By Vance Perkins
The Calgary Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour began on Apr. 24, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The event is to commemorate the one year anniversary of the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.
On Apr. 14, 2023 the $31 billion dollar acquisition of KCS by Canadian Pacific became reality with the formation of the new Canadian Pacific Kansas City Rail Company.
The merger created the trans-continental, three nation rail line now known as CPKC. Heading up this train will be the Empress 2816. She is a restored steam locomotive. The Hudson locomotive was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1930. She is 91′ 2″ long with a height of 15′ 3″ weighing in at 643,000 lbs. At delivery in 1930, she cost $116,555.
Her last “for profit” run was in 1960. She was part of a steam powered exhibit that rolled across Canada and the United States. Originally, she was fired by coal but was converted to oil in 1999. She was retired and placed in storage in 2012. In 2022, she was refurbished and placed back on the rails. She is now leading the way for the Final Spike Tour.
This tour will travel through three nations. Events are planned for seven U.S. cities where she will stop. One of the stops will be in Shreveport, on Friday, May 24. The event will be from 4 to 8 p.m. at 4540 North Lakeshore Dr. There will be a mobile museum exhibit and a mini-train ride.
Though she will not stop, she will pass through DeQuincy sometime between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday, May 25. Thousands of railfans are traversing the country along the path that she travels just to get a glimpse of this grand old locomotive.
The last stop in The United States will be in Laredo, Texas on May 28. The tour ends in Mexico City, Mexico.
For more information: https://cpkcr.com/steamtrain
