Trains and Such

An Oldie but A Goldie

While looking through one of my external photo hard-drives, I came across this photo of 'the Empress' steam locomotive CP 2816 that I shot just south of Dewinton AB in the fall of 2007 as she returned to Calgary after making a run down to Lethbridge earlier in the day with a full compliment of railfans on board.

Unfortunately 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.

Today the Empress is in storage at the Ogden yards in Calgary, where from time to time CP holds an event where a lucky few get to see 2816 on display in the building located near CP's head office.

I did get to see 2816 on Remembrance day 2019 when CP introduced five recently rebuilt diesel locomotives honoring the various arms of the military, and held a luncheon in the building that the Empress is stored in.

Expand the photo for a closer look.....

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