Canadian-Pacific Royal Hudson #2839 was built in 1937 by
Montreal Locomotive Works, a division of
American Locomotive Works (ALCO). The
Hudson type is a 4-6-4
wheel arrangement, meaning it has 4 leading wheels, 6
driving wheels and 4
trailing wheels.
Locomotives of the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement were pioneered on the
New York Central, and so it was named after its
Hudson River line. This wheel configuration allowed for a much larger
boiler to be used, resulting in higher steam pressure and higher
speed. The 2839 is
coal fired and the large tender can hold 21 tons of coal and 14,400 gallons of
water.
The
Royal designation was granted to the entire class of 65 Canadian-Pacific Hudson type locomotives after H.R.H.
King George VI, whose wife crossed
Canada by
train in 1939. The train performed perfectly over the 3224 mile trip, which greatly impressed His Highness. After the trip, the entire streamlined Canadian-Pacific Hudson class of locomotives were granted Royal status and were allowed to display
crowns on their running boards. Royal Hudson achieved great success as a high-speed passenger locomotive. The top speed exceeded 90 mph.
The 2839 was retired from service by Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1960 after more than 3 million miles. It was sold to a group of
American investors who restored the beautiful locomotive to operating condition for use on the Southern Railway. The Southern used it for years for rail fan excursions. After the excursions stopped, the 2839 retired to eastern
Pennsylvania where it was scheduled to be returned to service on a
tourist railway. Unfortunately, these plans fell through and the 2839 was in danger of being scrapped when the Nethercutt Collection learned of its fate. It was purchased in 1999 and transported to
California where it underwent an extensive restoration, which was completed March 2002. The 1937 Candadian-Pacific Royal Hudson #2839, resplendent in its Royal maroon,
gold leaf, gloss black and brushed stainless
steel livery, is a testament to the grand era of steam
locomotive engineering.
This information was gleaned from the Nethercutt Collection Museum in San Sylmar, California where the Canadian-Pacific Royal Hudson #2839 currently resides in all its splendour.