CPKC to Premiere Film on Historic 4-6-4 No. 2816 on YouTube

The 50-minute documentary 'The Pulse of the Continent' chronicles the locomotive's 2024 tour across North America.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:53am

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A highly detailed, photorealistic studio photograph of a chrome-plated model of a 4-6-4 steam locomotive, lit dramatically to showcase the locomotive's elegant engineering and heritage.A gleaming model of CPKC's historic 4-6-4 steam locomotive No. 2816 takes center stage in this polished studio still life, reflecting the railroad's commitment to preserving its storied past.Kansas City Today

CPKC will premiere its new documentary film 'The Pulse of the Continent' on the company's YouTube channel on April 14, marking the third anniversary of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger. The 50-minute film features footage and interviews from the 2024 tour of CPKC's historic 4-6-4 steam locomotive No. 2816 across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.

Why it matters

The film provides a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration and tour of the iconic Empress 4-6-4 locomotive, which was a major public relations event for the newly merged CPKC railroad. The documentary offers a unique perspective on the company's heritage and the role of steam power in modern rail transportation.

The details

Produced by Calgary-based Boléro Studios, 'The Pulse of the Continent' follows No. 2816 on its 76-day, 6,835-mile journey, with interviews of the train crew and spectators along the route recorded in both English and Spanish. The film previously premiered at the 2025 Calgary International Film Festival and the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico before this wider digital release.

  • The film will premiere on the CPKC YouTube channel on April 14, 2026.
  • The documentary previously premiered at the 2025 Calgary International Film Festival.
  • It was also screened at the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico in October 2025.

The players

CPKC

The Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern railroad, formed in 2023 through a merger of the two companies.

No. 2816

CPKC's historic 4-6-4 steam locomotive that was the focus of the 2024 'Final Spike Tour' across North America.

Boléro Studios Ltd.

The Calgary-based production company that created the documentary film 'The Pulse of the Continent'.

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What’s next

The digital premiere of 'The Pulse of the Continent' on the CPKC YouTube channel on April 14, 2026 will mark the first time the film is widely available to the public.

The takeaway

The upcoming release of 'The Pulse of the Continent' showcases CPKC's commitment to preserving its rail heritage and sharing the story of its historic steam locomotive with a wider audience. The documentary provides a unique perspective on the company's merger and the role of iconic equipment like the Empress 4-6-4 in modern railroading.