When I was in Toronto recently, I was excited to see my first VIA Rail “Venture” trainsets. These trains have been in service since November 2022; I just didn’t catch them in my previous trips to Toronto.
I was walking along the rail corridor to Union Station, photographing GO Transit and VIA Rail and UP Express as I went. Crossing the tracks via the SkyWalk, I spotted VIA 2306’s nose poking out of the station on track 9.
Please forgive the graininess. I just had my phone with me, and I was shooting through dirty glass, but I did the best that I could with the edits.
Seeing a Venture set, even at rest, was pretty exciting for me.
Over the following weekend, I mentioned to my son Nick that I would like to see a Venture set in motion. We decided to see train 84 Sunday at noon in Kitchener, hoping that it would be a Venture train. Delivery of the Venture trains has been slower than expected, and with the “loss of shunt” debate with CN, there are still locomotive-hauled, LRC- and HEP-equipped trains in the Corridor.
We set up not far from the Kitchener train station to wait for 84 to arrive. As it rolled into view, we were delighted to see that it was indeed a Venture set.
VIA 2207 led the way, and VIA 2306 was trailing. Hello again!
We were very pleased with that shot but we thought we might get the train again.
We hopped in Nick’s car and headed east past the station to set up here near the bridge over the Grand River. We arrived just in time and I quickly snapped a few shots with my phone as the train rocketed past.
I would have liked more time to get under the wires, but you take what you’re given!
In a flash, it was gone.
That was fun!
They are certainly nice looking. After riding them a few times I have to admit the ride is good but the seats I found kind of hard. My favortites are still the old Budd cars, ride them whenever I can but getting rare. Last trip to Belleville Ontario, I saw a Venture set painted all dark yellow, almost orange; what was that about I wondered ?