Canadian Pacific 2816 "Empress" Across Iowa: The Final Spike Tour

Canadian Pacific 2816, or the "Empress" is steaming across Canada, the United States, and Mexico on what owners CPKC dub: "The Final Spike Tour". This one of a kind international tour is bringing the Hudson to small and big cities alike, over hills and plains, and to the dry and tropical regions of Mexico. Out in Iowa, there was certainly no shortage of people out to see the shiny grey and maroon steam locomotive. Hundreds to thousands drove both congested and desolate roads in search of a good shot. Thankfully the weather was perfect with partly cloudy skies paired with a pleasant 70°F (21°C) air temperature. Despite the traffic and some spots being cramped, people were generally respectful of each other and the chase was pretty fun! A few friends and I followed the excursion on May 11th from Letts to Sewall, Iowa. It was a trip I most certainly won't forget.
Canadian Pacific 2816, a 4-6-4, was built in December 1930 by the Montreal Locomotive Works. Designated as H-1b, the Hudson led fast passenger trains across Canada until its retirement in 1960. Afterwards it lived on display at Steamtown, U.S.A. until 1998 when Canadian Pacific reacquired the engine. Empress returned to steam in 2001 and was used in excursion service as part of CP's steam program. Trips ranged from the mountains of British Columbia to the urban sprawl of Chicago, Illinois. After a change in CEO's, CP's priorities shifted and in 2012, the steam program was discontinued, and the Empress was placed in storage at the railway's Ogden Yard in Calgary, Alberta. Rumors of 2816's return to steam floated around in 2020 when it was steamed up to analyze its condition. The next year, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern were proposing a merger. CP's CEO, Keith Creel, stated that if the merger were approved, 2816 would run a massive mainline excursion to celebrate. As we now know, in 2023 the merger was approved and 2816 underwent repairs and did some test runs. On April 24th, 2024, the Final Spike Tour began, departing Calgary with a final destination of Mexico City. Traveling across Canada, the US, and Mexico, the Empress will be the first steam locomotive to travel all 3 countries.
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[@AmtrakGuy365]

Thanks for watching! This was my first mainline excursion train and it was an experience I'll never forget. My photos of the train can be found on Flickr, Twitter, and Instagram: Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/142453835@N06/ Twitter: x.com/AmtrakGuy365 Instagram: instagram.com/amtrakguy365/

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I have got to see Canadian Pacific 2816 at the CPKC headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in operation and idling under steam on one spot there.

[@sebastiongfillion594]

Me too because i live thare😊😊😊😊

[@TheWinnipegRailfan]

Ayy you saw the big *CP Rail* steamboat !!! Awesomesauce

[@TheOklahomaHotrail]

Another great video! Well done!

[@dougsfilmtv9810]

I saw the Empress in Davenport, Iowa and I got to see it leave and it was so cool!

[@neallucas9680]

Awesome video, the picture quality is superb!

[@hawkeyetherailfan]

I dig that first shot, and that's a great location in the third clip. Great video.

[@rosettasweitzer5900]

Yesterday a lady in Mexico was hit by 2816

[@thehawkeyerailfan9406]

It was nice meeting you out that day Mr 365! Hopefully my driving wasn’t too hard for Sam to keep up with!

[@RandomRailfan828]

Great shots man, looked like a fun chase!

[@rambling_railfan]

Saw her in Indus. Nice video.

[@MrTragedious986]

Loving your camerawork.

[@cprtrain]

Great video. Thanks.

[@chrism7894]

That observation car at the end is really interesting, never seen anything like it. Just a giant window.

[@therailthing610]

They're common on OCS and Geometry Trains.

[@KeystoneTrains]

Nice shots!

[@Erierailfan3977]

Great video! 🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@coconutmall333]

While ‘2816’ happily across the mass-national rail-trip. Glad we seen new locomotives like 9375 with a merger livery, and Two former EMD F-Units from the Canadian pacific in-towed. Hopes she steam on until it reacts its final destination to Mexico for the final time.

[@jfreelan1964]

Great locations. Great shots. Being in NC I couldn’t schedule some vacation time. But I have been to some of those locations. I would have caught it in Columbus junction or Muscatine.

[@protosheep]

Great shots!

[@minecraftertracey01]

i was also at the letts hill, not as much sound as i was hopping.

[@harrisonallen651]

Good Speed The Empress

[@LonleyScrapIron]

I'm Sure The Empress Will Have A Fine Time With Some Avocados From Mexico

[@susanlua4792]

This is two weeks later…..2816 wasn’t doing good in Mexico if you don’t know what I mean look it up search on KZbin: “2816 in Mexico”

[@LonleyScrapIron]

@@susanlua4792 this was very much a "That didn't age quite so well" moment

[@susanlua4792]

@@LonleyScrapIron IKR

[@southern_railman]

Listening to those diesels at 0:24 is just… 😌😌😌😌😌😌😌

[@Trainsandanimationstv]

I'm so jealous that I can't get to see this, seriously why does it always feel like the good stuff happens so far away from me?

[@RailPreserver2K]

I sympathize

[@susanlua4792]

Same

[@Silvertone_Spiral]

Right on board with you

[@SouthernPacificNorfolkwestern]

Bro it's even worse for me I live in Massachusetts the only type of train I get to see is the MBTA commuter rail and very rarely a freight train

[@TailsFan369no2]

Fun fact: one of the auxiliary tenders was leased from the 4449

[@GrandCanyonStudios844]

I bet you had a blast seeing the Empress up close. Would you want to do a history video of 2816 similar to how you did 611? If so, I found a few magazine issues about 2816 and her class, if you’d like me to email you some pages.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Canadian Pacific 2816 isn’t the only H1B class steam locomotive that was used in excursion service to let you know, it’s sibling 2811 was used in excursion service back in the 1960s.

[@trainzgamer5]

cool vid!

[@ThompsonSteamtrain]

Next history video would be about observation cars

[@ApertureGaming011]

Hey, if you're still doing Trains of Videogames series, I highly recommend the game X-Treme Express for the Playstation 2! It's literally racing with trains

[@DPU.proMN.IA.]

So you're telling me I missed you in Davenport

[@western-m1a2]

I just got home from seeing it in shreveport

[@chriscarruth5147]

What whistles did the locomotive have?

[@johnosborn5971]

talk about UP 844.....if you can do it.😏