3 September 2007
Giant Steam Locomotive Makes Nostalgic Run
Chicago Illinois USA - A giant relic of the past will be
hurtling through the northern and western suburbs one last time Monday - a 77-year-old Canadian Pacific Railways steam
locomotive, pulling more than 15 cars loaded with people feeling nostalgic about the old days.
Tickets are still available for the trip, which leaves from the Metra Milwaukee District West Line station in Franklin Park at 10 a.m.
It will travel to Sturtevant, Wis., and return to Franklin Park at 4 p.m.
The train took identical trips Saturday and Sunday.
Why would a railroad keep a 1930-vintage steam locomotive in 2007? Steve Sandberg of Minneapolis said that for a
transcontinental railroad with the history of the Canadian Pacific (CP), it makes perfect sense.
"Like the Goodyear Blimp or the Budweiser Clydesdales, it's the centerpiece for their corporation," he said.
Sandberg has put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into restoring and operating another locomotive that his grandfather once ran, former
Milwaukee Road locomotive 261, so he understands the appeal that a 325-ton behemoth the size of CP 2816 can hold,
especially for the very young and the very old.
The older riders, he said, can recall the glory days of train travel, and Sandberg said the CP crew and the volunteer staff that work
on the train try to recreate that era for those who buy tickets.
"These cars are all polished up, we've been working on the brakes, working on the wheels, polishing the insides, repainting, and
getting everything spiffed up," he said.
At 325 tons, it's a lot bigger than the Clydesdales and the puffing, chugging, and the screaming whistle when the Empress is topping
60 miles is every bit as impressive as the blimp.
The railroad wants to attract attention to its trains, and CP steam operations manager Bill Ratzliff said he hopes to promote safety
around railroads in doing so.
"First and foremost is safety. That's our main concern," Ratzliff said. "We have a great presentation to the public, and
we're safe about doing it. That's always on our mind."
From the Franklin Park station, he train takes freight trackage around the western edge of O'Hare Airport, giving a bird's eye view of
the airport reconstruction project that is underway, and travel north to Sturtevant, Wis., near Racine, where the train will turn for
the return trip.
Tickets can be purchased at the Franklin Park station an hour before the scheduled 10 a.m. departure time.
Ratzliff said he hopes that people will congregate at Franklin Park and Sturtevant, but said he knows that many will line the tracks to
see the train at intermediate stations such as Northbrook, Deerfield, or Lake Forest on the Milwaukee District North Line.
He is urging those who want to see the train at speed to stay back from the tracks.
But both Ratzliff and Sandberg understand the gawking as the train passes, the desire to ride the train, the smiles on the faces of
many who see it, and the awe it inspires in many.
"Once you've seen this locomotive, it's something that you'll remember," Sandberg said.
They don't build 'em like that anymore.
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