This article is from the North Shore News, March 7 edition 2001, p.3. "The Canadian Pacific Railway Hudson 2816 is well on its way to becoming the only Hudson-type locomotive in rail service anywhere. While BC Rail's Royal Hudson 2860 remains out of service due to lack of funding for repair work, the CPR 2816 is being rebuilt from the frame up at North Vancouver's BCR steam locomotive shop. There were close to 600 Hudson-type locomotives built in North America. Hauling passengers, the mighty locomotives could reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Named after the Hudson river, the Canadian Pacific Hudson-type locomotives were first built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1929. They came with larger fire boxes than earlier locomtives and produced more steam at higher pressure than their predeccossors. The 2816 worked with the top passenger trains of the 1930's between Winnipeg and Calgary. It was built as a high-powered, fast passenger locomotive. The 2816 consistently operated at speeds of 80 to 100 per hour. Today 65 miles per hour is as fast any diesel will go for CPR. The 2816 is from a group of Hudsons (2800 to 2819) that came into service in 1929. It is the only survivor of the original 20. When the locomotive returns to service it will be the highest horsepower and fastest machine in the CPR system. (My son informs me this isn't true, that the new high horse power SD90's have more power, but the Hudson still remains the fastest)..... Darcie Park (said), 'We want to make sure that this locomotive is avialable for people to see and experience first hand. We're going to take it out on to the CPR network and into towns and cities all across the rail line for special events. It's a really rare artifact and something that few people get to see.' ...James Crowley said... A 13 month rebuild of its boiler was completed in Portland, Oregon. On Feb 21 the massive 81,000 pound boiler was lifted and placed back on to the locomotve frame...We believe that this is the first time that anyone since the end of the steam era has taken a boiler off, replaced the smoke box and put it back on the frame. We're fairly proud of it because when we set her down it was within a thirtysecond of an inch either ways from where we had taken in off.....We're hanging the rigging and piping on it, what we call the gingerbread items.' BC Rail's resident Hudson locomotive expert Al Bradfoot said the job has been a learning exercise for those working on the locomotive. 'The boiler was a big undertaking. For every one (boiler) that's redone, it's a learning curve. You do not have the tools that they had in those days, but anything is possible. It just takes a little longer.'..... The 2816 last worked as a stationary boiler at a rail yard. The 2816 was last fired up in 1961."
I hope someone takes some VHS of this beast running full tilt! Wow! Hudsons sure bring back lots of memories! Wish I could go see her.
Like you Watash, I can't wait to see that baby run. Does anyone know if a decision has been made on what to do with the 2860? Here is a photo of 2816 taken in 1995 when she was still rusting at Steamtown in Scranton. I think I posted it before, but it seems fitting.
I am guestimating that the decision on the 2860 will be a year or two in the making. The British Columbia government is the owner of the Hudson and we are coming up to an election. There will be an an entirely new government after the election, and they will want to settle in before they make a decision.
