8 July 2008
Decades of History Take Bow Across Province as Steam Tour Ends
Vancouver British Columbia - Bill Stetler wiped his brow as he
spoke, but the beads of sweat were rolling down his face faster than he could attack them.
He was sitting in the engineer's seat of the 2816 Empress steam locomotive, Canadian Pacific Railway's prized engine, and it was at
least 55 degrees inside the green and black compartment.
The source of the sweltering heat was an oil fire that blasted hot air through the peephole of the engine's fire door.
The summer sun made it hotter and relief came only from a breeze when the train moved.
Last week, the Empress travelled to Port Moody, the former western terminus of the national railway, to help celebrate that community's
Golden Spike Days Festival.
The 3,000 horsepower, 1930-built engine has been chugging through the province's mountains and valleys since
mid-June as part of British Columbia's 150th birthday celebrations.
When the B.C.-government/CPR-sponsored tour wrapped up Sunday in Vancouver, it was the end of a journey that marked the
important role the railway has played in the histories of the province and the country.
The railway's construction was a condition of British Columbia joining Confederation in 1871.
"I love the reaction by people to the train", said CPR spokesperson Mike LoVecchio, who was on the tour.
"It reminds you that people understand their history, they know where they come from, and they recognize the importance of rail
to their history. It's a real thrill to see them come out and cheer the train on".
Aside from the heat, the refurbished control panel is among the Empress's most formidable features.
The protruding brass and silver gauges tell the train's operators how the engine is working, steam-operations manager Mr.
Stetler said as the water pressure exceeded its limit and the locomotive emitted a loud whistle.
"We have a few things on the engine that are a little bit into the 21st century, but it's 99.9 percent as it was in its day",
he said, adding that it takes an engineer, fireman, and a pilot to run the locomotive.
The CPR 2816 Empress traversed the country before it was retired in 1960.
It was taken out of mothballs in 1998 and underwent a three-year refurbishment, using the original blueprints.
Now the engine pulls the rest of the B.C. Spirit of 150 train, including two vintage passenger coaches, a stage car, and a heritage
baggage car converted to a travelling version of the Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me, and B.C. exhibit from the Royal B.C.
Museum.
In addition to 12 crewmen and three production staffers, the train carries 11 entertainers, including the Motherlode theatre troupe
from historic Barkerville, and the BC150 band.
"It's a blast. It's surreal, but it's amazing", said Aaron Wicks, technical director of Theatre Royal in Barkerville and
touring stage manager for Motherlode, a musical.
The cars rock gently when the train moves, slowly at first as it leaves the CPR yard in Port Coquitlam for the 15-minute
trip to Port Moody.
But as the train picks up steam, you can hear it chug along the track.
From the open-shore view, passengers can catch a full glimpse of the old-fashioned engine pulling the vintage
maroon and gold-painted cars as the train snakes around the bend.
The train's provincial tour began in Sparwood on 12 Jun 2008.
It spent Canada Day in Cloverdale and visited a total of 34 communities.
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