VIA Rare Mileage Trip 2025:

 

Prologue:

 

            From time to time GO Transit’s Lakeshore East line in Toronto was shut down for track work. This line carries VIA’s corridor trains to Ottawa and Montreal. During the times VIA reroutes the trains onto the York subdivision which is normally freight only.

 

            I wanted to go for a ride on the line. I saw that VIA was running the detour on April 12 and 13. I was scheduled to work both days. I decided to try to get one of those days off in the same manner as I was able to get the one day off the day so I could go to the Chateau Montebello in 2023.

 

            My plan was to ride VIA train #64 to Cobourg and then take train #67 back to Toronto. My trip unfolded as follows.

 

April 13, 2025:

 

            Due to the day being a Sunday and this trip is a day trip, I decided to drive my car to Finch and park in the parking lot. I then got on the subway and rode to Union. I bought a Pepsi and a chocolate bar at the station before I joined the line for train #64.

 

            Boarding began shortly after 11:00. I was seated in LRC coach #3353. I had a backwards facing seat on the left hand side of the train. The train departed one minute early. The VIA crew announced the detour and updated station arrival times.

 

            The train passed the construction site for the new Ontario line subway. The train then curved onto the line currently used by the Richmond Hill GO train line. This line is used by the inbound Canadian and was used by the Northlander prior to the train being discontinued in 2012. I attempted to photograph the rear of my train.

 

 

            We passed under the Prince Edward Viaduct where I saw a subway train running east on line #2. As we passed the Evergreen Brickworks, I saw TTC Orion 7 hybrid #1086 which is one of the remaining units of the TTC’s first batch of hybrid buses. These buses are the oldest buses in revenue service with TTC. However, Orion 7 #1000 which is the first bus in the series is still in service.

 

            As we passed through a railway crossing, I saw someone filming the train. My ticket was lifted. The train passed under the bridge used by CPKC freight trains. We then passed over the Don Valley Highway which was full of traffic.

 

            We then crossed the York subdivision and stopped. There was no north to east connection. As a result, we had to back onto the York sub. I photographed the backup move with a CN conductor riding the rear of the last coach.

 

 

            The train stopped around the bridge over Bayview Avenue. We soon headed forwards. I photographed a CN intermodal that was going north as it stopped for a crew change.

 

 

            I got lunch around this time. I got up and went to the right hand side of the train. I saw someone photographing the train. The train passed behind the office of Rapido Trains and George’s Trains; a hobby store I frequent. I photographed George’s.

 

 

            I had assumed there would be some railfans in the parking lot at George’s watching VIA trains passing however there were none. From the train I could see the mall where the Wal-Mart I worked at from 2004 to 2010 was. I still go by there from time to time.

 

            The train passed a few golf courses as well as a strip mall with a Home Depot. We crossed over a rail line I believe goes to Peterborough. VIA used to run RDCs to Peterborough until early 1990. A good portion of the line is pretty much unused. However, there have been discussions about bringing GO trains to Peterborough. However, nothing solid has happened.

 

            The train passed a scrapyard with some old cars.

 

            We soon rejoined the regular line VIA trains use just west of Pickering. We passed a westbound CN intermodal. We passed a Westbound GO train. This weekend the Lakeshore East is running between Oshawa and Danforth, which is a couple blocks from the TTC’s Main Street subway station. Danforth is also the first stop east of Union on the Lakeshore East line. The train soon stopped at Oshawa. The train departed a few minutes later. East of Oshawa we were running parallel to the line used by CPKC. VIA train #63 passed, but I was unable to film it.

 

            The train passed non-stop through Port Hope. VIA trains 43 and 643 passed as a J-train but I was unable to film them. We were soon approaching Cobourg. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            Train #64 arrived into Cobourg one minute early according to my VIA ticket. However, the detour adds an extra hour to the ride than normal. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then filmed the train pulling away. I took one more photo.

 

 

I went into the station briefly. I saw there would be two westbound trains before mine. After awhile I went out to see if any trains pass. The Cobourg station is located between the CN and CPKC mainlines. There is a signal west of the station. After awhile it turned on. The first train was a VIA train passing non-stop. It was one of VIA’s new Siemens Venture trainsets. I filmed it passing and took a photo of it.

 

 

            I phoned home and let my dad know I was in Cobourg. I then went back to watch to see if any trains would pass. I saw the signal was on showing a westbound was coming on the far track. It would be a CN autorack train. I photographed it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            The signal turned off. A few minutes later, it turned back on. It appeared there would be an eastbound train. It turned out to be a CN freight train. I photographed the lead locomotive.

 

 

            The train had a mid-train helper unit which I photographed.

 

 

            Less than 20 minutes later VIA train #65 arrived. I filmed it pulling in and photographed it.

 

 

            I filmed the train pulling out and took one more photo.

 

 

            I then went to the station. I asked if there was a chance that I could get on train #53. I found out I couldn’t as it appeared the train was sold out.

 

            I went back to the platform to try to photograph train #53. However, an eastbound CN intermodal came through on the track next to the station. I photographed it hoping it would clear in time so I could see train #53.

 

 

            Thankfully the freight had passed before train #53 showed up. When it did, I filmed it pulling in and photographed it.

 

 

            Train #53 also consisted of one of VIA’s new Siemens Venture trainsets. I filmed the train pulling out and took one more photo.

 

 

            I have heard that the Venture sets were semi-permanently coupled and all the cars and locomotive’s numbers all have the last two digits in common. However, the train was led by cab car #2306 and was pushed by locomotive #2207. So maybe it’s not permanently coupled. However, no one has photographed venture coaches being pushed or pulled by an F40 or P42 as far as I know.

 

            I left the station and went to a nearby gas station for some snacks. I then headed back to the station. I took the backroads to the station. When I got there another westbound CN freight train passed. I attempted to photograph the locomotives.

 

 

The third locomotive is an Ontario Northland SD40.

 

            The train had a mid-train unit which I was unable to photograph. I went inside the station for a few minutes. While I was in the station, an eastbound VIA train passed but I was unable to film it. I left the station again but returned a few minutes later. I filmed a westbound VIA train as it passed non-stop through the station.

 

 

            I then went back to waiting. No CPKC freight trains passed during the time I was in Cobourg.

 

            A few minutes before train #67 was supposed to arrive, we were told that the platform had been changed to platform #2 which required us to go through the pedestrian walkway above the tracks. Fortunately, we made it in time and I filmed train #67 pulling in before I got on.

 

 

            I was seated in LRC coach #3364. The train departed 8 minutes late. I pulled out my laptop and worked on this report some more. We passed an eastbound CN freight. The train passed through Port Hope.

 

            The train stopped at Oshawa a little while later. At Oshawa I saw two VIA trains running as a J-train. The first train uncoupled and departed. The second train pulled ahead. I could see the paint on the other train was looking worse for wear.

 

 

            The crew announced they were waiting for instructions about the detour. We soon departed but a few minutes later, we stopped. The VIA crew said it was due to traffic. After several minutes we were underway again. The train entered the York sub. I noticed that unlike this morning where train #64 ran at track speed, we wouldn’t be traveling as fast.

 

            At one point I saw some deer from the train in a field. I attempted to photograph them.

 

 

            My friend Jason phoned me to see where we were. I let him know. A few minutes later we passed the junkyard I saw this morning. I then photographed it.

 

 

            A minute later I photographed the rail line that goes to Peterborough.

 

 

            A few minutes after that I noticed some “Build Your Dream; BYD” electric buses parked behind a building. I attempted to photograph them.

 

 

 

            An eastbound VIA train passed and I attempted to film it. A little while later I attempted to photograph George’s Trains again.

 

 

            I could see some railfans filming the train. My train slowed to a stop. We were told this would be for traffic ahead. We were moving after 15 minutes. We passed over the line the Richmond Hill GO Train takes and stopped over Bayview Avenue. I saw my friend Jason filming from the bridge.

 

            The train backed up before switching and heading south on the line the Richmond Hill GO train takes to Toronto.

 

            The crew announced that passengers who were to connect to train #79 that the train would wait.

 

            However between Old Cummer and Oriole GO stations, we pulled onto a siding to stop to allow an eastbound VIA train to pass. I filmed it passing. I saw it was a J-train with one of the trains being one of VIA’s Siemens Venture trains.

 

            The train started moving again. The VIA crew announced that train #79 would no longer be waiting and passengers who would have connected with the train were to go to the ticket counter for alternative transportation.

 

            From the train I saw one of TTC’s Orion 7 NG hybrid buses still in the old livery. The sun went down.

 

            We were nearing Union Station. I got my stuff ready in preparation to get off.

 

            Train #67 arrived into Union Station 72 minutes late. This was on top of the delay caused by the detour. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I went downstairs and went to try to photograph the locomotive. I went over and photographed the head end of the train after watching a westbound GO train pass.

 

 

 

            I was wondering if the food court would still be open due to how late the train was. I had a second idea for what to go if the food court was closed. However it was still open and I had dinner. I also logged into the Wi-Fi and worked on this report for a few minutes. I then made a couple calls to my dad and sister. I then got on the subway and rode to Finch. At Finch I got in my car and drove home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            Rare mileage trips are interesting. The only problem was train #67’s lateness. At least I got to have dinner at the food court. Other than that, the trip was enjoyable.

 

            As for me I’m not sure where and when my next trip will be. Until next time…