Canadian Railroads > Canadian Pacific 2816

So....that’s it? Finished? Done? No more touring Canada? What’s the point of ever fixing her up to do very little. What a beautiful example of Canadian Pacific steam power...for no one to enjoy running again. Is this really the best that a railroad as large as Canadian Pacific can offer its home country? And I guess I shouldn’t even ask about the Canadian National and their 4-8-4’s.

CP is very much a railroad in transition at this time, following the departure of Hunter Harrison. Before he left, his protégé Keith Creel was appointed CEO, to carry on Hunter's style of railroading. With ongoing employee relations tension threatening strike action, time and the shareholders will tell how the future will unfold at CP.

For now, CP 2816 is in secure storage. In some ways that is the best we can hope for at this time. Rob Ritchie, the CEO that had 2816 restored to service is now two administrations in the past.

Hopefully, should 2816 be disposed of, it will go to a museum who will also store it inside.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/18 10:36 by eminence_grise.

As history teaches us so well it takes a CEO to be a steam lover ( CP-Rob Ritchie 1990-2006, Southern & NS Graham & Bob Claytor 1960-1994, CSX Hays T. Watkins 1975-1988) for a Class 1 to embrace letting mainline steam operate on their property. The sole exception to date is the UP's corporate steam program that so far has survived multiple decades and many changes in the CEO's chair.

So as history guides us until/unless a new CPRR CEO comes along who loves steam the 2816 will sit on display.

IMHO-Ross Rowland