CALGARY, Alberta – Mark your calendars for April 2024. That’s when Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 will embark on a celebratory tour of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City system from Calgary to Mexico City.
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.
A full, detailed schedule will be released early next year.
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.
CPKC had initially planned for the 2816 trip to run this summer, and the locomotive has been running main line tests this month after a successful stationary steam test last month.
More information is available on CPKC’s website.
