"Obsession" - A Jeumont element 041 tribute

This is a video ending an era of the Montréal Métro history; the Jeumont train. This is all the shots I have filmed of element 041, the only Jeumont element I ever caught, from the very first shots of May 12 of 2016, to the very last one on october 27, 2016.

The Jeumont train and its elements (3 cars per element) were a unique part of the Montréal Métro's fleet. In 1971, 2 whole MR-63 trains, owned by the Société de Transport de Montréal, were used to test newer starters that would be installed on the next trains, the MR-73. One train, consisted of elements 010, 011 & 012, was fitted with Hitachi made starters, which were later removed and the train was brought back to its original form. The other train, consisted of elements 040, 041 & 042, was equiped with Jeumont-Schneider built starters. Those were unique prototype stage current choppers that made a note for each "step" of electricity, for a total of 5 notes. They eventually went serial, and built mainly for the MR-73 trains, also used by the STM.
It is unclear what happened with the modified elements between 1971 and 2005, but they eventually made a comeback after several years of abandon. During the rebuilt of the MR-73s, the Jeumont trains came back on tracks, but not all together. Element 040 was not in shape, and therefore was only used for its parts. Element 041 & 042 did come back, but never on the same train. In the 70's, automated controls were installed in the trains, but the Jeumont and Hitachi elements were not compatible. Hitachi elements went back to their original RX motors, and the Jeumont elements were slowly getting abandoned... Because of their incompatibility with the automated controls, which are now a norm, the elements needed to be separated to come back in service in 2005, and were put in the middle of a train (so never controlling it). Element 040 ended up being used for the Just for Laughs festival in 2008. Its essential parts were used to keep the other two working.
Both elements were sometimes seen here and there by railfans and transitfans, which allows us to see old shots of them. They were not always in service, just like most elements, and seemed to follow a similar service pattern.

First time I heard about these elements was in spring of 2016. The sound of the starters amazed me, and still does today. It persuaded me to catch it.

In August 2016, the STM announced that MR-63s would start to be retired. Running on the green and yellow lines, the MR-63s would leave space to accomodate the MR-73s, running on the orange and blue lines, on the green line, which in turn leaves space for the MPM-10s, or AZUR trains, on the orange line. The first known MR-63 car to be retired as part of the retirement plan was motorcar #81-584, part of element 042. The remaining Jeumont element, 041, was obviously at risk of getting retired not long after. This pushed me to chase it every single time I could. It allowed me to get these amazing shots, and probably the last ones ever filmed. Element 041 impressively lasted 2 months longer than element 042, being sent to scrap on November 3, 2016.

R.I.P Jeumont 041 1971- November 3rd, 2016.

Taken between May 12 & October 27, 2016.
Flickr account; https://www.flickr.com/people/adam-dion/