On Sunday, April 28, Moose Javians will see a steam engine built in 1930 roll into the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railyard on Manitoba Street.
Known as “The Empress,” the 2816 steam locomotive was retired in 1960, and was used as an ambassador train until 2012, said Terry Cunha, spokesperson with CPKC. “After about a decade of not being utilized, the organization decided to restore it, and bring it back into service.”
In celebration of the one-year anniversary of the merging of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City, they’re holding their “Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour,” which will take the locomotive on an 11-stop tour across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
“What’s so exciting about this steam tour is that it will be the first ever steam-powered passenger train in North America to travel across Canada, the United States, and Mexico in a single trip,” explained Cunha.
The locomotive will leave Calgary, Alberta on April 24, and its tour will conclude in Mexico City, Mexico on June 4.
People are encouraged to come and see the train when it stops in Moose Jaw on Sunday, April 28, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“We’re encouraging members of the community to come on out and visit and look at the Steam Tour and ask a lot of questions of the operators that are on site, who'd be happy to answer questions about this fascinating engine,” said Cunha.
“Those interested will be able to ride our Puffer Belly, which is the mini version of the 2816 steam train.”
CPKC will also have exhibits on site where people can learn more about the history of the steam engine.
Tour dates for the train’s North American trip are as follows:
April 24 – Calgary, AB
April 28 – Moose Jaw, SK
April 30 – Minot, ND
May 3 – St. Paul, MN
May 8 – Franklin Park, IL
May 10 – Davenport, IA
May 18 – Kansas City, MO
May 24 – Shreveport, LA
May 28 – Laredo, TX
May 31 – Monterrey, Mexico
June 4 – Mexico City, Mexico
"The Empress" 2816 locomotive (photo courtesy of CPKC)
Tue, May 7, 1:00 AM
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