2816 Steam Tests

The 2816 steam tests have returned most favourably. This Hudson will be soon ready to roll. Hopefully I can post where it will be running too once I know the itenary. I have heard it will be doing a major rail fan run across Canada. When I find out more, I will post.

For those not in the know, this is a Hudson (but not a "Royal" Hudson) that was acquired from Steam Town. It was brought to North Vancouver, British Columbia where it has been restored. The boiler was sent down to Oregon to be rebuilt and many parts in the cab had to be built from the ground up. The cab came completely stripped of anything except the shell. This engine was built in the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW). I am uncertain of the year.

While in the North Vancouver yard, awaiting its surgery in the steam shop, the builder's plate was stolen from its tender.

Many are patiently waiting for it to run. Thousands of pictures will be taken I'm sure.

 

There have been quite a few photos published on other forums. Had I been there, there would be some here. Doyle McCormack apparently shared the hogger duties on the runs. His group did the boiler work on the 2816. Looking forward to seeing the CP schedule for her.

 

The tentative plan is for departure from the CPR Waterfront Station in Vancouver on September 19th and it will then proceed to Calgary, overnighting at North Bend, Kamploops, Revelstoke, Lake Louise, and then final arrival in Calgary on Sept 23rd. The 2816B Fuel/Water tender is now being prepared and looks complete at the BCR Steam Shop. I saw the engine on Tuesday and all it needs is the jacket and then that should be it, as everything including the light bulb in the head lamp are alreday in place. The consist for the train out to Calgary should 2 to 3 BCR Hudson coaches (ex Via, nee CN) 2 CPR Diplay cars and some business cars. The train will, of course be by invitation only.

All the test trains were GP38 3007 and a caboose. According to a trains article the CPR crews were amazed how the unit handled over switches like an SD90 with self-steering trucks. since the train was so light, the DB was applied on the 3007 (GP38) at times to create extra drag.

Happy Railroading!

Dane

 

great to see CP is actually bringing back steam.

 

The following was published on the TRAINS NEWSWIRE on Monday, 8/20/2001, http://www.trains.com/story/story_list.asp?idMenuCategory=2&idMenuSubCategory=28. I have copied it to this topic for information.


Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 pronounced ready for inaugural trip to Calgary

Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 Hudson No. 2816 performed well during test runs last week in British Columbia – its first moves under its own power in 41 years – and the locomotive will be ready to roll to Calgary next month to kick off its role as the railway’s steam ambassador.

“It went just swimmingly. There’s fine tuning to do, of course, but everything went just perfectly,” said Jonathan Hanna, CP’s corporate historian. “We got her up to 50 mph, and it looks like we’ll be on schedule for bringing her back to Calgary.”

The locomotive pulled GP38 No. 3007, a riding platform (CP parlance for a caboose without amenities), eight covered hoppers, and another caboose during test runs on August 16, 17, and 18 between Pitt Meadows and Mission, B.C. The locomotive made one 50-mile round-trip the first day, then a pair of round-trips the following days, Hanna said.

Since the 800-ton consist didn’t tax the locomotive, the 3007’s dynamic brakes were applied at times to create extra drag.

“We tricked the locomotive into thinking it had about 1600 tons of freight on the flat,” Hanna said. It handled the extra “tonnage” with aplomb.

It also rode well through a 45-mph crossover between the north and south tracks at Maple Meadows. The CP locomotive specialist on board was surprised that the 2816 rode as smoothly through the crossover as an SD90MAC with steerable trucks, Hanna said.

During the tests, volunteers from three area model railroad clubs – North Shore, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford – assisted with crowd control at several grade crossings, Hanna said.

The crews at BC Rail’s steam shop in North Vancouver, where the locomotive was re-assembled after a three-year overhaul, will install jacketing and details such as number boards, plus finish painting the 2816, before the inaugural run to Calgary.

The tentative plan for the trip is to depart Vancouver September 19, overnight in North Bend, Kamloops, Revelstoke, B.C., and Lake Louise, Alberta, en route to a September 23 arrival in Calgary. The arrival is timed to coincide with the shareholder meeting that week that will determine the fate of Canadian Pacific Ltd.’s plans to spin off its subsidiaries, including the railway.

The train will include the 2816, a power car, two CP display cars, and a handful of business cars.

The H1b-class locomotive was built in 1930 at the Montreal Locomotive Works, and retired in 1960.

 

To be honest, I will be glad to see the 2816 go as its one year overdue date inhibited repairs on the Consolidation and the Royal Hudson, both of which are out of service now. The BCR steam shop is a one pony show, so only one repair job at a time. Maybe this time next year there will be steam back on the "Royal Hudson Excursion Train."