Wouldn’t it be great if the Royal Hudson 2860 could be in a double header with CPR 2816 ?
(hopefully I got the numbers right)
The 2860 is currently undergoing major renovations in Squamish, BC under the direction of the west coast railway association.
The hope is that the engine will be up and running prior to the 2010 winter olympics in Vancouver/Whistler.
Just to" up" the hope – we hope to have it in steam around next April time – All the tubes are now out, new ones on site , we have just recieved another $100.000 in funding towards the goal of returning it to steam . keep a eye on the web site for upgrades as work proceeds .
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Just to" up" the hope – we hope to have it in steam around next April time – All the tubes are now out, new ones on site , we have just recieved another $100.000 in funding towards the goal of returning it to steam . keep a eye on the web site for upgrades as work proceeds .
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After the repairs are completed, is the plan to return the Royal Hudson to a regular schedule between North Vancouver and Squamish?
Yeah, you got the numbers right.
Did you know it once steamed with CN 6060? That was almost as cool, and it also did it with CP 3716, a 2-8-0!
Matthew
No, BC Rail was running it before and now it’s CN that owns the track. I don’t think it will run more than several times a year, but it would last longer that way.
Matthew,
The “Royal Consol” 3716 was actually a better engine on the “Royal Hudson” route and could pull more cars on that run (12 vs 15, I believe).
Both are good locomotives, and 2860 might not pull as many cars but can probably run faster while being kinder to the track.
That’s great news. We had the good fortune to see the 2860 during a visit to B.C. back in about 2002. Before the formal restoration work started. That’s a beautiful locomotive.
And by the way, the rail museum at Squamish is excellent. Really worth the time to visit if you’re in the area.
Regards
Ed
I have long had an interest in #2860, and I am glad to hear that steps are being taken to put her back into operating condition and that hopefully she will be continue to be used in special excursion service between North Vancouver and Squamish.
In the mid-1980’s I had obtained a cassette recording of her in action between N. Vancouver and Squamish. The tape was produced and narrated by a gentleman in Vancouver, I think, and he used to advertise under the trade name of HOWARD’S TAPES in Trains Magazine. I sometimes wonder whatever became of Howard and whether or not he had produced any more recordings behind Canadian steam power. Anyway, the one cassette recording that I have of the 2860 is most excellent!
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
I paced the Royal Hudson when it brought a Canadian history train on a US tour about 25 - 30 years ago, and then rode behind it out of North Vancouver. A stunning and unusual looking engine; I look forward to seeing it again.
It had a great steam whistle, an air horn, and an unusual air horn that played the frst four notes of “Oh Canada” – which by coincidence is the grade crossing symbol of two longs a short and a long. For one crossing they blew all three!
Dave Nelson
That must have been a sight to see! Or hear…
Didn’t it go down south for a while there? Around California?
Matthew
Don’t expect to see # 2860 on a regular train as it was . The WCRA does not have the resorces or manpower to operate it every week . Expect it to operate several times a year on special excursions or events. We do have 3 regular cars , an open car & an executive car 'Alberta " ( now also under renovation) - this will form our excursion train – BCR sold off all the rest of the hudson cars , we were only able to obtain 3 cars . #2860 will be housed under cover in our new roundhouse complex due to open in 2006 . So good things are happening in Squamish – come give us a visit & view the loco under restoration .
When I read about the restoration of ex CPR Royal Hudson 2860 I couldn’t believe it. Usually when steam engines are removed from service becasue of the need for costly repairs they are often cosmetically restored at best.
I have some memories of our ride behind 2860 back in September 1988. We took the boat one way northbound and we took advantage of the salmon bake for lunch which was very good. Also the weather in Vancouver was fanatastic albeit a little warm. I photographed the train in Squamish, and the train crew showed me around the locomotive and the the Head End Power Car which had a diesel generaator set, and the car was converted from a streamlined CPR baggage car.
The coaches were former CPR wide window, curved side streamlined coaches which it even used on some of its branch lines in the mid 50’s. However, the coaches had fixed back-to-back seating instead of the “sleepy hollow” reclining seats.
The train backed out of Squamish, and I got movies and slides of the rising steam plume from one of the dutch doors as the train backed on to the main line. We traveled along Howe Sound for quite a ways, and we were mooned by some people in rafts out on the water. A highway also follows the tracks for some distance along Howe Sound, and as i remember there are places one could pull off and photograph the train.
The train had a gift shop, and i bought a Royal Hudson baseball cap as a souvineer, and I still have it today. I hope to see it run again, and this time I hope to ride it then chase it.
What are dutch doors?
Matt
Dutch doors are those that are made in two halves (upper and lower) than can be opened or closed separately. They are common in the vestibules of passenger cars. The bottom half can be closed (for safety) and you can still shoot pictures through the open top without any problems from dirty windows.
Regards
Ed
Oh, those. Thanks.
Matt
Now all you people out there, doesn’t the original build of 2816 look a lot better than the Royal Hudson? remember now it’s the same engine ( a hudson) but somebody welded on a bunch of extra metal and a spare crown the only thing missing are big fins and fender skirts. MACGUY- renovations won’t be done till 2010??? where are they being done, on Jupiter??? can this be right???
As one of the team helping to restore # 2860 – it is the best looking loco around ( biased of course)!!!- CPR is trying to catch up with #2816. - but put #2816 & #2860 ( in it’s naked state ) together & they are similar , but the external casing was futuristic in 1940 … … so you just have to love it – ( or not) .
In defense of Macguy , we are hoping it can be included in 2010 Olympic celebrations - thats the goal,but it will be running next year – all being well . .
Athelney, thanks for the time schedule on the 2860, OK, it’s really not that bad, after all it’s a steam engine and that’s all that matters,eh? At least you guys on the west coast get to ride behind it occaisionally, CPR has a steam loco in Calgary, just try and get on it. ------ nice looking.try CP 3101-K1a 4-8-4.
I personally prefer the streamlined look of the 2860 to the 2816.
I suppose I am biased because when the Royal Hudson used to run between North Vancouver and Squamish, I rode it at least a few times a year.
I have seen both the 2816 and the 2860 in person numerous times, and I can also say that I prefer the sound of the 2860s whistle to boot.
But regardless steam is steam, they are both magnificent locomotives.