Spring 2005
Canadian Pacific Railway Employee Communications
Room 500 401-9th Ave
S.W. Calgary AB T2P 4Z4
New Home Gets 2816 All Steamed Up
The old coach shop provides a cozy home that looks "just like the
1950s",
says Bill Stetler with a grin.
Every spring for the last five years, locomotive 2816 - widely known
as CPR Empress - steams out of hibernation to the astonishment and delight of the folks who happen to be trackside
during its annual shakedown runs. But where, you might ask, does such a beast go to rest its mammoth bulk, and
rejuvenate its vital life functions, when a brisk winter wind puts a chill on its last public appearance of the
season?
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Heel Boy: Steam Team member Al Broadfoot, left, and
Alyth yard manager Steve Hooper lead the beast to its new stall.
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As it happens, CPR's "Steam Team" had to revisit that very issue this winter, after the railway's real
estate arm sold the back shop at Calgary's Alyth Yard, where CPR Empress had previously bedded down for its annual
overhaul.
"When we went looking for a new home, we first got in touch with Frank Mele, a project engineer and technician
with engineering operations at Alyth who is familiar with nearly every railway building in Calgary, and has been a
solid supporter of the 2816 project from the beginning", said Bill Stetler, CPR's road manager for steam
operations. "We also consulted with Dave Hayden, director of rationalization for real estate and supply services
here in Calgary, who didn't want to leave us out in the cold".
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The Steam Team had plenty of help laying
track.
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With the help of the facilities experts, an ideal location was found in a far corner of Ogden Shops. The former 1912
coach repair shop needed a couple of new tracks and a new door installed to allow access to the team's new equipment
storage facility and workshop but, hey, not far away there were one or two willing railway workers to assist with the
work.
"Several CPR employees got engaged during their regular shifts and even during time off", Bill said.
"The new shop facility is really the cornerstone of the steam project, because we couldn't operate without a
place to do the necessary mechanical work. The guys were excited and proud to be involved with 2816".
A project of this complexity requires the goodwill of all operating departments and locations to keep CPR Empress in
top running condition. At Alyth Diesel Shop, for example, where mighty locomotives of every persuasion go for a tune
up, there is no shortage of enthusiasm.
"Process manager John McCluskey and process coordinators Shivi Sethi and Benny Frewin, with mechanical
operations at Alyth, always make time for us and go beyond the call of duty to help out the steam program", Bill
Said. "Yard manager Steve Hooper is another supporter who should be recognized for coordinating the
communication between our group and the various yard management teams. All of the employees at Alyth are extremely
helpful and couldn't be more proud of CPR's investment - financially and emotionally - in locomotive 2816".
The Steam Team is also very grateful for the work that the people in field operations do to ensure that CPR Empress
runs on schedule and doesn't bump up against freight operations and the railway's commitment to our customers.
"Dan Winiski, director of operations, NMC-West, in particular, has been a mentor to me
personally", Bill said. "and a big booster of the steam program".
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Track Work: Flaming "rope" is used to fix a
pull-apart.
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As always, CPR Empress has a busy season of engagements lined up with employees, customers, and the public. Already
several revenue-generating excursions have been successfully completed, and more are on the way. The two
biggest events on 2816's agenda are separate trips with CPR's board of directors and the Canadian provincial premiers
who are attending the 2005 Conference of the Confederation, both scheduled for later this summer.
To stay abreast of the adventures of CPR Empress - and maybe take advantage of a chance to climb aboard one of the
vintage coaches that accompany her - log on to our RailTown intranet site, or www.cpr.ca.
See you trackside.
This Momentum magazine article is copyright
2005 by Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here with their permission. All photographs, logos, and trademarks
are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.
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