(The Minot Daily News posted the following article on its website on July 7.)
MINOT, N.D. — People in the Minot area will be able to see a restored steam-type train when the Canadian Pacific Railway brings it through this week.
The train consists of a CPRail Hudson-type steam locomotive named the CPR Empress,” two restored CPR coach cars, some other classic coaches and a concession car. The latter serves beverages and snacks but no meals.
The locomotive is one of the last operating CPR stream locomotives in North America and serves as a roving ambassador for the company and its charity partners.
The locomotive was delivered in December 1930. The locomotive underwent an overhaul to restore it to its 1950s appearance and was converted to burn oil instead of coal, making it cleaner and easier to operate.
While people in the area will be able to see the train, they won’t be able to ride on it, according to CPR spokeswoman Laura Baenen in Minneapolis, who said all of the tickets have been sold.
The train is scheduled to leave Enderlin at 9 a.m. Friday, will stop in Harvey from 2 to 3 p.m. and will arrive in Minot at Fourth and Front Streets, about 8 p.m. The train will be available for public viewing during departure and arrival.
On Saturday, the train will leave Minot at 10 a.m. and will arrive at Portal at about 2 p.m.
The Ransom County Food Pantry at Enderlin, Central Dakota Ministerial Association at Harvey and the Minot Area Homeless Coalition in Minot, will benefit from the trip that originated in Minneapolis and will travel through northwest North Dakota.