28 August 2007
Plenty of History in this Ride
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The Canadian Pacific No. 2816 departs from the former Soo Line
Depot in Thief River Falls on Wednesday, 22 Aug 2007.
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Thief River Falls Minnesota USA - Last week, the Canadian
Pacific Railway 4-6-4 No. 2816 rolled through northwestern Minnesota as part of an International Steam Excursion Route
Guide, which is sponsored by the Friends of the 261 and Canadian Pacific Railway.
The Milwaukee Road 261 is scheduled to "doublehead" with Canadian Pacific No. 2816 on 15 Sep 2007.
Several area residents had an opportunity to ride on the train powered by Canadian Pacific Railway No. 2816.
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The Canadian Pacific No. 2816 departs from the former Soo Line
Depot in Thief River Falls on Wednesday, 22 Aug 2007.
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Last week, Northern Watch printed a history of the Milwaukee Road 261.
(Here is a brief history of Canadian Pacific 2816 that was taken from the International Steam Excursion Route Guide. It also
appears on the CP Railway web site at cpr.ca. Included also, is information about a couple of the passenger
cars, which were from the Milwaukee Road.)
CP 2816 The Empress
"Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive number 2816 rolled off the erecting floor of the Montreal Locomotive Works in
December 1930. There were 20 engines in this class, which were designed by CPR's Chief of Motive Power and Rolling Stock Henry Blaine
Bowen. The 2816 cost CPR $116,555 and was assigned to passenger service out of Winnipeg, working east to Fort William (now Thunder Bay)
and west to Calgary, which is the engines' home base today. It was classified by the CPR as a class H1b and has a 4-6-4
wheel arrangement. This wheel arrangement originated with the New York Central Railroad, whose main line in New York State paralleled
the Hudson River, hence they became known as the "Hudson" type. The 2816 was considered mainly a passenger locomotive,
however, the locomotive spent a little more than half of its 30-year career operating in fast freight service. The 2816's
last assignment was on commuter trains in Quebec, operating between Montreal and Rigaud. Its last run in commuter service was on
26 May 1960. It had operated an estimated 2,046,000 miles in revenue service.
"In December 1963, the locomotive was acquired by steam locomotive enthusiast F. Nelson Blount, who saved a number of steam
locomotives in the late 1950s and 1960s, and the engine became part of his "Steamtown" museum collection. Under the
leadership of Robert J. Ritchie, president and CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway, the 2816 was re-acquired by the railway in
1998 and put through a $2 million, two-year overhaul, restoring the engine to its 1950s appearance. Dubbed the
"CPR Empress", the 2816 returned to service in 2001 and today travels across the CPR system as a roving ambassador for the
railway's safety, service, and productivity goals."
According to the Milwaukee Road 261 web site, the 2816 will will depart Minneapolis 16 Sep 2007 for Calgary via
Winnipeg, with overnight stops at Thief River Falls, Brandon, Manitoba, Moose Jaw, Sask., and Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.
More information about the Milwaukee Road 261 and the Canadian Pacific 2816 can be found on their Web sites.
The Cedar Rapids
"The finishing touch to a perfect train" was the slogan used to describe the Skytop lounge. The
"Cedar Rapids" has 24 big, comfortable, rotating, reclining chairs in the main section and seating for an additional 12 in
the solarium. The solarium features 180 degree viewing with a bleached oak interior. The car was completely upgraded in 2004 and
equipped with 36 seats, one drawing room/kitchen, shower, TV, VCR, CD, and stereo. Built by the Milwaukee Road in 1948 at its Milwaukee
shops for operation on the Hiawatha between Minneapolis and Chicago. Designed by famed industrial designer Brooks Stevens, the Cedar
Rapids was retired in 1970. Rebuilt in 1984 and operated until 1990, the car was acquired by the "Friends of the 261"
operators of steam locomotive 261 in 1998. It was upgraded and returned to Amtrak service in 2004.
The Super Dome
Super Dome number 53 has seating for 50 passengers on the upper level with a complete full bar. The lower level has upgraded
stainless steel kitchen, prep area, and dining area. Two fully upgraded restroom facilities. Updated air conditioning with 24 tons of
cooling capacity. In 1951 the Milwaukee Road ordered 10 full-length dome cars from Pullman Standard Co. for delivery in
1952, Dubbed "Super Domes" by the railroad they were the first of their kind ever built. Numbered 50-59 each
car had 68 forward facing seats in the dome and a 28 seat cafe on the lower level. Eventually the Super Domes were sold to other
railroads, Amtrak, and private owners. In January 2005 the Friends of the 261 purchased former Milwaukee Road Super Dome car number 53
from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
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