Royal Hudson cab and train ride Squamish to Vancouver and back Sept, 1991

The Montreal Locomotive Works made some very beautiful locomotives over the years. Many would agree that the Royal Hudsons were the flagships of the Canadian Pacific railroad and the pride of the Montreal Locomotive Works. So much so that they were assigned to pull the train of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth when they visited Canada in 1939.
From 1973 until 2001 the locomotive was running nearly daily steam excursions from Vancouver to Squamish and return on BC Rail main lines. A real rarity for main line steam! Unfortunately all good things must come to a end and this train was no exception. Low ridership and mechanical problems sidelined #2860. Back up steam locomotive #3716 took over but also had mechanical problems and diesel locomotives started to pull the trains.
Despite the locals love for the train, as well as a major Vancouver tourist attraction. The Government decided it was too costly to repair both steam locomotives and permanently ended the steam train. The #2860 was donated to the West Coast Railway museum where it resides today as a non operational static exhibit. Plans were to restore this locomotive back to operation but so far very little work has been done.
The small wheel the engineer is turning in the reverser. This serves the same function as the traditional reverse handle. Most engineers set the reverse handle in full and slowly move it closer to neutral as the train increases speed. This gives you greater steam power and it is more efficient. In this case the engineer sets the reverser close to natural, opens up the throttle to half way (he could technically open it up fully), and then uses the reverser to allow more steam pressure into the cylinders as the train gains speed. Not common practice but if you have the skills it's easier then pulling on the heavy throttle leaver.
This is one of my favorite steam locomotives and I rode this train dozens of times. I asked if I could get some photos of the cab of the locomotive during one trip and they were happy to let me on board. Shortly before the train was set to leave I get off the locomotive to board the passenger car when I heard "you want to ride with us"? Of course I climbed back onto the locomotive and had the ride of my life. Riding with the these guys was one of the high lights of my life and I am very thankful to the crew who allowed me to tag along. More information can be found about the Royal Hudson here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_H...

[@rudycarlson8245]

Here’s hope that the 2860 comes back into steam someday! She is a beautiful steam locomotive!

[@marcushume2240]

Great video. BC Railway ran through my back yard. I think it was 1975 the Royal Hudson was on it's first trip from North Vancouver to Squamish. When she reached the Light House Park area and there's a bit of grade in that area. Bunch of us kids witness her just pouring on the steam and smoke just before she head down to Eagle Harbor area. That was site to see. Very exciting. Eagle Harbor area there use to a huge old wooden Tressel there. She use to slow to a crawl as she headed over the Tressel. Then blowing her whistle just before Black Mountains three mile tunnel and exiting just above Horseshoe Bay. Spectacular view of the Bay and the BC Ferries. In the summer of 1976 Frank, train engineer at the time was a good friend of our family. Offered to take me in the cab for a ride from North Vancouver to Squamish. Dreams do come true. It was and still to this day a high light of my life l shall never forget. Thank you for sharing this amazing video.

[@BradFalck-mn3pc]

I used to live about 250 yards from the trestle above eagle harbour school, we climbed all over it when we were kids and had the trains including the Hudson run over coins ,now it's just an ugly concrete bridge but I still have pictures of the trestle in all her splendor

[@rogergusty1722]

First. What thing thing to do if you cannot sleep at night ..... watch one of Toms videos. FANTASTIC.

[@erikjohnpotvin]

Incredible video, thank you so much for sharing! I rode this train with my family as often as we could when I was growing up. Got to go up in the cab fairly often before the trip, but never got to ride there! That would have been the highlight of my life too! I even remember stopping to let BCR freight pass. I can not express how grateful I am that this video exists! 🙏🏼🙌🏼🛤👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@slrbrownie]

I miss this train sooo much.

[@DomAZ]

What a ride! Thanks for sharing.

[@merrittkwarner8475]

Back in the 90's I was fortunate enough to see the royal Hudson and 6060 together arriving in jasper.

[@rangermarsh7510]

Wow. They really had to manage those old locomotives. A fine balance between a head of steam and traction. Fascinating isn't it. Those men are licensed boiler engineers sitting behind a pressurized bomb. A lot to manage.

[@travelingtom923]

Yes. This locomotive is well known for it's wheel slip. The two guys that ran that locomotive really put heart and soul into the Royal Hudson. I remember many times that old timer walking around polishing even the smallest piece of copper or brass. A real rarity in the industry.

[@rangermarsh7510]

@@travelingtom923 I have found ownership of machinery conveys special responsibilities and loving care. Those engineers owned that steam engine. Not like a locomotive on a modern electric railway where you don't know who is going to take over for you on the next shift or further down the line. I've see engineers spit tobacco juice all over the floor and themselves and not given it a single care or thought. But those old guys on the Royal Hudson owned that steam engine. You could tell it was their pride and joy.

[@balsumfractus]

That brings back memories...my son and I did dozens and dozens of trips on the RH....The engineer is Ken.....he almost always wore bright Hawaiian shirts ....really nice guy! We were fortunate to get some cab rides on the turn arounds to the wye and back.....but never enroute like this video. Thank you for sharing!

[@travelingtom923]

I sure miss this train. Hopefully they will bring it back one day.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Excellent didthat .trip 1983

[@connerberg7343]

Amazing video, rode her as a kid, still the greatest machine Man's ever created.

[@aVamer]

Thanks for the ride! A blast from the past.

[@travelingtom923]

You are welcome.

[@joankamp4513]

Great video!

[@smwca123]

I did this trip in July 1983; I saw the cab during the layover in Squamish.

[@Mr.RailYard-LJLRailYard]

This is a great video of CPR 2860.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Cab ride in CP Royal Hudson 2860 from Squamish to Vancouver, Canada.

[@umbertovanstaden2651]

Beautiful 😁

[@reverserestorations26]

I saw this locomotive travel through Ashcroft British Columbia in 1989

[@daxjaysonrutledge3399]

I loved riding this train

[@MilwaukeeRoadJames]

13:29 some insane wheelslip

[@travelingtom923]

Yes that was a slippery locomotive with frequent wheel slip during the trips.

[@BradFalck-mn3pc]

I guess the writing was on the wall vis a vis the CN takeover when this was filmed

[@dodger1214]

Have the Royal Hudson and SP 4449 ever been spotted at the same place together? That would've been a cool sight. Two beautiful, majestic locomotives together, side by side.

[@gregduck7455]

Yes, at Seattle's King Street Station in November 1975. The Royal Hudson train ran a same day return excursion from North Vancouver to Seattle. While in Seattle, the Royal Hudson posed with the ex-SP 4449, which was on the American Freedom Train U.S. Bicentennial special. Passengers from the Royal Hudson had admission ticket to tour through the American Freedom Train. I took that Royal Hudson trip that day from NVAN to SEA return. What a fabulous trip that was. I am sure it would be easy to find photos on-line of the Royal Hudson 2860 & the SP 4449 when they met at the former GN/NP King Street Station in Seattle that day in November of 1975. I took photos that day, but have no idea where the album is in storage.....

[@nyc3001]

Where is the control for the second whistle?

[@robertfarrow8755]

What is the function of the wheel like control the engineer is turning?

[@travelingtom923]

That is the reverse wheel. Same as a reverse lever. You can control steam pressure by moving the reverser from neutral to full stroke and vice versa.

[@balsumfractus]

It is used to adjust the valve timing, which controls the amount of steam going into the cylinders.....

[@rudycarlson8245]

It’s like the Johnson bar in steam locomotives here in the US it’s basically the same thing

[@tomas5376]

Thanks for the great ride! What did the “wheel” in the engine control?👍✌️😊🙏🏼🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@travelingtom923]

That is the reverse wheel (same function as a reverse lever). He is starting the train with a lot of throttle (you could actually use full throttle if you wanted) with the reverse wheel nearly in neutral. Then he is slowly advancing the valves forward until you get more steam to the cylinders. Uncommon way to run a steam locomotive but it's probably easier then pulling that heavy throttle lever. Most engineers put the valve in full steam position, then open the throttle gradually, and then as it goes faster move the valve closer to neutral. But in this case it is reversed.

[@46fd04]

There is an error in the comments. The Squamish excursion began in 1974. I rode this train with my parents when the Squamish tour began.

[@BradFalck-mn3pc]

I rode it on my birthday in 1974 ,still have the button

[@46fd04]

At around the 13 minute mark, I would love to know what the "steering wheel" is used for.

[@travelingtom923]

That is the wheel that changes the locomotive direction. It is normally air operated but it can be hand operated. The engineer is using the wheel to move the steam valve closer to the center to make the locomotive more efficent.

[@46fd04]

​@@travelingtom923Thank you for that excellent info

[@MrMASSEYJONES]

I don’t want to criticize the video, because I have one of the same trip, and there are some terrific shots in there, but the video could have used a few captions; it’s hard to determine the locations, except perhaps in Squamisn; and then you put a caption leaving NVan, that we can mostly figure out.

[@austinniederjohn9813]

Was she scraped or is she in storage

[@reverserestorations26]

In storage, they still run her on special occasions.

[@tedharrison4522]

On display in the Railway Museum of BC in Squamish.

[@ace74909]

i was born too late :(

[@shalu3114]

How they made Big boy 4014 you must look that's.