What happened to the Canadian National Turbo Trains? Were they used by VIA Rail?
Mike, Ottawa Ontario Of the 10 Turbo units, six were sold by CN to VIA in 1978. VIA retired them between 1979 and 1983. The VIA units were repainted and the noses were painted in the VIA yellow with the VIA symbol. The unit by unit history: CN 125, 126, 128, 151, 154 sold to VIA. CN 127, 128, 152, 153 sold to Amtrak in 1973 but 128 and 153 were wrecked before being delivered. 128 was scrapped while 153 was repaired and sold to VIA. CN 150 was retired in 1975. (Source: Canadian Trackside Guide). Do you have information on the derailment of steam locomotive #5702 at Kingston Ontario. Richard Hewitt, Brampton ON In one of CNR’s more spectacular derailments, the 5702 (4-6-4) on the advance section of passenger train No.15 overturned at Kingston’s Outer Station on August 10, 1947, skidding to a stop outside the operator’s bay window and filling the station with exhaust and water. Excessive speed into the curve on which the station was located was deemed the cause of the incident. (Thanks to
