Another Unique Locomotive (sort of)

The train on the front of this post card shows the “Rapido” passing through Dorian, Quebec on October 15, 1972. On the open track the “Rapido” will speed along at 90 miles per hour. This is Canadian National Railway’s train number 61. It is being pulled by a sister locomotive to the one that I wrote about last week. It is another FPA-4. The following was taken from this website; it is a series of newletters published by: Canadian Rail_no171_1965 - Exporail.org On the Montreal - Toronto line, the abolition of the "pool" was the signal for CN to take up the speed war where it was left off in 1932. Spearheaded by re-geared GM diesel units, instead of high-wheeled Hudsons, the "Rapido" was inaugurated by the Mayors of its terminal cities over closed-circuit TV with high CN officials in attendance. Champagne bottles were broken over the locomotive fronts (what a waste) and corsages were given to the passengers, along with other souvenirs, free photographs, menus, etc. The first "Rapido" trains consisted of three diesel units, three coaches, one dining car and two parlor cars, the latter having 2-and-l reclining seats. First and last cars carried the word "Rapido" in black on the white lower panel. The trains are scheduled in 4 hours, 59 minutes, with two brief stops to change engine crews at Brockville & Belleville Yard.

The post card was published by Audio Visual Designs out of Earlton, New York. The photo credit goes to Carl H Sturner.