In 1968, Canadian National introduced Tempo – a modern, aluminum, head end power (HEP) equipped passenger fleet for service built by Hawker-Siddeley – for service in Southwestern Ontario. The Tempo fleet was transferred to VIA Rail Canada in 1978 and in 1983, the Tempo coaches were converted from 575V to 480V so they could be hauled by VIA’s LRC and Amtrak’s F40 locomotives, usually on the International between Toronto and Chicago.

Around the same time, VIA Rail also converted six coaches to Snack Coaches, so that on-board amenities could be provided in the absence of a cafe-bar-lounge on certain services.

By 1987, most of the passenger cars were sold to the Rio Grande Ski Train. In 2009 the Tempo was sold back to CN for use on the Algoma Central. The Tempo is still in service today, 50 years later.

Each VIA Rail Tempo Snack Coach features:

• Scaled from blueprints and field measurements
• Full, multi-colour interior with individually-installed seats
• Complete underbody with separate piping and conduit
• Free-rolling, ball-bearing wheelsets
• Track-powered interior lighting and working marker lights • Etched-metal end gates