Written by William C. Vantuono, Railway Age Editor-in-Chief

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour. Photo by William C. Vantuono.

The National Railway Historical Society and Railway Age selected Canadian Pacific Empress 2816 and Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour as recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award.

CPKC’s Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour was a “once in a lifetime” operation and monumental achievement. Thanks to CPKC’s skilled, dedicated team, the unprecedented, 9,000-mile-plus tour operated smoothly across North America’s three nations—Canada, the United States and Mexico. 

“On behalf of the CPKC family I extend special thanks to Railway Age and to the NRHS for this special recognition,” said President and CEO Keith Creel. “The men and women at CPKC who invested so much to make this trip possible are especially honored.” 

Left to right: Mike Yuhas, Director, NRHS; Jonathan Chalon, Publisher, Railway Age; James Clements, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning & Corporate Services, CPKC; Adam Meeks, Director, Heritage Services & Operations, CPKC. Photo by Railway Interchange.

NRHS and Railway Age presented the award June 2 at Railway Interchange in Omaha, Neb. during the opening session. Previous Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award honorees are Reading Blue Mountain & Northern (2025), Union Pacific (2024) and Iowa Traction (2023).