DAVENPORT, Iowa — Canadian Pacific Kansas City obviously won many fans, especially young visitors, during its three-hour display of the Final Spike Steam Tour train at Davenport’s Quinlan Court riverfront park on Friday, May 10, 2024.
The display featuring 4-6-4 No. 2816, known as “the Empress” was free to the public, with many visitors walking away with free handouts including CPKC bags. Hundreds of people, most of them with young children in tow, looked over the Hudson and its train during Friday’s display.
CPKC police officers held a safety briefing in Nahant Yard, south of Davenport, prior to the display. A CPKC management member said the CPKC police are the unsung heroes of the operation, keeping crowds safe during the operations as well as a during the display. While the train was parked at Nahant, 2816 Steam Crew members detailed the steam engine after its operation from Franklin Park, Ill., during a Thursday rainstorm, ensuring it was sparkling for Friday’s display.
Saturday, the locomotive and train moved on to Kansas City, Mo., where they are set for a stay of more than a week, including display on May 18. The train is working its way south to Mexico City, where it will be displayed on June 7.
nice