SOMETHING TO GET STEAMED UP ABOUT.

Five years ago, Union Pacific sent Big Boy 4014 on a tour of their system to commemorate the sesquicentennial of their Golden Spike, and that steamer continues to visit Union Pacific cities.  There is a return to the Chicago area sometime this year.

Canadian Pacific, er, Canadien Pacifique de Mexico, are calling attention to their recent creation of the first North American railroad with mainline operations in three countries, with what they term the Final Spike Tour.  They put Royal Hudson 2816, Empress (a nod to the names of Canadian Pacific's passenger steamers) back into service and got her certified to run in all three countries.  "We hope that many people will have the opportunity to safely see the beautiful 2816 as the train makes its way from Calgary to Mexico City."

Once upon a time, The Milwaukee Road had the world's fastest Hudsons Baltics, the conventional Class F6 and the streamlined F7.  None of those, let alone the as-fast Class A Milwaukee types, made it into preservation.  That noted, having a Royal Hudson riding those rails through the curves east of the station and making her way to the racetrack is good to see.

Canadian Pacific 2816 “The Empress” chugs through downtown Milwaukee at noon today.

Trains!! pic.twitter.com/EAUEooevET

— Mark Fairbanks 🍅 (@MarkFairbanks) May 6, 2024

Your editorial note for today: I have no objection to someone using "chugging" when the locomotive in question is chugging along.

We'll see what the weather brings for 2816's jump to Iowa Thursday or its Davenport visit Friday.