North America - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has announced the dates for its historic Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour, and one of them is in the Quad Cities, according to the CPKC website.
 
The tour will kick off 24 Apr 2024 at the company's global headquarters in Calgary and culminate 4 Jun 2024 in Mexico City.
 
The tour will bring the story of CPKC's uniquely North American railway history and compelling future to life for rail fans and visitors as it travels across CPKC's network.
 
"Our combination on 14 Apr 2023 brought together two railroads with long and proud histories that together created the first and only railroad network connecting North America. This special cross-continental journey of the 2816 steam locomotive serves as a reminder of our past and a celebration of our future. We are excited to share this extraordinary experience with communities across our network as we mark the one-year anniversary of our CPKC journey. The Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour will be the first ever steam-powered passenger train in North America to traverse Canada, the U.S., and Mexico in a single trip," said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO.
 
The "Empress", 2816, a 4-6-4 Hudson type steam locomotive built in 1930, will make 11 stops between Calgary and Mexico City.
 
Public events will be held in multiple cities across the network.
 
Steam tour events will be held in Moose Jaw, Minot, St. Paul, Franklin Park, Davenport, Kansas City, Shreveport, and Laredo.
 
At these stops, the public will have the opportunity to see the 2816 up close, learn more about the locomotive, CPKC's history, and enjoy the Puffer Belly Express mini-train, a quarter scale steam locomotive model.
 
Linda Cook.