LAREDO, Texas — With SD70ACU No. 7013 and two FP9 diesels at the head end, Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 pulled into Laredo on June 11 after recrossing the Rio Grande at the International Railway Bridge, reentering the United States. Roughly 2 weeks prior on May 30, The Empress led the three diesels and office car special in the opposite direction as it began traversing Mexico as part of CPKC’s Final Spike steam tour [See “News photo: Mexico, meet La Empresa” News Wire, May 30, 2024].
The 12-day round trip between Laredo and Mexico City — the final display stop on June 7 of the outbound transnational journey — has recently been the center of discussion due to its significant highs and tragic lows [see “Woman struck, killed by CPKC steam tour train in Mexico,” News Wire, June 4, 2024]. Whether or not the latter played into the decision for the diesel helpers to lead No. 2816 in the first leg of its return trip has yet to be confirmed by CPKC.
It has been recently reported that the train departed Laredo on the morning of June 13 with the steam locomotive at the head end again. The return schedule, available on the CPKC website, was also updated later in the day with earlier departure and arrival dates in Kendleton, Texas, and Shreveport, La. The rest of the itinerary remains unchanged — including a public display stop on July 6 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and eventual return to No. 2816’s home of Calgary, Alberta, on July 10, completing the Final Spike steam tour.
— Updated June 13 at 3:30 p.m. regarding changes in the train’s consist and schedule.
