Canadian Pacific 2816

No. 2816 was one of ten H1b-class (the "H" meant the 4-6-4 wheel configuration, the "1" was the design number and the "b" meant it was the second production run) 4-6-4 "Hudson" type built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in late 1930.[1] It was first assigned to the line between Winnipeg and Fort William, Ontario.[1] Later, it was transferred to service between Windsor, Ontario, and Quebec City, and finally it ran a commuter train between Montreal and Rigaud, Quebec.[1] It made its last run on May 26, 1960, after more than 2 million miles (3.2×10^⁶ km) in active service.[2] In January 1964, the locomotive was sold to Steamtown, U.S.A., which evolved into the Steamtown National Historic Site in 1986.[1]

When Steamtown, U.S.A. moved from Bellows Falls, Vermont, to Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the 1980s, No. 2816 was relocated to the new site with the rest of the collection.[1] When the National Park Service took over from the Steamtown Foundation, No. 2816 moved to the Steamtown National Historic Site, and the NPS decided to divest itself of foreign locomotives.[1] In September 1998, the Canadian Pacific purchased No. 2816 after hearing of its availability from the crews who were running the Royal Hudson No. 2860, who had been looking for parts for 2860 and were offered the entire locomotive.[3]

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. The locomotive was completely stripped down and rebuilt, "the most thorough rebuild undertaken on a steam locomotive in North America since the end of their era" according to CPR News.[4] The restoration team was able to use over 800 technical drawings of CPR Hlb class locomotives from the Canada Science and Technology Museum to completely restore 2816 to its 1950s appearance and to its original specifications.[4] During restoration, the locomotive was converted to burn oil and equipped with modern amenities such as a radio and a diesel control unit. The restoration took over two years and cost over $2,000,000, making it one of the most costly locomotive restorations in Canada. CPR was confident in the restoration enough to announce on April 19, 2000, that 2816 would become an ambassador for the railway in the railway's new heritage steam program.[2]

In September 2001, the locomotive made its first trial run from the BC Rail steam shops to its new home of Calgary.[5] It then rejoined the Canadian Pacific fleet as a special excursion locomotive and for public relations. Among other uses, 2816 is used to raise money for school lunch programs and the Children's Wish Foundation.[6]

Between 2001 and 2012, 2816 traveled across Canada and the United States. Today, No. 2816 is one of the most well-known mainline steam excursion locomotives in North America, along with Union Pacific 844, Union Pacific 3985, Union Pacific 4014, Southern Pacific 4449, Santa Fe 3751, Milwaukee Road 261, Norfolk & Western 611, Norfolk & Western 1218, Frisco 1522, Chesapeake & Ohio 614, Pere Marquette 1225, Nickel Plate Road 765, Southern Railway 630, Southern Railway 4501 and Royal Hudson 2860.

At the end of the 2008 season, Canadian Pacific put the steam program on hold (with exception of previously promised engagements) due to financial issues caused by the poor economy. 2816 did not operate at all in 2009, although the steam program was able to take advantage of this down time to do some extensive maintenance work on 2816 and its passenger car fleet. 2816 returned to operation on June 6, 2010. It 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 late 2012, Canadian Pacific CEO Fred Green stepped down and E. Hunter Harrison succeeded him.[7] Harrison had no interest in running steam locomotive operations and discontinued the steam program,[7] forcing No. 2816's excursion operations to be ceased and the locomotive placed in storage in Calgary.[7] Even after Harrison stepped down in early 2017, being succeeded by Keith Creel, the engine remained in storage.[8] 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.[9][10]

Of the five surviving Canadian Pacific Hudsons out of the original 65 built between 1929 and 1940, the 2816 is the only survivor of the non-streamlined H1a and H1b classes built in 1929 and 1930 numbered 2800–2819.[1] The four other remaining sister engines to 2816 are the semi-streamlined Royal Hudsons numbered 2820–2864. The remaining 4 Royal Hudsons are numbers 2839 (H1c), 2850 and 2858 (both H1d) and the 2860 (H1e). Currently, 2816 and 2860 are the only 2 operating 4-6-4 Hudsons in North America; no American 4-6-4 Hudsons are operational.

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  CP No. 2816 on static display at Steamtown, USA Bellows Falls, Vermont, C. 1978
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  The engineer's side of 2816's control cab.
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  The Canadian Pacific 2816 Empress at a stop in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, September 1, 2007.
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  CPR 2816 on static display at Steamtown, USA Bellowsfalls. VT, C. 1974
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  CPR 2816 doubleheading with Milwaukee Road 261 on Sept. 15 2007.

• Rocky Mountain Express
• CP 2816 Empress