Canadian Pacific 3716
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Canadian Pacific 3716 is a preserved N-2-b class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive, built by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). It is currently owned and operated by the Kettle Valley Steam Railway (KVSR) in British Columbia.
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After operating for over 30 years, it was retired in 1960 and kept in storage until it was acquired by the Government of British Columbia to be restored. No. 3716 began operating under BC Rail in 1975, and ran excursions for the British Columbia Provincial Museum Train. It also assisted Canadian Pacific 2860 with The Royal Hudson excursion train, which ran from 1974 to 2001.
In 2003, No. 3716 was purchased by the KVSR in Summerland and began pulling excursions in 2005.
History
Revenue service
The locomotive was originally built as No. 3916 by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) in November 1912 for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as an N-2-b class locomotive.[1][3][4][5][6] It was renumbered to No. 3716 in 1929, when it was converted from burning coal to oil.[1][2][6]
No. 3716 was retired from revenue service in 1960, later being purchased by the City of Port Coquitlam in April 1966 for a planned display, also being nicknamed Port Coquitlam at this time.[5][1][4] The display never materialized, and the engine was stored at the Drake Street Yards in Vancouver until 1975, when plans were made for an extensive rebuild.[3][5] The Government of British Columbia were in need of a steam locomotive to haul its Provincial Museum Train, and, as the restoration of Canadian Pacific No. 2860 was completed, the Drake Street crew were able to undertake the assignment.[7][8][5][6]
BC Rail career
The locomotive made its first test run on June 10, 1975, running from Vancouver to Coquitlam.[5] No. 3716 then toured British Columbia in July and August pulling an eight-car train, once again travelling across the province in 1977 and 1978.[1][3][5] Operated by the British Columbia Railway (BCOL), the locomotive primarily served as a backup locomotive to No. 2860, who hauled The Royal Hudson train from North Vancouver to Squamish.[1][5][9][10] The two also frequently doubleheaded trains for special occasions or events, such as the ten-day Steam Exposition event as part of Expo 86 and the 1988 "Great Canadian Steam Railway Excursion".[11][12] The BC Rail Steam Program was shut down in April 2001, after passenger service on the railway ceased and No. 3716 was withdrawn from service after it suffered some major firebox damage during an excursion run.[1][13]
Kettle Valley Steam Railway
In 2003, it was purchased by the Kettle Valley Steam Railway (KVS), a heritage railway in Summerland.[1][4] The locomotive was repaired and hauled its inaugural run on May 22, 2005, being nicknamed the Spirit of Summerland.[1][4] In October 2012, the engine celebrated its 100th birthday.[4] As of 2026[update], the locomotive continues to haul excursions for the railway.[1]
Appearances in media
- In 1982, the locomotive appeared in The Grey Fox by Phillip Borsos.[1]
- In 1985, the locomotive appeared in The Journey of Natty Gann by Jeremy Kagun.[1]
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