By Justin Franz
Canadian Pacific H1b 4-6-4 2816 embarked on a historic tri-nation tour in the spring and summer of 2024 to mark the first anniversary of the CP-Kansas City Southern merger that created the new CPKC Railway.
The locomotive was built in 1930 by the Montreal Locomotive Works and ran for CP until 1960. It was later saved by preservationist F. Nelson Blount for his growing Steamtown U.S.A. collection. In 1998, CP reacquired the locomotive and restored it to become a roaming ambassador for the Class I. It ran for a decade before being stored in 2012. In 2023, it returned to service once again.
On April 26, CP 2816 and its train departed Calgary bound for Mexico City. Along the way, the train visited St. Paul, Minn., Chicago, Kansas City, Mo., and other communities on the CPKC system. The special arrived in Mexico in early June where it attracted some of the largest crowds ever for a steam locomotive tour. After its historic visit to Mexico City, the special turned back north. CP 2816 is due back in Calgary on July 10.
Here’s a look at this historic tri-nation tour. For more coverage, see our 10-page special feature in the August 2024 edition of Railfan & Railroad!
On April 26, CP 2816 is climbing the grade out of Medicine Hat at Bellcott, Alta. (mile 141.9), bound for Dunmore Yard on the Maple Creek Subdivision. The hydrogen unit behind the auxiliary tenders would be dropped at Dunmore. Photo by Christian Schultz.
On April 27, just about everyone in Maple Creek, Sask., — both young and old — came down to see Canadian Pacific 2816 and the “Final Spike Steam Tour” roll through town. The train would overnight in Moose Jaw. Photo by Justin Franz.
Canadian Pacific H1b 4-6-4 2816, the “Empress,” heads east near Balfour, N.D., on CPKC’s Portal Subdivision on the morning of May 1, 2024. Once the train crossed into the United States, the ditch lights that are required north of the border. were taken off. Photo by Jordan Wiest.
On May 8, after being on display at Franklin Park, 2816 and her train ran east toward Tower A-5 to be turned for the following day’s run to Nahant, Iowa. Under the cover of darkness, the special passes the B-12 junction headed for Bensenville (Ill.) Yard. Photo by David Zeman.
The craftsmanship of designer Henry Blaine Bowen and the builders at Montreal Locomotive Works is on full display as CP 2816 roars south at Ashdown, Ark., on May 22. Photo by David Perkins.
Homeward Bound: After a week in Shreveport, La., Canadian Pacific 2816 continued north, leading the Final Spike Steam Tour over the Arkansas River at Redland, Okla., on June 25. The train would spend the night in Kansas City, Mo., before continuing to Davenport, Iowa, and points north. Photo by Terry Redeker.
