After operating for over 30 years, it was retired in 1960 and kept in storage until it was acquired by the Government of British Columbia to be restored. No. 3716 began operating under BC Rail in 1975, and ran excursions for the British Columbia Provincial Museum Train. It also assisted Canadian Pacific 2860 with The Royal Hudson excursion train, which ran from 1974 to 2001.
The locomotive was built as No. 3916 by the Montreal Locomotive Works in November 1912 for the Canadian Pacific Railway as an N-2-b class locomotive. It was renumbered to No. 3716 in December 1929, when it was converted from burning coal to oil.[1][2]
No. 3716 was retired from revenue service in 1960, later being purchased by the City of Port Coquitlam in April 1966 for a planned display, also being nicknamed "Port Coquitlam" at this time.[1] The display never materialized, and the engine was stored at the Drake Street Yards in Vancouver until 1975, when plans were made for an extensive rebuild. The Government of British Columbia were in need of a steam locomotive to haul its Provincial Museum Train, and, as the restoration of Canadian Pacific No. 2860 was completed, the Drake Street crew were able to undertake the assignment.[3]
BC Rail career
Canadian Pacific No.3716 at the Squamish Depot with a private excursion train on May 9, 1999
The locomotive had its first test run on June 10, 1975, running from Vancouver to Coquitlam. No. 3716 then toured British Columbia in July and August pulling an eight-car train, once again travelling across the province in 1977 and 1978. Operated by the British Columbia Railway, the locomotive primarily served as a backup locomotive to No. 2860, who hauled The Royal Hudson train from North Vancouver to Squamish. The two also frequently doubleheaded trains for special occasions or events, such as the 1988 "Great Canadian Steam Railway Excursion".[1]
Tourist trains
The BC Rail Steam Program was shut down in April 2001, after passenger service on the railway ceased. No. 3716 was put into storage until 2003, when it was purchased by the Kettle Valley Steam Railway, a heritage railway in Summerland. The locomotive was placed into service on May 22, 2005, being nicknamed the "Spirit of Summerland". As of 2026[update], the locomotive continues to haul excursions for the railway.[1]
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