27 October 2006
Steamtrain Empress Visits Cranbrook Museum
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Full steam ahead - the Empress pulls into the Cranbrook
station.
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Cranbrook British Columbia - Big plumes of white and black
smoke were rising over Cranbrook last Wednesday, but they were not created by a fire or the traffic that is now flowing along nicely on
the Strip. They came from the smokestack of an old steam locomotive, pulling into the city. The train carried a group of railway
enthusiasts who had arranged a special tour through the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel - including a dinner in the Royal Alexandra Hall
- and an overnight stay at the Prestige Inn.
While the passengers were enjoying the restored railcars and rail travel paraphernalia at the museum, the crew of the Empress got to
work. The seven crew members got out brushes, buckets, pressure washers, and hoses and started to clean the locomotive as well as fill
up the diesel and water tanks. Bill Stetler got out a large brush and started scrubbing the connecting rods on the large wheels of the
locomotive.
Stetler is Manager of Steam Operations with CP Rail, the company that owns the Empress. He said the true mission for the train was to be
a community connector. "We want to share our heritage with the community we serve," explained Stetler. The train is used for
tours like the ten-day excursion this group was on as well as goodwill trips to raise money for Children's hospitals and
other partner charities.
The Empress started the trip in Calgary and made its way to Vancouver through Banff, Lake Louise, and Field. The way back brought the
Empress to Cranbrook via Kamloops, Revelstoke, and Golden. Last Thursday, the tour proceeded east through the Crowsnest Pass, back
towards Calgary. The staff from the Railway Museum hopes that the tour will become an annual feature, with perhaps even more trips being
held in the future.
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