Montreal Electrics - The Final Days Cab Rides (1995 Video Classics) 

On the last day of electric operations, I finally got to hoop an electric engine. I'd been an operator for a number of years previously and had passed orders up to almost every type of engine CN had, including steam, but never an electric engine

Excellent video that illustrates the foresight originally displayed in the system. Unfortunately, after a period of some two decades where the infrastructures were partially upgraded, the whole system has been cannibalized in order to allow the yet unproven and abysmally conceived REM system that has obliterated any hope for improved commuter and inter-city rail passenger transportation in the Montreal area. 2023/12/16. Ontario, Canada.

Such ashame montreal turn a historic eletric heavy rail line into a driverless cookie cutter metro lol

What a history of Montreal Electrics movie is great.

Had several cab rides on the EMU's, but never saw the box/steeplecab perspective. Thanks for posting this.

In the end, removing the electric catenary wires and electric locomotives was a Stupid move for class 1 railroads. Why? Because now near the middle of this century, they will have to become Zero Emission, and the only source of power with Zero Emission is Electricity.

Pantograph change at 1:02:00.

I never saw the end of the electrics, having moved to Calgary in 1983. You did a marvellous job with whatever was left of the operation. During the late 60s, all of the 70s and early 80s, I shot dozens os 35mm colour slides of most of these electrics at Val Royal, Mont Royal or the Eastern Junction (EJ). It only occured to me in 1988, during a two-day visit, to shoot some video; the operation then, was still “pure”, with all CN black and white locos, which were still fairly decrepit. Although I appreciate the latter days, it was all on borrowed time, with diesels and tecycled VIA rolling stock. You fid a great job of what was left; I followed all of the transition into exo and various upgrades to this day.

Fantastic video! Thank you for uploading it. I grew up near the Ile Bigras station in the 80s and have fond memories of this train. I wonder if there are any of the old staff around from that Era. Would be so interesting to know things like how did their shifts work? Where did the staff typically live? (In MTL or Deux Montagne?) Who did the maintenance and where was it done. What were their quals and what was the training? What determined the type of locomotive used, or why sometimes they used no locomotive at all and only the drivable passenger cars? I suppose I'll never know these things!!

I have heard these electrics had air whistles later upgraded to horns.Is this true

How many of these of boxcabs were restored, and still exist?

I assume all this lot went straight to the scrapyard? shame.

Good souvenirs ! Thanks for sharing 😁

Did these have horns

THANKS A LOT !!!

😮?