MEXICO CITY (apro).- The locomotive “La Emperatriz” (“Empress”, in English) is making a trip through North America, which began in the city of Calgary, in northern Canada, and will reach Mexico City on June 7, before culminating its tour in the city of Winnipeg next July.
Not Hudson. 2816 or “The Empress” was built in December 1930, by Montreal Locomotive Works, originally used for express freight and passenger service and operated for almost 30 years in eastern Canada before being retired on May 26, 1960 , date of your last tour.
The machine does not. 2816 has an extreme length of 27.8 meters, an extreme height of 4.6 meters and an extreme weight of 291 thousand 665 kilos. The locomotive has 4 front wheels, 6 driving wheels and 4 rear wheels. In March 1999 it was converted from coal to oil. The no. 2816 is the surviving H-1-b subclass locomotive.
This machine served as a “roving steam ambassador” for the Canadian Pacific railway company in Canada and the United States, before being put into storage in 2012, where it has remained until now.
“The Empress” got her name, as the Canadian Pacific wanted a title that conveyed “elegance and nobility.” The name is also a nod to the company’s history, since its main passenger ships were named with that title and a country was added: Empress of Australia, Empress of Russia, Empress of Great Britain. Likewise, the planes in its air fleet were titled like this, but with cities instead of countries: Emperatriz de Montreal or Emperatriz de Buenos Aires.
The exhibition of this machine was organized to commemorate the merger of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern railway companies (which now operate under the initials CPKC).
The CPKC has recommended, for the safety of the public, that all people stay away from the roads and crossings, which generally extend 15 meters from the center of the roads on each side, and warned against taking photos or videos.
The public will be able to see this machine up close and learn its history, but passenger rides will not be available.
Yesterday, a video went viral in which a woman wanted to take a selfie when the “La Emperatriz” locomotive was approaching, however, when her back was turned the train hit her in the head and she died instantly, in Villagrán, Hidalgo.
