26 September 2006
Steam Dream Coming True
Canadian Pacific Railway Royal Hudson number 2860 at Squamish,
British Columbia - Date unknown West Coast Railway Association.
Squamish British Columbia - She's back, and awfully steamed
up about it!
Following a $600,000 boiler refit, locomotive No. 2860, a.k.a Royal Hudson, will officially huff and puff her way back to life this week
at Mac Norris Station at the West Coast Railway Heritage Association in Squamish.
"She's beautiful and she is good to go for another 25 to 50 years. She looks like a million dollars. It will be a huge day for all
steam-train lovers," Don Evans, executive director of the West Coast Railway Heritage Centre, said yesterday.
Although the "million dollar" remake cost $600,000, the association needs to find another $100,000 on top of the $500,000 it
has already raised.
"She has been in the refit shop full-time since last July and all that work is about to pay off," Evans said.
Royal Hudson will steam under its own power for the first time since 1999 and be ready for charter or other "occasional" trips
next year, he said.
When not actually running the rails, the locomotive will be one of the star attractions at the association's Heritage Park.
One of the last grande dames of Canadian railway history, the engine is actually getting a third lease on life after having been
re-piped.
The Royal Hudson name refers to a group of semi-streamlined 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotives owned by Canadian Pacific
Railway and built in Montreal.
Permission to use the "royal" designation came from King George VI in 1939 after one of the locomotives drew the royal train
across Canada.
Following CPR service, the engine carried tourists between North Vancouver and Squamish from 1974 until 1999.
When boiler problems arose, the engine was pulled from service and eventually the association acquired it from the B.C. government.
Evans said it has been a long haul to bring the Royal Hudson back to life and there were plenty of challenges, both mechanical and
financial, to overcome.
The official relaunch of the engine will be held at 11 a.m., 28 Sep 2006, at the association's yard, said Evans, adding
that the public is welcome to attend.
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