Gathered by CN and CP from various sources, VIA Rail’s heritage fleet was understandably varied and offered a wide gamut of accommodations to the travelling public.

This is the story of that motley fleet, which incorporated pretty much every type of passenger accommodation ever devised in North America. Gone were CN’s black & grey and CP’s silver & action red. Canadian passenger trains were now distinctively blue & yellow!

The history of VIA Rail Canada’s inherited passenger fleet will no longer be a mystery shrouded in the mist of misinformation. Never before was such an effort was made to document each of the different types of cars, including new colour floor plans.

This book features plenty of pictures of both interior and exterior of every type of car during each car’s history as practicable, as well as a comprehensive roster of every car’s whereabouts and disposition, including a detailed specification sheet.

A must for every serious enthusiast or Canadian passenger car historian!

The Cars of Via features:

• 300 pages, 9” x 12” hardcover

• More than 400 b&w and colours photos specially selected

• New up-to-date colour diagrams, never produced before, for each passenger car group

• Over 100 passenger train consists

Now, a word from the author, Richard:

It is with great pleasure that I finally present the first volume of this work, The Cars of Via.

Structured by the numbers, it is the first of a series of several comprehensive guides illustrating VIA’s inherited passenger fleet from CN and CP Rail that led to the creation of VIA Rail Canada in 1977.

I've followed my passion for trains through my profession and through this book. After 15 years of in-depth research into the history and technology of these celebrated railcars, the information is now gathered into one place, including a huge collection of personal and shared photos to top it all off. It is my hope you'll enjoy it as much as I enjoyed researching it.

For those unfamiliar with my career, I spent 36 years on the railway! I started as a train operator for CP Rail in 1986, then as a running trade in 1987—working the yards and freights. I even worked VIA’s steam-heated passenger trains as a conductor in the 1980s and finally retired as a locomotive engineer with VIA Rail Canada in 2023. All aboard!

Order Due Date: November 15, 2024

Anticipated Delivery Date: February 2025