Field Trip: Chasing an Empress!

Click on each image for a closer look!

As many are aware, CP maintains and operates a heritage train pulled by one of their famed CPR Royal Hudson #2816 steam locomotives. Each year, they bring the train to special events around Canada and offer rides to the public with revenues going to the Childrens Wish Foundation. This summer, the heritage train is making excursions throughout B.C. as well as Alberta.

Cor van Steenis who lives in Calgary, Alberta has been following the train and shares with us his well documented attached images as well as this description of his excursion as follows:

"On 23 June 2011 CPR operated a passenger train from Calgary to Golden, BC, with CP 4-6-4 Hudson #2816, CPR tuscan and gray diesels #4106, #3084, #1401 & #1900 along with 19 cars, the combined consists of the steam program plus the Royal Canadian Pacific (RCP). This is the first time I have seen 4 diesels with the Empress. At Golden, the train was split, the RCP heading south to the Crowsnest Pass via the Windermere Sub with #4106 and #3084; #2816 heading back to Calgary as Train 28B-24 with the #1401 and #1900 plus 10 cars. The steam train had the Business Car 'Mount Royal' (one of the RCP cars) on the tail end. The train made a one hour stop in Field, B.C., for the 125th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Yoho National Park and then continued on to Banff to embark passengers for the Children's Wish Foundation public trip to Calgary. It was a great couple of days following this train(s), even though it was only 6 degrees at Morant's Curve and there was still snow in the Trans Canada Highway ditches near Field!"

For more information about #2816 and CP's excursions, read our earlier post, the Wikipedia entry on #2816 and also check out CP's Empress website page.

Posting by Russ Milland; Photos by Cor van Steenis