The Flickr Davenportiowatrains Image Generatr

It's the second year for the CPKC Holiday Train since the merger in 2023, and for the first time, the train's consist has been slightly altered to replace the "Canadian Pacific" script lettering on the boxcars with the new "CPKC" logo. Other than that, the trainset presses on as usual, holding its Christmas-themed concerts and canned food drives in communities across the CPKC system.

Here, the train has arrived in Davenport, IA, pausing next to the Quad Cities Bandits baseball field for visitors to take pictures in front of the locomotive while a huge crowd gets ready to enjoy the concert eight cars back.

It's the second year for the CPKC Holiday Train since the merger in 2023, and for the first time, the train's consist has been slightly altered to replace the "Canadian Pacific" script lettering on the boxcars with the new "CPKC" logo. Other than that, the trainset presses on as usual, holding its Christmas-themed concerts and canned food drives in communities across the CPKC system.

Here, darkness has fallen across Iowa and the train's Christmas lights are on full display as the train rolls through the dip under the Arsenal Bridge in downtown Davenport, IA, moments away from stopping next to the Quad Cities Bandits baseball field for its next show.

Golden hour has fallen upon downtown Davenport, IA, where a duo of KCS SD70MACs - KCS 3943 and KCS 3937 - weave their way into town with a loaded ballast train.

This week, I had the immense privilege to witness CP 2816, the "Empress" 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive, make its trek south on the Final Spike Steam Tour celebrating the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City Southern merger that occurred 1 year ago. This is the locomotive's first extensive tour in over 17 years, having sat in storage until being chosen to lead this special anniversary train to Mexico City, emphasizing the new railroad's ability to link three different countries on one continent.

Because of its significance, I chose to chase the train from the Twin Cities to southeastern Iowa - four different states over 10 days, by far the longest chase I have ever attempted.

Here, the Empress departs the display in Davenport and heads back to Nahant Yard, passing by Modern Woodmen Park, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits, a minor league baseball team.

This week, I had the immense privilege to witness CP 2816, the "Empress" 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive, make its trek south on the Final Spike Steam Tour celebrating the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City Southern merger that occurred 1 year ago. This is the locomotive's first extensive tour in over 17 years, having sat in storage until being chosen to lead this special anniversary train to Mexico City, emphasizing the new railroad's ability to link three different countries on one continent.

Because of its significance, I chose to chase the train from the Twin Cities to southeastern Iowa - four different states over 10 days, by far the longest chase I have ever attempted.

One of the less commonly seen aspects of such a tour is the locomotive undergoing its maintenance chores. Here, members of the steam crew are busy looking over the Empress as it rests in Nahant Yard in Davenport, IA.

This week, I had the immense privilege to witness CP 2816, the "Empress" 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive, make its trek south on the Final Spike Steam Tour celebrating the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City Southern merger that occurred 1 year ago. This is the locomotive's first extensive tour in over 17 years, having sat in storage until being chosen to lead this special anniversary train to Mexico City, emphasizing the new railroad's ability to link three different countries on one continent.

Because of its significance, I chose to chase the train from the Twin Cities to southeastern Iowa - four different states over 10 days, by far the longest chase I have ever attempted.

Here, the Empress sits on display in downtown Davenport, IA, affording me the opportunity to get a little creative with it.

This week, I had the immense privilege to witness CP 2816, the "Empress" 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive, make its trek south on the Final Spike Steam Tour celebrating the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City Southern merger that occurred 1 year ago. This is the locomotive's first extensive tour in over 17 years, having sat in storage until being chosen to lead this special anniversary train to Mexico City, emphasizing the new railroad's ability to link three different countries on one continent.

Because of its significance, I chose to chase the train from the Twin Cities to southeastern Iowa - four different states over 10 days, by far the longest chase I have ever attempted.

One of the less commonly seen aspects of such a tour is the locomotive undergoing its maintenance chores. Here, the Empress is partially obscured by an oil truck, which is helping refuel the locomotive (which was converted to oil-burning) while it rests in Nahant Yard in Davenport, IA.

This week, I had the immense privilege to witness CP 2816, the "Empress" 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive, make its trek south on the Final Spike Steam Tour celebrating the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City Southern merger that occurred 1 year ago. This is the locomotive's first extensive tour in over 17 years, having sat in storage until being chosen to lead this special anniversary train to Mexico City, emphasizing the new railroad's ability to link three different countries on one continent.

Because of its significance, I chose to chase the train from the Twin Cities to southeastern Iowa - four different states over 10 days, by far the longest chase I have ever attempted.

Here, as seen from Davenport, IA's famous Skybridge, the Empress can be seen chugging along the shores of the Mississippi River in the distance. In a few minutes, the train will pass underneath the Government Bridge - a combination road / rail swing bridge that carries Iowa Interstate traffic - in the foreground.

This week, I had the immense privilege to witness CP 2816, the "Empress" 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive, make its trek south on the Final Spike Steam Tour celebrating the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City Southern merger that occurred 1 year ago. This is the locomotive's first extensive tour in over 17 years, having sat in storage until being chosen to lead this special anniversary train to Mexico City, emphasizing the new railroad's ability to link three different countries on one continent.

Because of its significance, I chose to chase the train from the Twin Cities to southeastern Iowa - four different states over 10 days, by far the longest chase I have ever attempted.

Here is another view of the Empress passing through Davenport, IA, which includes such sights as the Government Bridge and a portion of the roller dam on the Mississippi River.

This week, I had the immense privilege to witness CP 2816, the "Empress" 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive, make its trek south on the Final Spike Steam Tour celebrating the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City Southern merger that occurred 1 year ago. This is the locomotive's first extensive tour in over 17 years, having sat in storage until being chosen to lead this special anniversary train to Mexico City, emphasizing the new railroad's ability to link three different countries on one continent.

Because of its significance, I chose to chase the train from the Twin Cities to southeastern Iowa - four different states over 10 days, by far the longest chase I have ever attempted.

Here, the Empress has been spotted for display underneath the famous Skybridge in Davenport, IA, as an eager crowd gathers around to witness the beautiful engine.

This week, I had the immense privilege to witness CP 2816, the "Empress" 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive, make its trek south on the Final Spike Steam Tour celebrating the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City Southern merger that occurred 1 year ago. This is the locomotive's first extensive tour in over 17 years, having sat in storage until being chosen to lead this special anniversary train to Mexico City, emphasizing the new railroad's ability to link three different countries on one continent.

Because of its significance, I chose to chase the train from the Twin Cities to southeastern Iowa - four different states over 10 days, by far the longest chase I have ever attempted.

Here, a crowd looks on as the Empress sits on display in downtown Davenport, IA. In the background is the roller dam on the Mississippi River and the clock tower of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island Arsenal building.

This is the first year that the CP Holiday Train has run across the system under the new CPKC banner. The train itself still had the boxcars lettered for Canadian Pacific, but the stage car was newly decorated with the CPKC logo.

I chased the train from Sabula, IA to Buffalo, IA (though my last presentable photo was in Davenport). Here is that last photo, the Holiday Train pulling into Davenport and passing underneath the SkyBridge as merry train-watchers gather around.

Merry Christmas to all!

UP's Steam Move wraps around Davenport, IA, beginning its approach to the Government Bridge spanning the Mississippi River.

UP's Steam Move begins its trek onto the Government Bridge in Davenport, IA, the Steam Crew taking extra care of the steam locomotives as they take their first steps onto the bridge.

UP's Steam Move slowly moves along the brick streets of downtown Davenport, IA as it makes its way toward the Government Bridge, where it will cross the Mississippi River and enter Illinois.

A pair of CP SD60s wait to proceed into the fuel tracks at CP's Nahant Yard in Davenport, IA while a CP local led by an SD30C-ECO rumbles up behind waiting to enter the yard.

One of CP's new SD30C-ECO locomotives leads a local freight into CP's Nahant Yard in Davenport, IA.