By Tim Hayman | Secretary, VHA
After its unveiling earlier this year at the Toronto Maintenance Centre, our FP9A locomotive 6539 has joined our beautiful heritage train, which continues to grow as we prepare for to make VIA's 50th anniversary in a few years time.
In June 2025, the VHA was pleased to participate in VIA Rail’s observation of the 40th anniversary of the Toronto Maintenance Centre. When VIA Rail was first formed, it performed maintenance in Toronto’s downtown area. VIA moved its maintenance to Mimico Yard in 1985.
VIA Rail recently broke ground on a project to modernize the TMC, adding capacity to the existing structure and adding a wheel lathe facility and other yard improvements. Our FP9ARM 6539 together with our baggage car and Dayliners provided the “past”, and VIA provided the “present” and the “future” VIA trains. It was a real joy to see the classic blue and yellow on display next to the subsequent generations of VIA equipment.
Thank you to all of our donors who have helped make the restoration work so far possible, and allowed us to mark this first of many milestones. The beautiful restored face of 6539 made for a striking addition to the heritage lineup at this event, and we can't wait to see it ready to operate with our complete train in the future. There's still plenty of work to do to ensure it's in operating shape when that time comes.
[Photos by Christopher Greenlaw]
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