Steam & Excursion > Royal Hudson #2860 steam up

Ex-CP Royal Hudson #2860 was steamed up this past weekend to stretch her legs a bit and show her off to visitors at the West Coast Railway Association museum in Squamish BC.

The 2860 was the star attraction for scheduled steam on BC Rail for 25 years running excursions from North Vancouver to Squamish.

The WCRA has just begun construction on their 9 stall roundhouse that will ultimately house this jewel along with other pieces of their collection.

With permission from CN management the 2860 was allowed to venture off the museum property and run the length of Squamish yard on track 7. Here's hoping a future excursion can be worked out with CN (who owns the operating rights on BC Rail). It would be a shame to have this magnificent locomotive trapped in Squamish only to run at a leisurely pace in the yard.

1 & 2. Departing the museum grounds for a run down the yard.

3. Running through track 7 in the Squamish Yard.

cp1400

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A few detail shots from the cab.

cp1400

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Any chance of getting her to doublehead with 2816 while she is on the British Columbia 150th anniversary tour?
http://www.bc150.gov.bc.ca/bc150.aspx?page=railtour_story

What is that massive aulminum wheel in pic 4?

It probably isn't aluminum, but it is the power reverse wheel. This design originally was manual and later power-assisted, just like the standard quadrant reverser. The air operating lever is directly above the wheel, and to the left of that is the small red needle of the cut-off indicator. This version provided better fine adjustment of cut-off at running speeds, at the cost of being tedious when switching, particularly on the early manual versions. Also, Franklin's version was called the "Precision Power Reverse", although I'm pretty sure they were also made by other manufacturers. I believe the PM 1225 has one of these also, and of course the CP 2816. Scott Gordon

It sure is great to see this beauty steamed up once again. Yes, 1225 has the power reverse, too. The "wheel" is quite different from the CP version.

Finderskeepers Wrote:
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> Any chance of getting her to doublehead with 2816
> while she is on the British Columbia 150th
> anniversary tour?
> http://www.bc150.gov.bc.ca/bc150.aspx?page=railtou
> r_story


It's highly unlikely that the two Hudson's will team up for this event. For now the 2860 is more or less trapped in Squamish owing to CN management's attitude toward anything that could cost them on the bottom line.

Originally the proposal was to have the 2860 haul the celebration 150 train around the Province which would have provided money for an extensive rebuild but CN wanted nothing to do with a steam train on any of their track whether they own it or not. Seeing the obvious publicity value (and happening to have an operational steam engine) CPR stepped up to the plate and agreed to use their lines in BC to promote the 150th anniversary of BC becoming a crown colony. A full itinerary for the 2816 hauled celebration train will be published in due course. Right now its supposed to happen June 1-30.

cp1400

It's unfortunate that the politics of all this will prevent a Hudson doubleheader, which would be an awesome sight to see and hear and smell, and....well, it would just be great.

Not to mention that the 2860 has some mechanical running gear issues that require an exemption/waiver to operate.

CRPrice Wrote:
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> Not to mention that the 2860 has some mechanical
> running gear issues that require an
> exemption/waiver to operate.

Like what ?

All I know of is that it only has one waterglass, which is still legal in Canada. It can't operate in the US until a second one is installed, and a waiver is unlikely. Of course it also has friction bearings, but most steam locomotives do and are allowed to run as exceptions, not usually requiring waivers.

Last I knew, British Columbia was still a province of Canada. Seems that the Hudsons can operate there legally.