CN ELECTRIC MULTIPLE UNITS LIVE VIEW THROUGH THE CAB 1988
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- čas přidán 15. 12. 2019
- The Deux-Montagnes commuter line is the only heavy rail electrified line in Canada, and still in existence, as part of a regional network with new owners. Prior to 1995, it was operated by CN on an almost hourly basis for just over 75 years.
Our journey starts a fare paying passenger, aboard CN 6743, from Val Royal CN station in north Central Montreal; about 8 miles (12 km), to Gare Centrale/Central Station in the downtown core, on April 15th, 1988; 7 years before the venerable equipment was taken out of service. The video is digitized from 8mm magnetic tape.
Shortly after departure, we go to the front looking through the cab through some stations and then plunge under the city, into the Mount Royal Tunnel to Gare Centrale/Central Station, in the downtown core. After a brief visit iin the station, we board EMU CN 6731, again as a passenger; to Vertu, about 2 miles (3km) from where we first started. Leaving the tunnel, I was invited into the cab by the crew, but wished to photograph VIA 133, pulled by steeple cab electrics at EJ, soon after alighting.
The Mount Royal Tunnel bore is 3.3 miles (±5,4 km) long, 14’ 6” (4,42m) high and 28 ft. (8,6 m) wide; double-tracked to standard gauge (4’ 8 ½”- 1435 mm), with an ascending grade of 0.6% between downtown Gare Centrale and Portal Heights to the north.
Excavation started from both ends 1912-1913; using pneumatic drills and horse power (the real kind). When crews met in the middle, 620 ft. (189 m) under the mountain on December 10, 1913, the error was less than 1 inch (2,5 cm) in alignment, and ¼” (0,635 cm) in depth, quite a feat, considering instruments of a century ago.
Delayed by WWI, the tunnel opened in 1918, with boxcab electric locomotives pulling heavyweight coaches. In 1952, three steeple cab electrics joined the fleet. With increasing commuter needs, CNR then ordered 6 self-propelled electric motor cars and 12 trailer cars from the Canadian Car & Foundry and placed them into hourly service in 1953, as power of choice. Rosters online
Permanently coupled in push-pull configuration, a standard EMU lashup consisted of 1 motor, 1 coach, and 1 trailer, to a maximum of 9 cars (3 sets); with a CN crew, of 1 engineer, 1 conductor and 1 or 2 trainmen. Fitted with a scissors pantograph (@1 per set), motor units provided power to trailer units, equipped with a control cab at the front, for the operator. Due to a 0.6% ascending grade between Central Station and Portal Heights (the north exit); motors always led, out of the tunnel.
About 1971, due to dwindling loads, CN planned to abandon the Deux-Montagnes commuter line; but the service was rescued in 1982, by a 10-year contract, between CN and the Montreal Urban Community Transit Commission (STCUM). CN then retained ownership of the track, rolling stock, and operating crews, while STCUM integrated trains into its transit system and regulated fares. The Québec government meanwhile, set up a commission to eventually purchase the ROW and acquire newer motive power.
During summers 92-93, while improvements were made to the ROW and tunnel, a small overpass was built at Jct. de L’Est (EJ), for grade separation between the CN St-Laurent Sub and the commuter line. We still clatter over the diamond twice, during our 1988 trip.
On June 2nd 1995; after 76 years, 7 months and 12 days, CN 6711 (which led the first train out of the tunnel in 1918), pulled the last train into Central Station and all CN involvement ceased. Val Royal was then decommissioned and demolished 3 days later, after vandalism.
The catenary electrification to 25Kv AC @ 60 Hz, rendered all DC motive power, obsolete. CN then donated a few units for static display, but the bulk of rolling stock was either scrapped or sold; disposal online.
About ¼ mile (600m) west of Val Royal station, a footpath was once a spur to CN Cartierville, allowing short-turned electric locomotives to run around their train. In the mid-70s, I captured CNR unit D-1 in 1954 yellow and green livery, coupled with a tower car; dead on the spur (photos at the end). Formerly, D-1 led cars C-1 and C-2, on Southern Ontario commuter runs; the granddaddy of all Canadian RDCs, and only one of its kind ever built by CN.
Near the former Cartierville turnout, the new owners built trackside platforms; naming the stop “Bois Franc” (hardwood) after the area and the Deux Montagnes line became “exo6”; integrated into the train/bus/metro system, under the umbrella of “Réseau express métropolitain” (REM).
Today, the Mount Royal Tunnel is used by exo 6 to Deux-Montagnes, with newer equipment than in 1995; and exo 5 to Mascouche, with dual power ALP-45DP locos; leaving the wire, shortly after exiting the tunnel.
Before you go. Exo is geared to downtown Montreal workers and doesn’t operate weekends or holidays. Starting January 6, 2020; the tunnel will close for 2-4 years for modern improvements.
Enjoy a part of Canadian history, and thanks a lot for watching. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
11:56 Wow... that was before those departure gates were closed and replaced with a Bureau en Gros (Staples) store.
That's WHY I like to document these things, because, some day, they will no longer be there.
Actually, I took a 360 view of the station, but chose to only put a small portion here, due to time and general interest.
In hindsight, I wish I would have put more of the station, but mostly conventrated on the mu and tunnel.
Thanks for the update; I spent countless hours in Central Ststion, both as passenger, or simply to see the world go by. Same at Windsor station.
So many memories of riding this train, in the 1960’s to mid 1970’s ( my family moved to Manitoba ). Change is inevitable and necessary, but it can still be sad.
Ca fait toujours plaisir de voir des gens de l'extérieur qui s'intéressent a des choses que nous avons au Québec. Comme ce train historique. Merci pour cette belle publication.
Merci, Cher ami.
Je suis un “pure laine” de Montréal, exilé à Calgary depuis 1983; csuse: Trains dans les Rocheuses
@@MrMASSEYJONES Coool, Vous travaillez sur le Canadien ou le Rocky Maontainer ?
@@MrMASSEYJONES Merci M. Et merci pour votre service pour ce pays. Bonne retraite.
Great video .. thanks! The bell clanging is an instant flashback to many years of boarding in Two Mountains.
Thanks to all those who appreciate the video. I’m only sorry that the tunnel portion is so dark, but there is (was) no light, except trackside, to a bare minimum, in case of evacuation. This was later improves an then, still some more. In the video through the tunnel, the only available light was the ditch lights and headlight. mfj
Thank you for posting this. I use to take the train from Roxboro everyday from mid 80's to early 90's. My dad worked for CN for years and I would often take the train to visit him at work as a teenager. The visuals and sounds on this video are priceless,
Your comment touched me.
At 86, been a juice fan since about age 4, liking anything under a wire.
Anyone who ever rode on these lurching old relics; knows the personal feeling more, than can be seen and heard in this video.
Same here… years of taking the train from Roxboro in the 80s and 90s to go to school. My dad worked too for the CN (conductor). Such nice memories!
I learned that back in the day when inter-city trains were still using the tunnel, the locomotives were allowed to run on idle and simply coast down to Central Station. But leaving the station, these trains had to be hauled using the boxcabs.
Also the tunnel opened without fanfare during the 1918 pandemic. Exo commented that it will now close without fanfare during the current pandemic!
From I can read and view here en français, the tunnel is about to get a complete transformation with a station inside the tunnel and the line is about to become a light rail transit extension to the métro; and no longer its own heavy rail line, although it will remain electrified by catenary as before.
I can't thank you enough for posting this video! This is the type of video of which far too few have been made, depicting everyday railway journeys, including things like the sound of the passengers on the inward journey , interior shots of Central Station, and the motor sounds on the outwards journey. Priceless shots of and dialogue of the engineer operating the controls. Things like shaky camera movement and reflections of the interior lighting just enhance the experience. My grandparents lived in a brick house on Canora Rd. just north of the level crossing north of Mount Royal station, and playing on their balcony on the 2nd floor as a small kid watching precisely these trains is probably what sparked my lifelong interest in railways. Thanks again!
Your kind comment touched me, as an ex-Montréalais from the other side of the Main (now 85), who started to visit TMR at age 14.
There, I shot CN motive power from bridges over the track, and acquired most of the motive power in 35mm slides, from 1960 to 1980, before retiring to Calgary to shoot big trains in the mountains.
Once, from one of the TMR bridges, I caught a CN extra; of s Z-1, pulling a single car, which I knew had P.E. Trudeau on board.
Awesome flashback to my youth... just about made me cry:)
Don’t feel bad; I get a few twinges, now and then.
While stationed with the RCAF at Canadair in an aero project, I rented on Grenet; about a block from Val Royal station, and took the train downtown, in preference to bus and métro.
How many times I rode in those cars. Thanks for the memories.
Much appreciated!
Massey
What a great video. These MU's were my first train ride as a young teenager heading out to A Ma Baie. Thanks for sharing.
Many thanks.
To be frank, the video was very specifically aimed at those along the Deux Montagnes line; and most particularly at the younger set, who never experienced those creaky EMUs.
I get no financial reward for posting here, and do it for the satisfaction of getting positive comments, such as yours.
The tunnel will likely be converted to s light rail system (LRT), still run by EXO, and tied into the Greater Montreal and Environs bus, Métro and heavy commuter rail (Québec-Windsor corridor).
There are several CZcams presentations, but the majority is "en français", with a few videos subtitled.
Which shouldn't be a great problem, if you are a certified ferroequinologist interested in research.
Start with REM, which stands for Réseau express métropolitain; or in plain English, the acronym for a metropolitan express network.
No, the LRT won't be run by EXO, or at least not OWNED by them. That whole project is spearheaded by the Caisse, who's supposed to invest Quebec Pension Plan money. And this video just said "a couple of years." If only that were true, will; be more like 4 years AT LEAST.
Thanks for the update. Actually, even though I moved out West in the land of big trains, I keep abreast of the progress, through the Gazette and La Presse amongst other sources. Been interested in transit since I got “lost” in the Montreal Tramways loop in Ahuntsic at age 4 (now 87).
Periodically, I go online to see if there are more engineering videos about the tunnel and so far, am aware of the extra station being constructed, ventilation, etc.
Looking avidly for the opening date and I will probably fly to Montréal to ride the rails then. No problem with abything, I straddle both cultures, but pure laine.
If anyone knows the engineer on the return trip, please thank him again on our behalf.
It was brief ride in the cab, which I thoroughly enjoyed; during a hometown visit, from Western Canada.
The engineer sounded like his first language was English.
As I recall it, the flashing red globe in Central Station’s concourse was where you could find a “red cap” to assist with your baggage. Same as was in Toronto Union Station.
Your captions were helpful. Thanks for the rare old footage.
Thanks. New fact for me. I’m a born and bred Montréalais and have been in Gare Centrale hundreds of times and recall when it was first built. mfj
Marvellous guy, that engineer on the return trip. If you know him, give him my compliments again. Our meeting was far too brief and I didn’t talk a lot, because it would all be recorded on tape.
Also, I had run out of zone fare for the ticket I bought and it transpired later that there were inspectors along the line, checking for a few things, one of which would be for a passenger in the cab; which could have led to demerit points for the engineer and perhaps being fired for breaking the rules.
I am not a foamer; but have been railfanning for 60 years and savoured every moment in that cab.
Absolutely impressed i miss the two mountains already with the mr-90s i hope they find a new home
Word of caution here.
This video is specifically aimed at Montrealers. I noticed that a couple of viewers,showed thumbs down. I post here to share, what it was like “back then”
Im not from Montreal but this video is cool. Must have been really cool riding these cars in person. Love seeing people reading the newspaper. Today folks just look at their cell phones!!
If i only knew back then it would be replaced,i would’ve had taken it more often just for the sake of it.I live with regrets now ☹️
Taking that train was sure a Toonerville Trolley experience, never to be forgotten, as the train lurched about on the otherwise well-kept track; every part seemingly hitting some other part underneath during a trip that seemed lacking lubrication.
Then, there was the almost constant sounding of the bell and, if the operator wasn’t too smooth on the controller, a lurch upon departure from the station; we see some of it here.
Add to this the darkness in the tunnel for 3 miles (now greatly improved and more to come), and it was a stark reminder of the 50s.
But it got you there!
Bit of correction. I, in fact rode in the cab and videoed both the engineer and some of the track ahead, but not for long, as I alighted about 5-10 minutes later. In hindsight, I should have carried on.
Anyone wondering what the # of the other loco on the track at the beginning, it’s CN 6731. A motor unit. I found the number in the same footage that I didn’t put here.
Really enjoyed that. I was looking for myself in Central Station because I worked for CN at that time and would often go down into the station during my lunch hour.
I videoed more than shown, but decided to leave it out and concentrate on the train ride. BTW I have a video of the Betty arriving in Jasper with 2860 in 1988, after Steamexpo. About 20 minutes. Now being assembled. The only one in existence. Starts high up on arrival, alongside a CBC TV crew. mfj
@@MrMASSEYJONES So you edited me out? LOL Seriously, thanks for the great video and I'm really interested in seeing the video on 6060.
@ Bullet Nose Betty - It’s a bit off the track, but I want to give you a teaser and presently wonder how t edit a very small portion taken almost in the dark, to make it more interesting. First of all, the duo arrive at the platform, and I’m above the crowd with a CBC crew, the loco arrive in their TV lights. Then I joins a small crowd and later in the morning, the locomotives switch a lot before 2860 departs west, in a gigantic plume of black smoke. Lots of bell clanging, whistle blowing and tons of steam from the cylinder cocks. Estimated arrival on CZcams, about mid-March. The video will be about 20 minutes long and Bullet Nose Betty 6060 is as big as life.
@ Bullet Nose Betty : The 6060 video is now right here. You’ll enjoy it. It’s full of hisses, toots and clangs by both locos.
I’m going to give you a straight answer.
In fact, I videoed scenes all the way to Café de la Gare, but It’s all about the train and I didn’t think that the portion I removed would be of much interest to anyone
I'm curious what year the coach (middle car) interior still picture was taken? I think I recognize myself in there, but it would have been 1992 -4 if I had long hair.
I’ll have a good look, to see if I can still find the slide (I have about 10,000). Usually, I have put it away after scanning to a PC file. You can probably date the shot around 1972, when I was posted at Canadair and lived nearby on Grenet. Periodically, I used to take the train to get downtown, rather than bus and Métro, it was faster.
The video above was taken after attending a funeral and I had then flown-in from Western Canada and stayed in Montréal for about a week.
After replying to your comment, I took another good look at it. I only went to Montreal once after retiring from the Canadian Forces in 1983 and it was when I shot this video (April 1988), not since. Since you have mentioned 1992 - 94; you can draw the conclusion.
@@MrMASSEYJONES Thanks for the reply. However the guy does look like me!
Any railway footage shot in Sault Ste. Marie?
Unfortunately, I only shot either 35mm slides or negative of the ACR, while there, no video. Now wish I had.
Other than shooting slides of the ACR at the Steelton facility and in the yard, the highlight of my experience with ACR, includes a ride aboard SD40-2 #185; from Oba to Hawk Junction in winter, courtesy of the Super.
I paid regular fare, after coming from a trip on the CN that missed the regular ACR southbound.
Regulations didn’t allow anyone other than ACR personnel over the Montreal River bridge! So you can imagine a dude in blazer and street shoes, alighting from the steps on the conductor’s side; with Samsonite luggage.
I them made my way to Wawa, where I hit the local hotel, waiting for Greyhound to the Soo (they even charged me for a clock - no wake up call).
I took the night Greyhound to The Soo and Toronto, within a couple of hours, as I couldn’t stand the accommodation, the bus depot was friendlier.
@@MrMASSEYJONES Oh, OK! What about Sudbury?
My railfanning (if we can call it that), mostly extended to places such as Moosonee, Timmins and Cochrane on the ONR and places such as Windsor, to photograph the Essex Terminal Railway. As noted above, I alsso visitred the ACR ; and on one occasion, coming off the CN on a "bush" line; the train was late connecting with The Polar Bear Express, and I rode into an SD40-2 cab, courtesy of the ACR Super (by paying the regular passenger fare)
Sudbury was too much like Toronto, with "mainline" trains, although I went through there several times with "The Dominion", and then "The Canadian" and then VIA; from 1953 through 1983.
I then moved to Western Canada, after visiting it several times by rail.
It never occured to railfan around Sudbury; even when ststioned with the Canadian Forces in Toronto (Downsview), for 2 years.
oof! that ACR was SO boring, and the excursion had lasted barely ¾ hour at the bleeding canyon of a destination...
A few of you might be interested that some of this rolling stock is now part of the fleet of the Alberta Prairie Railway (APXX) on excursion service between Stettler and Big Valley. absteamtrain.com
kindly thoughtful update 🍸 I don't remember this line being that busy -- loving all that lively nattering ... I wonder whether those stabled boxcabs must've still been coupled to those old, ever enchanting, cowboy cars...
@@trainrover I can answer this one for you… somewhat.
A couple of the cars were trailers on the Deux Montagnes, and I believe at least 1 was formerly a motor; the pantograph was removed before the car was sold.
One car is APXX 6747 “Val Royal”; who,at one time a long time ago, was CN T9; I didn’t look up its lstrr CN number
Sorry about the typo, I couldn’t’t back out to correct it.
I looked up some more.
APXX 6747 was CN 6747 ex-T9
6744 was CN 6744 ex T5 and 6741 was CN 6741 ex T2
So where on the roster in the 1990s, as I recall, there was also an ex CN motor; the pantograph was removed.
Coming up, I have 3 Alberta Prairie videos taken in 1990; one is about Trip # 3 or 4, arriving at Rowley; the other 2 are at Meeting Creek and Rowley, where AP 41 switches grain hoppers from alongside the local elevator, to get to the front of her train from the mainline; and then puts them back.
Lots of switching, little excursion; it’s mostly aimed at rail fans.
I noticed the side benching on the trailer you filmed and couldn't remember -- I'd taken the line evenings, and the rush-hour loco-hauled consists being Edwardian had clerestory rooves throughout, marvelously spellbinding being full of character they were and damn solid at that (the EMUs were rusting, e.g.)
Your filmings are very cool, you must be proud 🍸
I nearly lost my life riding along that tunnel -- dangling down the slippery stepwell watching rock bulge in and out cozily flipping on by me, praying that nobody open the cabin door to which its handle I was clasping for dear life while 1st revolving and then uprighting myself...
were both the subways at Portal Heights shuttered at the same time, each had been useful many a time?
Go to REM info online to find a few more details; there’s also a great many more details in French; because the bulk of the work is carried in Québec; where French is the prime language; but is shouldn’t be a great problem if you know the basics of the tunnel.
My understanding (and I read and read fluently in both languages (we used French at home); that yhe work started from both ends; although much of the improvement will be at the south (downtown end), with an additional station within the tunnel and elevator(s) to the street.
Now living in Western Canada, I don’t keep up with the progress much, except through TV news en français, as well as on line news in La Presse and others, as well as occasional research about the tunnel construction, to keep me updated.
I also found more material (in English) about the demolition at a website called HATCH
But start at REM (which stands for Réseau express métropolitain ((English: Metropolitan Express Network), where there will be countless details and videos, many in English.
those shuttered foot passages underneath the CPR and Jean-Talon Street (subways), one for each CNR platform -- it's bound to be congested once again above them once neo-barons set about mothballing trucking, right... and -- pardon me -- the rotten calibre of corporateers _stewarding_ the likes of the REM/MEN appall.......
Go to “The Gazette”; which is Montreal’s English language daily newspaper, for updates. You’ll be amply rewarded.
The Gazette is available online as a free app.
what must've become wong with you? why would a member be so keen as to ditch their sm tool hereabouts by pottering over to some statically stale e-billboard for some matter that'd have failed newsworthiness at the early-Eighties..pray tell?
omg....when muzak must've still been cheap enough to broadcast just about everywhere...you'd get home and ask your family whether they'd happened to have heard crazy Aunt Mavis's dread of her latest favourite Eurythmics release being bludgeonly butchered..down in the metro....I hated it, it was the godawfulest psy-op..prior to their juggernaut in germfare these years........
Yes, I remember the Metro having Muzak, I guess sometime in the 90's they stopped (around when busking was legalized?)
yeah, and its disappearance must've heralded all this bother with copyright, what with turning out to be just as costly then as well ... I'd always supposed it a clever tool to counter vandalism...