27 October 2006
Steam Train Rolls In
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The CPR Empress makes its way around the tracks at Crowsnest
Lake.
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Crowsnest Pass Alberta - The Canadian Pacific Railway
(CPR) Empress steam locomotive made its way through the Pass last Thursday while on its voyage from Vancouver to Calgary.
The train was carrying approximately 50 passengers, most of whom were on a chartered vacation from the United Kingdom.
According to a brochure on the locomotive, CPR owned and operated 3,257 locomotives during the steam era between 1881 to 1960, with
1,056 of them being built in CPR's Montreal shops.
Only 48 of the original 3,257 locomotives in CPR's steam fleet survive today, with most on static display, and the CPR Empress, also
known as locomotive 2816, is one of the last operating CPR steam locomotives in North America.
Costing only $116,555 to build in 1930, locomotive 2816 made its final run in 1960, after travelling over 3.36 million kilometres in
its 30-year career.
In 1963, the locomotive was sold to United States interests, where it remained until it was transferred back to the CPR in 1998. The
unit underwent a complete restoration back to its 1950s appearance, and the steam locomotive was converted to burn oil instead of coal.
Roy Wullich, a contractor for CPR from California, rode the train from Vancouver to Calgary and said although it takes longer than
flying or driving, a train trip can be very relaxing. "You don't have the hustle and bustle (of some other methods of travel). It
relives a much different era in time when things were slower and much more relaxing," said Wullich.
A film crew, complete with a $4 million camera attached to the front of a helicopter, was following the train throughout this trip to
film scenes for an upcoming IMAX movie on the history of the steam train, particularly the CPR Empress. According to CPR spokesperson
Ed Greenberg, the director has been working on this project for a few years, but no date for release has been set at this
time.
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