Throwback Thursday - An Ex-CP Via B

Via 6651 was photographed on August 18, 1987 from the Islington Avenue overpass in Toronto.

By Peter Mumby.

The majority of Via's GM F units were of CN heritage, but there were just enough ex-CP locomotives to make for some interesting detail differences.  Take, for example, 1954-built GPB-17f number 6651, shown here at Via's Toronto maintenance facility.  The black paint on the roof is peeling badly, revealing an earlier coat of CP action red.  Also visible on the roof is the CP winter hatch, which stands taller than the corresponding CN appliance.  The unit number has been applied using the slanted CP typeface.  Compare this with the style used on FPA-9 number 6511 which is also part of this consist.