This photo was published in the October 2014 Branchline magazine, on page 22 in their “Photo Corner” section. Here’s the story behind it.
I made this photograph on September 6, 2014 when CN was running a short train for their Family Days event in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Each year, volunteer CN employees arranged for equipment, food, and a thousand other details to ensure CN family members had a great day.
In 2014, CN provided E9 # 102 along with two passenger cars, TAWAW and CHAMPLAIN. Sadly 102 was not powering the train; that was done by scruffy CN 5279 on the other end. This left 102 as a very pretty caboose, and the crew in 102 blew the horn and rang the bell for crossings.
I guess they grabbed whatever was free around the yard for the “non pretty” end of the train.
The train loaded passengers in Symington Yard, just east of Lagimodiere Boulevard (here). The train then headed west on the St. Boniface spur / Terminals Cutoff line, across Archibald Street to the bridge over the Seine River; then they went back to the yard.
I believe they made at least two runs, but I’m not sure.
The two cars were CHAMPLAIN and TAWAW.
CHAMPLAIN is ICMW 101314, built by Pullman in 1924 as a Salon-Buffet car, IC 4065. It was never a Canadian National coach, spending its whole life with Illinois Central until the IC was acquired by CN in 1998. You can see an undated photo of IC 4065 here, complete with a radio antenna on the roof.
TAWAW is listed as CN 1059, a “reception-marketing” car according to the Trackside Guide. This one was a CN car, built by National Steel Car in 1954 as CN 1088, CAPE CHIGNECTO. It served with VIA but is now part of CN’s business car fleet.
It was fun to chase the train along the St. Boniface spur. It’s not exactly a high speed line and there are plenty of photo opportunities. I think the CN family trains used it because it’s not heavily used so they wouldn’t have to get out of the way of scheduled freights and VIA Rail.
Here’s 102 at the end of the line, with the bridge over the Seine River.
I took a few videos of the train as well.
The one thing that looks out of place, other than the modern power, is the modern CN logo on the E9. I suppose there’s no room for sentimentality on a business train that serves a multinational railway. But the old CN logo and a vintage CN scheme would look great on that old power. A good looking old locomotive nonetheless.
I agree, the giant CN logo looks out of place with the paint scheme. I guess most people wouldn’t know or care.