Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) 2816 - MLW 4-6-4

This was the final destination of the Final Spike Steam Tour here at Mexico City. Notice ditchlights was added in Pantaco Yard after recent incidents involving the steam locomotive. I was having a difficult time where the steam locomotive was sitting after it arrived in CDMX. I gave up and decided to wait for the main event. The train was supposed to be about a mile south where I was standing before 7am. Fast forward to the event, I've quickly learned the train where this shot was taken was already here well before 7am. I was told authorities "escorted" the train out of Pantaco Yard around 4am and arrived here where I took this shot. This is the only photograph I took when it arrived here.

One of the most historic moments in Mexico was seeing The Empress highballing towards Mexico City. The country has not seen a steam locomotive since at least the 1970s when diesel electric locomotives took over railroad operations. Just about any railfan spot you could think there was hundreds of people waiting for the steam locomotive. The crowds were so large local law enforcement could not control the spectators. Where I was standing at it is a very rural town surrounded with only a couple of people. Here we see The Empress passing through control point Chichimequillas on Linea BC in CPKC tracks standing next to NdeM era searchlights, just north of the state capital. I was very lucky to find a whatsapp group chat that provided updates regarding the steam locomotive and after arriving my spot, I only sat here for about 2 and half hours after departed San Luis Potosi capital in that morning. The same day the steam locomotive arrived into Mexico City wasted no time to get to their final destination before evening hours.

2816 on its return trip back to Calgary somewhere near Medicine Hat AB

A "rods down" zoom shot of the locomotive herself. At Humboldt Yard.

At Humboldt Yard.

The 2816 cools her wheels at Humboldt Yard early on a cloudy summer evening after an epic trip up from Illinois and Iowa the day before.

I was allowed for a few minutes across the tracks to get "Sun Side" pix of 2816 and 6936! We had a great Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Silvis shop tour during the great "Walk Amongst the Giants" event! Look at this!!!! CP 4-6-4 #2816 from the "Final Spike" steam tour came to this RRHMA place!!!! The first RRHMA public event after opening to the public! NRE still owns the building and uses part of it and leases some to RRHMA! In a couple years NRE will vacate! I was happy to catch some NRE diesels here! (Canon T-90 35mm camera, Fuji C200 print film)

I wanted to catch CP 2816 next to the Mississippi River. Found the place along the shoulder of Highway 52! No other "Railfans" here! I hauled five cameras, fold out chair and two tripods up here!!!! The CPKC "Final Spike" steam tour train heading north through Bellevue, IA! (Canon T-90 35mm camera, Fuji C200 print film)

I wanted to catch CP 2816 next to the Mississippi River. Found the place along the shoulder of Highway 52! No other "Railfans" here! I hauled five cameras, fold out chair and two tripods up here!!!! The CPKC "Final Spike" steam tour train heading north through Bellevue, IA! (Canon T-90 35mm camera, Fuji C200 print film)

I wanted to catch CP 2816 next to the Mississippi River. Found the place along the shoulder of Highway 52! No other "Railfans" here! I hauled five cameras, fold out chair and two tripods up here!!!! The CPKC "Final Spike" steam tour train heading north through Bellevue, IA! (Canon T-90 35mm camera, Fuji C200 print film)

I wanted to catch CP 2816 next to the Mississippi River. Found the place along the shoulder of Highway 52! No other "Railfans" here! I hauled five cameras, fold out chair and two tripods up here!!!! The CPKC "Final Spike" steam tour train heading north through Bellevue, IA! (Canon T-90 35mm camera, Fuji C200 print film)

Mazon took a few pix with one of my film cameras. I have been teaching him film photography since 2013. Here is the Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 from the "Final Spike" steam tour displayed at Railroading Heritage of Midwest America "Walk Amongst the Giants" event! The first RRHMA public event after opening to the public! NRE still owns the building and uses part of it and leases some to RRHMA! In a couple years NRE will vacate! (Canon AE-1 Program 35mm camera, Fuji C200 print film)

Mazon took a few pix with one of my film cameras. I have been teaching him film photography since 2013. Here is the Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 from the "Final Spike" steam tour displayed at Railroading Heritage of Midwest America "Walk Amongst the Giants" event! The first RRHMA public event after opening to the public! NRE still owns the building and uses part of it and leases some to RRHMA! In a couple years NRE will vacate! (Canon AE-1 Program 35mm camera, Fuji C200 print film)

We had a great Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Silvis shop tour during the great "Walk Amongst the Giants" event! Look at this!!!! CP 4-6-4 #2816 from the "Final Spike" steam tour came to this RRHMA place!!!! The first RRHMA public event after opening to the public! NRE still owns the building and uses part of it and leases some to RRHMA! In a couple years NRE will vacate! I was happy to catch some NRE diesels here! (Canon AE-1 Program 35mm camera, Fuji C200 print film)

We had a great Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Silvis shop tour during the great "Walk Amongst the Giants" event! Look at this!!!! CP 4-6-4 #2816 from the "Final Spike" steam tour came to this RRHMA place!!!! The first RRHMA public event after opening to the public! NRE still owns the building and uses part of it and leases some to RRHMA! In a couple years NRE will vacate! I was happy to catch some NRE diesels here! (Mamiya RB67 Medium Format camera, Kodak Ektar 100 print film)

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

We followed down to Panama, where we hoped to get a good shot to end the chase. There was an open area next to the tracks, which was a good spot to finish up, as the light was going-the sun having gone behind a steady overcast by mid afternoon.

Diane gets a close up of the 2816s drivers as it rolls past at a good 40.

I couldnt keep up with the train through Gentry and Siloam Springs due to heavy traffic-theres more than you;d think in these supposedly small towns, but at shift change, it can get crazy-and wanted to stop and pick up my wife, so lost some time there. By the time we caught him, it was all the way down to Sallisaw, where we see the 2816 rolling past the south end of the yard.

A slightly closer, wider view shows a little more of the train as it passes.

The 2816 rolls into the curve just north of the Ark 102 overpass, next to Ark 59, as it approaches Decatur.

Relic of a one time siding-there was a lumber yard that once took freight cars just to the north; its now a hardware store, and hasnt had a rail delivery in many years-marks the now removed switch, which has gone back to nature. The 2816 adds to the scene.

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour

CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour