The Empress leads CPKC train B-40B-02 at track speed somewhere between the Vanegas and Catorce stations in the San Luis Potosi state.


10 days, almost 3k km, several states traveled, plenty, plenty of trains and almost 2k pictures! I can officially call this the best foaming trip in my life so far.

Seeing a functional steam engine on a Mexican mainline always seemed like the most impossible thing ever, but thanks to CPKC, that became a reality!

Words will never be able to describe how amazing it was to live this one in a lifetime event.

Will I ever get to see a better train than this one on Mexican soil? Doubt it!

© All Rights Reserved

With the consist all back together after it's private event in Monterrey, the Final Spike Steam Tour train basks under the afternoon sun on Track 404 as they wait for it's 6am OD call to San Luis Potosi the next day.

Monterrey, NL.

© All Rights Reserved

With an On Time departure out of San Luis Potosi, the Empress and company waste no time as they make their way past the Villa de Reyes siding doing every bit of track speed, as they race bound for their final destination: Mexico City!
Note the 2 Mexican flags attached to the class lights.

Villa de Reyes, SLP

Tags:   WPD24Nature

© All Rights Reserved

After finally being able to get ahead of traffic, we catch the Final Spike Steam Tour train as it kisses good-bye to the Metropolitan area of Monterrey, where some heavy clouds were calling home which I somewhat was praying to have above us at least all the way to Benjamin Mendez, something that didn't happen as the clouds disappeared rather quick into the chase.

Santa Catarina, NL.

© All Rights Reserved

The Final Spike Steam Tour keeps it's steady pace as they race past a very remote area a few km south of Saltillo.
Here, he have 2 mainlines, B and BS. With the train running on the B line while the BF line is just out of frame on the bottom (right next to the highway). Glad they decided to run the train on that line, otherwise the shot would've been completely different with the train surrounded by traffic.

Saltillo, Coahuila.

© All Rights Reserved