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Canadian Pacific No. 2816 is a class H1b 4-6-4 "Hudson" type steam locomotive built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1930 for the Canadian Pacific Railway and named the "Empress".
The locomotive was used on heavy passenger service for the Canadian Pacific Railway until the locomotive was formally retired from service in 1960. Canadian Pacific were slow to scrap all their steamers however, due to slumps in metal prices, so 2816 was still extant in 1963 when it was donated to Steamtown, USA in Bellows Falls, Vermont for static preservation, arriving at its new home the following year. By 1985 it was relocated to Steamtown's present home in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
In 1998 the locomotive was transported from Scranton to Montreal via Binghamton and Albany, New York, before being shipped cross country to the BC Rail steam shops in Vancouver for restoration.
On August 15, 2001, the restoration work of 2816 was completed, and on August 16, 2001, it moved again under its own power for the first time in forty one years for a test run. In September 2001, the locomotive made its first trial run from the BC Rail steam shops to its new home of Calgary. After an extensive restoration, the locomotive returned to service in 2001 and has been used by the Canadian Pacific Railway in occasional excursion service.
In 2012, E. Hunter Harrison discontinued 2816's excursion operations, and the locomotive was in storage at Calgary with its future in limbo. Harrison stepped down in early 2017 and was succeeded by Keith Creel, with the locomotive's future still in doubt.
On November 13, 2020, No. 2816 was fired up for a steam test and moved around the Calgary Yard with a railroad representative saying the test was to assess the engine's mechanical condition with "no plans to operate the engine on the main lines." It was subsequently announced that the locomotive would make a run as part of filming a Holiday Train Video. In 2021, Creel said that if the United States Surface Transportation Board approves the CPR's merger with the Kansas City Southern Railway, the railway would celebrate it by bringing No. 2816 back under steam to lead a tour from Calgary, Alberta to Mexico City, Mexico, making No. 2816 the first steam locomotive to run through Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Before that came to fruition, however, No. 2816 was in need of an overhaul, which was completed on June 26, 2023. Following its overhaul, No. 2816 made several test runs in preparation for its upcoming transcontinental tour from Calgary to Mexico City and back. Originally, the tour was scheduled for sometime in the summer of 2023, but on July 20, 2023, it was announced that the tour had been delayed to April 2024 due to the fact that No. 2816 was still undergoing some more test runs and preparations for the trip, as well as the locomotive getting Positive Train Control (PTC) installed in it. On April 24th 2024, the tour was kicked into action with it's first stop in Calgary, AB, 2816 would later depart Calgary on April 26th to head down south to Mexico City. 2816 had stops in Moose Jaw, SK on April 28th, Minot, ND on April 30th, St. Paul, MN on May 3rd, Franklin Park, IL on May 8th, Davenport, IA on May 10th, Kansas City, MO on May 18th, Shreveport, LA on May 24th, Laredo, TX on May 28th, Monterrey, Nuevo León, on May 31st, and Mexico City, MX on June 4th, unfortunately 2816 had hit and killed a woman 3 days before 2816's arrival to Mexico City, the woman was standing too close to the tracks trying to get a selfie with 2816. On June 9th, 2816 departed Mexico City, 2816 had a small stop in Silvis, IL and the last Final Spike event in Winnipeg, MB on July 6th, 2816 departed Winnipeg, MB on July 7th bound for Calgary, 2816 reached Calgary on July 10th 2024 marking the end of a 76 day tour. A short film of CPKC's Final Spike Steam Tour (Pulse of the Continent), was announced and is set to release in the fall of 2024, a trailer is available to watch on CPKC's website, as for CP 2816, it is currently in storage but serviceable.
Trivia[]
- 2816 is the only non-streamlined H1 Hudson to have survived into preservation.
- 2816 was used in Rocky Mountain Express, a 2011 IMAX film which follows the locomotive on a journey from Vancouver to Montreal while telling the CPR's history.
- In 1998, Canadian Pacific purchased 2816 after hearing of its availability from the crews who were running the Royal Hudson 2860, who had been looking for parts for 2860 and were offered the entire locomotive.
- On May 16, 2002, 2816 operated on two trips of the West Coast Express.
- On September 27, 2003, 2816 doubleheaded with Canadian National No. 2141.
- In July 2004 and September 2007, 2816 doubleheader with Milwaukee Road No. 261.
- 2816 used to wear smoke deflectors, but today, it doesn't.
- The restoration of 2816 took over two years and cost over $2,000,000, making it one of the most costly locomotive restorations in Canada.
- In 2011, 2816 was assigned to lead a special Excursion called the "Royal Canadian Pacific".
- During it revenue career, 2816's original tender was swapped with Canadian Pacific No. 2822 while 2822's tender was given to 2816. 2822 wore 2816's tender up until its retirement and would later be scrapped along with 2822. As of today, 2816 still wears 2822's tender.
- 2816 used to be on display at Steamtown for several years before it was moved along with the rest of the collection in 1984 to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the name was changed to Steamtown National Historic Site under the ownership of the National Park Service in 1986.
- In early May 2023, Southern Pacific No. 4449's auxiliary water tender was moved to Canada where it will be temporarily repainted into Canadian Pacific livery to be used as a second auxiliary water tender for 2816 in preparation for its upcoming excursion from Calgary, Alberta to Mexico City, Mexico and back to celebrate the completion of the proposed Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merger. Once this continental excursion is complete, 4449's auxiliary water tender will be repainted back into the Southern Pacific Daylight livery and moved back to Portland, Oregon.
- A short film, Pulse of the Continent: The Final Spike Steam Tour, a film about 2816 and it's Journey from Canada to Mexico is set to release in the Fall of 2024