Canadian Pacific Railway Co. 4-6-4 No. 2860
Squamish, British Columbia, Canada 		Location: West Coast Railway Heritage Park
Status: Display
Related Notes
Photo Copyright © Jim Boyd
Here are the notes for Canadian Pacific Railway Co. No. 2860, a 4-6-4 located in Squamish, BC. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.
Posted: Jul 6, 2019 @ 08:07:42 by Russell Newman
It has been reported from West Coast Railway Parks website that the "Royal Hudson" No. 2860 the most famous steam locomotive in Canada has been taken out of the display roundhouse there and has been moved to their workshop for a inspection and possible restoration to return her to steam again.
Posted: Feb 18, 2018 @ 18:02:13 by Russell Newman
Tho currently on static display there seem to be plans to have ex Canadian Pacific Railway Hudson 4-6-4 No. 2860 "Royal Hudson" Canada s most famous Steam Locomotive to be put back in to steam again? As on the West Coast Railway Heritage Park website there is what looks like a online appeal since 2015 to raise funds to have the locomotive overhauled to work on the Canadian mainlines again? Whether this will happen or not is currently unknown?
Posted: Mar 14, 2009 @ 15:03:28 by FSFM
Whoops I meant 2860, not 1860
Posted: Mar 9, 2009 @ 21:03:59 by FSFM
Status should be changed to operational, 1860 is still steamed up regularly for show for passing tourist trains and for publicity. Excursions expected to run during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Posted: Sep 30, 2008 @ 02:09:44 by
Don't expect to see 2860 on the line on excursions any time soon. CP and CN have a strict "no steam" policy on their mainline (CN more then CP). the only way we could see excursions is if they were on small branch lines, but even the n its doubtful. the trip to white rock was backed politically and by BNSF.
Posted: Oct 15, 2006 @ 16:10:33 by Kyle Hugo
This charming locomotive was finished and unveiled on sept 28 and passed its boiler test at the west coast railway museam on the 26 of september. it will be in operation for the 2007 season but only for special occaisons and will be stored in the shed at the west coast railway museam.
Posted: Jun 24, 2006 @ 22:06:13 by
Err...I think they finished the restoration.
Posted: Aug 16, 2005 @ 14:08:10 by Christopher Kovacs

Royal Hudson #2860's restoration is now underway!!! Visit the WCRA's website for photos and more info!!!

Posted: Dec 27, 2004 @ 17:12:00 by Len Brown
A minor correction - the 2850 that pulled the Royal Train across Canada in 1939 is resident in Delson, Quebec at the Canadian Railway Museum, not in Ottawa.  (I believe 2854 is there)...
Posted: Oct 30, 2004 @ 09:10:03 by
The photo of Canandian Pacific 4-6-4 2860 shows it doubleheading with Canadian National 4-8-2 6060.
Posted: Aug 29, 2004 @ 23:08:13 by Paul Ohannesian
The correct information for No. 2860 is that she was one of the last five Hudsons built for the Canadian Pacific Railway, of a total of five subclasses under H1, numbered from 2800 to 2864.  The first twenty (up to 2819) were unstreamlined;  the sole surviving example, No. 2816, has recently been beautifully restored by the CPR, which repatriated the locomotive from Steamtown in 1998.  The 35 engines from 2820 to 2864 were semi-streamlined to a design by H.B. Bowen, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the CPR at that time.  No. 2860, along with 2861-2864, of class H1e, was built in 1940 as an oil-burner for service west of Revelstoke, B.C. to Vancouver.  All of the others were coal-burning, although 2816 has now been converted to oil.  It was locomotive No. 2850, not 2860, that pulled the 1939 royal train westward across Canada without need for a relief engine (Canadian National returned the train to the east, using several locomotives).  King George VI was sufficiently impressed by her performance to grant the title "Royal Hudson" to the semi-streamlined engines, and the royal crown emblem took its place on the front end of the skirts on each side.  No. 2850, the "real" Royal Hudson of 1939 fame, still exists and is exhibited in Ottawa.  As for the future of No. 2860, she is safely stored at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.  Officially, the engine is still owned by the people of the Province of British Columbia, and has been "lent" to the Township of Squamish, which has, in turn, entrusted her to the West Coast Railway Society to care for and, hopefully, restore to service.  A professional inspection and report carried out in 2003 showed her running gear and mechanism to be in first-class condition;  she needs new boiler and superheater tubes and replacement of some boiler and firebox plates as well as a new brick arch.  As well, when she was restored in the early 1970's from scrapline status to operational, some parts were loaned from 2850 or other sources;  these were called in when the locomotive went into display status, and part of the costs of restoring her involve finding or making replacement parts as required.  Further information can be found on the WCRA's website, www.wcra.org .  BTW, I spent about 120 hours myself in the summer of 2002 doing some exterior cosmetic work on 2860 --- rust accumulated while she sat out of doors had to be removed from various black-painted surfaces and they were repainted with Tremclad rust-proofing paint.  The current hope is that she will run by late 2006 or soon thereafter;  there is a possibility she will be used on an excursion train for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held about 40 miles north of Squamish in Whistler, B.C.
Posted: Jul 30, 2004 @ 12:07:50 by Bud Gorrell
This Locomotive was "sold" to the Heritage Museum at Sqamish, B.C. by the B.C. Government.  It requires a complete overhaul and rebuild in order to become operational again.  The estimated cost of doing so was found to be unacceptable to the Government and as a result it was "sold" to the Museum, I believe for $1.00 on the understanding that it would, over time, be brought up to opertational standards.  The Museum is seeking donations of any amount to acquire funding for this most worthwhile project. As stated by previous writers, this locomotive pulled the Royal Train across Canada during the visit of Their Majesties, The late King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (now known as the Queen Mom).  The trip was completed without a single breakdown or snag experienced by the Locomotive.  This record of achievement so impressed His Majesty that he elected to name the Locomotive "The Royal Hudson" and authorized the installation of the Royal Crown on the sides at the front.  Until it's retirement from service, it used to run from North Vancouver to Squamish pulling vintage cars and was a great favorite of railfans from all over the Globe. It continues to be one of the main attractions at the Museum at Squamish.  Visitors may speak with retired engineers who used to run this or similar locomotives.  They are usually on site to assist the Museum in providing information regarding this famous locomotive.
Posted: Apr 16, 2004 @ 21:04:38 by Tyler

Adding onto my last note...I do believe that this engine wasn't built in 1940. It had to of been built in 1939 or earlier if it pulled the royal train...and according to a book I've read this locomotive is operational and is the only steam locomotive running scheduled passenger service in North America.

Posted: Apr 5, 2004 @ 12:04:01 by Tyler
This engine is known as the "Royal Hudson". It pulled the 1939 royal train for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. I'm not completly sure but she may be running in BC or she's simply stored for operation in the near future.