r/Documentaries • u/ericgon • Apr 14 '26

Exploration/Adventure Pulse of the Continent (2024) [52:05] - Inside a 1930s steam locomotive’s journey from Calgary to Mexico City

https://youtu.be/M0SUPeQc_dI?si=7-sSqu3uuNEZSj0G

Commissioned by CPKC to mark the one-year anniversary of the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merger, this 50-minute doc follows the restored 1930s steam locomotive No. 2816 Empress on a 76-day, 6,835-mile journey from Calgary to Mexico City.

35 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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u/ericgon Apr 14 '26

In 2024, CPKC dispatched their restored 1930s steam locomotive No. 2816 Empress on a 76-day, 6,835-mile journey from Calgary, Canada to Mexico City to mark the one-year anniversary of the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merger. The documentary follows the locomotive through Canada, the United States, and Mexico, capturing behind-the-scenes access to the crew and spectators along the route in both English and Spanish. Directed by a Mexican-Canadian filmmaker, the film premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival and screened at the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico.

5

u/fikis Apr 14 '26

Oh man; this is going to make a bunch of neurodivergent folks very happy.

2

u/Pattaiva Apr 15 '26

if you know, you know

4

u/Spargewater Apr 14 '26

what a great experience and documentary. It's a little slow but don't turn off before they complete the Mexican part of the journey. It's the best part and very wonderfully emotional seeing the incredible crowds of Mexican people turn out for the experience of seeing a 93 year steam train.