SILVIS, Ill. — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America and the Central States Steam Preservation Association announced today that Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 will pull a public excursion June 29 on the Iowa Interstate Railroad.
According to the two sponsors, the trip is being run as an educational fundraiser to promote railroad safety. The train will make a round trip on the IAIS main line between RRHMA’s Silvis Shop facility and Bureau Jct., Ill. This will be the only public trip being operated during 2816’s current North American tour and 2816’s first public excursion in over a decade.
No. 2816, also known as the “Empress” is currently touring Canada, the U.S., and Mexico as part of its “Final Spike Tour” to mark the first anniversary of the creation of Canadian Pacific Kansas City through the merger of CP and Kansas City Southern. On its northbound return trip the locomotive will stop at the Silvis shop for several days for maintenance including a boiler wash.
CPKC recently published a schedule for No. 2816 when it returns from Mexico City to Calgary, Alberta. That schedule indicates the locomotive would be back in Canada when the excursion takes place June 29. However, recently CPKC decided to extend the Empress’ visit to Mexico by six days, but the published return schedule has not yet been updated to reflect this. The sponsors said they expect CPKC to update their schedule soon, and that the excursion will operate June 29 as advertised.
The trip will travel Iowa Interstate’s freight-only former Rock Island main line that once hosted such famous passenger trains as the Golden State and Rocky Mountain Rocket. It will feature a mix of streamlined ex-Union Pacific air conditioned coaches from the RRHMA fleet and open window heavyweight former Pennsylvania Railroad P-70 coaches owned by Iowa Interstate. Fares are $149 for adults and $89 for children in the streamlined cars, and $129 for adults and $79 for children in the open window cars.
Canadian Pacific No. 2816 was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in December 1930. After being used for heavy passenger service, the locomotive was retired in 1960. In 1964 it was saved by steam fan F. Nelson Blount and added to his Steamtown USA collection. Canadian Pacific reacquired the locomotive from Steamtown in 1998 and after an extensive restoration, it was returned to service in 2001. It traveled the CP system until 2012 when it was put into storage.
In 2021, Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel said if the U.S. Surface Transportation Board approved the CP-KCS merger that the railroad would celebrate by running No. 2816 from Calgary to Mexico City, a promise the railroad has kept.
Capacity of the excursion train is 400 passengers. At this time only members of the organizations can purchase tickets, but sales to the public are expected to begin soon online at rrhma.com.
I am travelling from Michigan to see this! However, I did catch the CPKC “Final Spike” train with a friend, Gary! We caught it in MN/WI/IL!!!! Now, I will see this special train with another “Railfan” friend, Mason! I had originally planned on catching the Final Spike heading into Davenport, Iowa June 18th! But I read they are now going to stay longer in Mexico! I cannot find return trip dates. Also, what are the times for this RHMA excursion? After it arrives back at Silvis, I heard it will get a detailed cleaning of the boiler! I would have liked to see it at the CPKC Nahant Yard! But what date would it arrive and what date would it move between CPKC and IAIS? It is a convoluted route in the Rock Island, IL area!
Could anyone please help with more information? Thanks!
Robert Jackson
This is great news for all railfans. I hope they do something like this when it returns to Calgary, AB