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| VIA FP9ARM | |||||||||||||||||
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 Via FP9ARM #6309 undergoing restoration at the Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant, Quebec (September 2007) | |||||||||||||||||
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The Via Rail FP9ARM was a re-manufactured version of a GMD FP9A diesel passenger locomotive, rebuilt between 1983 and 1985 by Canadian National Railways at their Pointe St-Charles shops.
In the early 1980s, Via was suffering from reliability problems with its motive power. While an order for GMD F40PHs was expected to be announced, Via needed to something in the interim to improve service on its routes. Via Rail had a surplus of steam-heated GMD Via FP9A units built in the 1950s and so fifteen of these units were chosen to be re-manufactured. The first twelve units, 6300–6311, were re-manufactured at the CN Pointe St-Charles shops in Montreal while the final three, 6312–6314, were re-manufactured at the CN shops in Moncton, New Brunswick. As part of the re-manufacturing many original components were replaced or upgraded - the original 16-567C engines were rebuilt with 645E series power assemblies, and the Woodward governor was revised, thereby raising the net power for traction from 1,750 to 1,800 hp (1,300 to 1,340 kW).
The first five, re-manufactured in 1983 and early 1984, were outshopped without steam generators and became Via Rail class GPA-418a while the remainder, re-manufactured with Vapor steam generators in mid-1984 to mid-1985, became Via Rail class GPA-418b.
By 1997 Via Rail had retired virtually all of its older steam-heated rolling stock. It was felt that many of the FP9ARMs were still usable, and some of the units had their steam generators and associated piping removed and were retrofitted with head end power alternators. 6300, 6302, 6304, 6307, 6308, 6311 and 6313 all had this done, with the remainder of the units put into storage.
All units were retired and stricken from the active roster upon the completion of delivery of the 900-series P42DCs in late 2001.
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. Their use on these lines allowed for the GMD Via F40PH-2 previously used on these lines to be transferred to other duties. They remained on these lines until retirement.
The FP9ARMs that were not wrecked and scrapped have survived into preservation.
| Key: | Preserved | Scrapped | Still with Via | Sold |
|---|
| Numbers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63xx | ex 65xx | Serial | Build date | Remanufactured | Notes |
| 6300 | 6524 | A1196 | 04/57 | 12/83 | Donated to the BC chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 2011. Shipped to Heber Valley Railroad in Utah. [2] |
| 6301 | 6534 | A1394 | 05/58 | 12/83 | Stored at the Montreal Maintenance Centre |
| 6302 | 6533 | A1393 | 05/58 | 12/83 | Sold Georgia Southwestern Railroad. 6302 Now in service on the Texas State Railroad. [2] |
| 6303 | 6539 | A1399 | 07/58 | 12/83 | Sold Ontario Southland Railway 1400. [2] |
| 6304 | 6509 | A639 | 12/54 | 03/84 | Sold IFE Leasing 6304. Privately owned and stored at Alberta Railway Museum. [2] [3] |
| 6305 | 6508 | A638 | 12/54 | 06/84 | Sold Ontario Southland Railway 6508. [2] |
| 6306 | 6520 | A1050 | 03/57 | 06/84 | Operational West Coast Railway Association as CN 6520. [2] |
| 6307 | 6515 | A1045 | 01/57 | 10/84 | Sold Ohio Central Railroad 6307. Now in service with Canadian Pacific as #4106. [2] |
| 6308 | 6521 | A1051 | 03/57 | 12/84 | Sold Georgia Southwestern Railroad. 6308 Awaiting restoration on the Texas State Railroad. [2] |
| 6309 | 6528 | A1200 | 05/57 | 12/84 | Loaned to Exporail/Canadian Railway Museum. [2] |
| 6310 | 6532 | A1204 | 05/57 | 12/84 | Wrecked, 09/04/1993 |
| 6311 | 6529 | A1201 | 05/57 | 12/84 | Sold IFE Leasing 6311.Privately owned and stored at Alberta Railway Museum. [2] [3] |
| 6312 | 6523 | A1195 | 03/57 | 12/84 | Sold Ontario Southland Railway 1401. [2] |
| 6313 | 6526 | A1198 | 04/57 | 03/85 | Sold Ohio Central Railroad 6313. Now in service with Canadian Pacific as #4107. [2] |
| 6314 | 6527 | A1199 | 04/57 | 05/85 | Wrecked, 09/04/1993 |
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[[Category:narrow
gauge locomotives of the United States]]
