July 1st presented myself with an opportunity to partake in what is being considered by many as "The Steam Event of the Decade". That event is CPKC's "Final Spike Steam Tour" featuring their 4-6-4 H1b Hudson type steam locomotive, number 2816.

CP 2816, better known as the Empress, was built in December of 1930 by the Montreal Locomotive Works for the Canadian Pacific. The engine remained in service for CP until the end of steam 1960. In 1998, CP bought the engine back from private ownership and began restoration efforts that concluded in 2001, where the engine ran as a public relations tool until 2012, when CP's steam program was cancelled. Flash forward to 2023 and 2024, the engine was meticulously rebuilt and brought back to operational status to commemorate the 1 year anniversary of the merger between CP and KCS, forming CPKC, through the Final Spike Steam Tour.

Join me as we chase the Empress on a 350 mile trip from Davenport, Iowa to St. Paul, MN throughout the Mississippi River valleys within the two states. With all sorts of shots, from high speed to low speed, and both whistles in use all day long, there is something for everyone to like. With that being said, sit back, relax, and enjoy my first encounter with a true Class I mainline steam excursion!