Transnational Triumph

At every service stop, 2816’s crew inspects the oiling system installed on the drive wheels, a critical upgrade to the prior grease cake-based lubrication method. William C. Vantuono photo.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour is an historic three-nation round-trip journey that began in Calgary on April 24, 2024 to mark the one-year anniversary of CPKC’s official merger. The train, led by the Empress, H-1b Hudson-type 4-6-4 2816, built by Montreal Locomotive Works in December 1930, has delighted thousands who gathered trackside to see it go by and participate in special events along the way.

Two EMD FP9A locomotives, 1401 and 4107, are included in the consist as protection power, and to assist the very heavy train on grades, if needed. Behind 2816, whose primary tender carries 4,600 gallons of fuel oil and 12,000 gallons of water, are two auxiliary water tenders, each holding 23,000 gallons; EMD FP9As 1401 and 1407; a tool car with a fully equipped machine shop; and 14 cars. The Empress’s 9,000-mile round trip journey between Calgary and Mexico City has never been done before in North America.

A Pocket Watch and PTC

The photo above of Canadian Pacific Kansas City Manager Operating Practices, Steam Heritage Operations Jonathan J. Morris in the engineer’s chair in CP 4-6-4 H-1b 2816, the fabled and famous Empress, could have been taken in the 1930s. Morris is checking a traditional railroad time-keeping device, a pocket watch, to ensure an on-time departure. But look closely below the array of beautiful, polished brass gauges and you’ll see a 21st-century digital PTC display.

Yes, folks, PTC—in a steam locomotive built decades before anyone thought of combining the words “positive,” “train” and “control” to define a now-ubiquitous communications and signaling technology. It’s installed as a self-contained system on 2816—the world’s first-such application on a steam locomotive. The onboard equipment is located in a specially designed cabinet on the lower left-hand side of the tender, just behind the cab. As such, 2816 can operate solo in PTC territory. A rather elegant solution, eh? (as they say in Canada). (Now, Union Pacific has modified Big Boy 4014’s PTC system to be self-contained.)

During more than three decades at Railway Age, I’ve enjoyed numerous cab rides on all types of equipment, diesel and electric, in North America and Europe. So far, the one I experienced, with my wife by my side, aboard 2816 on the former Kansas City Southern Pittsburg Subdivision between Amsterdam and Pittsburg, Mo., during the Kansas City-Shreveport segment of CPKC’s Calgary to Mexico City Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour tops them all. And yes, we both got to blow the steam whistle (insert huge smile). It’s one of those life experiences that stays with you. (Video below.)

Many thanks to all the CPKC and Royal Canadian Pacific people who hosted Railway Age on the tour, which CEO Keith Creel shared first with us in September 2021 when Canadian Pacific and KCS signed the papers to create (with STB approval pending) North America’s first and only single-line transnational railroad. “We of course do not want to get out in front of the STB, but if all goes as anticipated, 2816 will be on the head end, in full steam,” he told me. It was worth the wait!

The STB approved the historic transaction 4-1 (the lone dissent coming from the agency’s current chair, but no matter). Keith Creel and Pat Ottensmeyer drove the ceremonial final spike in Kansas City on April 14, 2023.

Many years from now, God willing, I’ll be able to look back and say I and Railway Age were there. (Insert hopeful smile.)