The Final Spike Steam Tour will depart Calgary on April 14, the one-year anniversary of the merger of CP and Kansas City Southern.
Along the way the 2816 and CPKC business train will be on display in Moose Jaw, Sask.; Minot, N.D.; St. Paul, Minn.; Bensenville, Ill.; Davenport, Iowa; Kansas City, Mo.; Shreveport, La.; Laredo, Texas; and Mexico City.
Canadian Pacific 2816, also known as the “Empress”, is a preserved class “H-1b” 4-6-4 Hudson-type steam locomotive built by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) in December 1930 for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). It is the only non-streamlined H1 Hudson to have survived into preservation.
After being used for heavy passenger service, the locomotive was retired in 1960 and donated to Steamtown, U.S.A. at Bellows Falls, Vermont, in 1964. After an extensive restoration, the locomotive returned to service in 2001 and was used by the CPR in occasional excursion service until the discontinuation of the steam program in 2012, after which it remained stored in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. After being teased for a potential return in 2021, the 2816 underwent testing for a return to service in spring of 2024.[1]
Dubbed the Empress, the 2816 was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1930. CP acquired the 2816 in 1998 and returned the locomotive to service in 2001 after an extensive overhaul that included converting it to burn oil. It’s been in storage since 2012.
Steam tour events will be held in Moose Jaw, Minot, St. Paul, Franklin Park, Davenport, Kansas City, Shreveport, and Laredo. At these stops, the public will have the opportunity to see the 2816 up close, learn more about the locomotive and CPKC’s history and enjoy the Puffer Belly Express mini-train, a quarter-scale steam locomotive model.
The Minot event will take place on April 30th at the north end of Main Street, near The Depot and Baggage Claim Bar & Grill. According to The Depot & Baggage Claim Bar & Grill owner, Aaron Faken, the engine will be pulled about ¼ of the way across Main Street, and people will be able to view the 2816 up close from 4 PM to 7 PM. “We are really excited to have this opportunity in Minot” says Faken “the next stop for the train after Minot is in St. Paul”.
Casey Klein, Vice President of The Downtown Business and Professional Association said that “Downtown Minot is welcoming the 2816 with open arms and many of the stores plan to be open extra hours to accommodate was expected to be a very large crowd.”
