Canadian Pacific 2816

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**Canadian Pacific 2816**
Power type	steam
Builder	Montreal Locomotive Works
Serial number	68535
Build date	December 1930
Configuration	4-6-4
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Driver size	75 inches (1.9 m)
Length	91 ft 1 in (27.8 m)
Weight on drivers	194,000 pounds (88,000 kg)
Locomotive weight	360,000 pounds (160,000 kg)
Locomotive and tender combined weight	658,000 pounds (298,000 kg)
Fuel type	coal (Converted to burn oil during restoration)
Water capacity	12,000 imperial gallons (55,000 l)
Tender capacity	17 short tons (15,000 kg)
Boiler pressure	275 pounds per square inch (1.90 MPa)
Cylinders	2
Cylinder size	22 inches (56 cm) × 30 inches (76 cm)
Power output	4,700 hp (3,500 kW)
Tractive effort	45,300 pounds-force (202 kN)
Career	Canadian Pacific Railway
Class	H1b
Number	2816
Official name	Empress
Last run	May 26, 1960
Restored	2001
Disposition	Excursion service

Canadian Pacific 2816, named the Empress, is a 4-6-4 H1b Hudson used by the Canadian Pacific Railway in occasional excursion service. The 2816 is the only non-streamlined H1 Hudson remaining (the other four remaining are the semi-streamlined Royal Hudsons)

1 First career
2 Restoration and second career
3 Preservation and other remaining H1 Hudsons
4 References
5 External Links

[edit] First career

Locomotive 2816 was one of ten H1b-class (the "H" meant the 4-6-4 wheel configuration, the "1" was the design number and the "b" meant it was the second production run) 4-6-4 Hudson built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1930. It was first assigned to the line between Winnipeg and Fort William, Ontario. Later, it was transferred to service between Windsor, Ontario and Quebec City, and finally it ran a commuter train between Montreal and Rigaud, Quebec. It made its last run on May 26, 1960.^[1] It was at this time that it received the name of Empress.^[2] In 1963, the locomotive was sold to Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Amusements Corp., Inc. 2816 was then donated to the newly formed Steamtown in 1964.

[edit] Restoration and second career

After sitting at the Steamtown site for almost 40 years, the locomotive was obtained from Steamtown by Canadian Pacific in 1998 and restoration began in 1999 at the BC Rail steam shops in Vancouver. The locomotive was completely stripped down and rebuilt. The locomotive was converted to burn oil and equipped with modern utilities such as a radio and a diesel control unit. The restoration took over two years and cost over $1,000,000, making it one of the most costly locomotive restorations in Canada. In September 2001 the locomotive made its first trial run from the BC Rail steam steam shops to its new home of Calgary. It then rejoined the Canadian Pacific fleet as a special excursion locomotive and for public relations. Since the restoration, 2816 has travelled all across Canada and the United States. The 2816 is one of the most well known locomotives in North America, along with Milwaukee Road 261, Southern Pacific 4449 and Royal Hudson 2860.^[3]

[edit] Preservation and other remaining H1 Hudsons

2816 is the last H1b and is one of five Canadian Pacific Hudsons preserved out of the original 65 built between 1929 and 1940. 2816 is the last of the non-streamlined H1a and H1b classes built in 1929 and 1930 numbered 2800–2819. The other four remaining sister engines to 2816 are the famed, semi-streamlined Royal Hudsons numbered 2820–2864. The remaining Royal Hudsons are numbers 2839 (H1c), 2850 and 2858 (both H1d) and the well-known 2860 (H1E). Currently, 2816 and 2860 are the only operating 4-6-4 Hudsons in North America.