 6250. My bad. ENR 3870. Do you have any idea if 6133 will be repaired? It doesnt get much use. I thought the E&N historical society had their eye on it. It was built by CC&F right? For that matter, wasnt VIA wanting off the island?

It will get repaired, the 6133 is being used rather frequently lately. 6133 was built by Budd, 6135 was built by CC&F.

I think the reason Via uses these units is that they're EMD 40-series units - one of the most popular, easy to maintain, and reliable units out there. Minus wrecks, fires, accidents, I would assume 90% or more of the 40-2 series locomotives are still in service. Train-service crews love them and MofE people have an easy time working on them.

If I am not mistaken, most if not all of VIA's F40's are all ex Amtrak units, hence all the AMT's on the engineets phone sets for their radios.

And also, VIA only has the P42's because they got em cheap because Amtrak rejected those 21.

Yell at me if I am wrong, cause that info was given to me by CN employees.

VIA's F40PH-2s are not ex-Amtrak units and were purchased new from GMDD London, ON in three batches:

- GPA-30a #6400-6419 blt btn 11/86 and 1/87
- GPA-30b #6420-6429 blt btn 7/87 and 8/87
- GPA-30c #6430-6458 blt btn 4/89 and 7/89

The decision to purchase these locomotives came as a result of a test performed by VIA during the fall and winter of 1984. VIA leased from Amtrak a four-car Pullman-built Superliner trainset and an F40PH locomotive for testing in Western Canada on the route of The <i>Panorama</i> between Edmonton and Winnipeg.

The leased trainset, with the addition of a VIA <i>Tempo</i> electric generator car, operated two days per week in each direction while contemporary equipment ran on the other days.

The consist was as follows:

- Amtrak F40PH #319
- Amtrak Superliner Coach #???
- Amtrak Superliner Baggage-Coach #???
- Amtrak Superliner Sleeper #???
- Amtrak Superliner Diner #???
- VIA "Tempo" Electric Generator #15301

See Canadian Rail #383, Nov-Dec 1984 - pp. 217-218 for more information...

I wasn't aware Amtrak rejected those P42s. Also, why use a tempo generator car if the F40 and Supers are designed to work together on 460v power? I know canada is 575v, but if the engine and train are 460v, who cares?

gp9rm4108 wrote:And also, VIA only has the P42's because they got em cheap because Amtrak rejected those 21.

Yell at me if I am wrong, cause that info was given to me by CN employees.

THE VIA P42S ARE NOBODY'S REJECTS!

As I recall, they were an add-on to another GE order of P42's but don't remember who's. Could have been Amtrak's.