Canadian Pacific #2816 Empress In Fall

Rail Line: Canadian Pacific
Train Name: Canadian Pacific CP 2816 Empress
Power type: 4-6-4 Steam Locomotive Hudson Class
Builder: Montreal Locomotives Works
Train type: Passenger
Location: Winnipeg to Calgary
Fuel: Coal changed to Oil

Published Nov 19, 2017 By Robert Blue

Seen in the Golden-Radium-Invermere Valley of British Columbia, the Empress of Steam makes an impressive run through the countryside on her excursion.

The CP #2816 is a 78 year old 4-6-4 locomotive that has been lovingly restored to her original condition by the Canadian Pacific Railway to celebrate it’s heritage.

The CP 2816 Empress is the only survivor of a group of “Hudson” type locomotives built in the 1930’s by the Montreal Locomotive Works. The “Hudson” type locomotives were named after the Hudson River and was built as a high-powered, fast passenger locomotive. Her route included the distance between Winnipeg and Calgary. She had 4,700 horsepower and regularly operated at 70 miles per hour!

After being retired in 1964, she sat on display in Ohio until the Canadian Pacific bought her back in 1998 and rebuilt her top to bottom. The restoration took over 2 years and cost upwards of $2,000,000. Her original cost to build was $120,000 back in 1930.

What would that be in today’s dollars?