After seven years of loyal service, is this the end of DroneOCan?
Canadian Pacific 2816, known as the “Empress,” is a historic class “H-1b” Hudson-type steam locomotive built in 1930 by Montreal Locomotive Works and preserved by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). It served heavy passenger routes until retirement on May 26, 1960, was displayed at Steamtown, USA, and underwent extensive restoration before returning to service in 2001 for excursion runs.
Despite a hiatus from 2012 to 2024, it has been restored to operational condition, making it the only non-streamlined H1 Hudson in existence and the sole operating 4-6-4 Hudson in North America as of 2024.
In 2023, Canadian Pacific Railway merged with Kansas City Southern Railway. This merger created the only railway that reaches from Canada to Mexico. To mark this historic merger, the newly branded CPKC is sending the Empress out on a tour from Calgary to Mexico City, with multiple stops along the way.
To prepare for this trip, CPKC has made several trips on trackage around Calgary. I was lucky enough to be trackside in Balzac, Alberta when the Empress was making its return run from Edmonton to Calgary.
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log cabin in rural Kentucky, at a place known as Sinking Spring Farm. He was the second child of Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, their first boy.
His log cabin was a simple building, with just one room. Today a slightly-scaled down replica of the cabin is located inside the Memorial Building. The Memorial Building was constructed between 1909 and 1911.
Young Abraham only lived at Sinking Spring Farm for two years. The family was forced to move in 1811 as a result of a property dispute. Surveying in the early 19th century was not an exact science and disputes over land titles and property lines were not uncommon.
The family would move just a few miles to the north, to an area known as Knob Creek farm where they would reside for the next five years. Once again, land title issues forced the family to move, this time to Indiana.
There are two buildings on site at Knob Creek today. One is the Lincoln Tavern which was built in 1933. The second is known as the Gollaher Cabin. This cabin was likely built around 1800. It was moved to the current site to represent what the Lincolns’ cabin would have looked like during their time at Knob Creek. It is belived the cabin was lived in by Austin Gollaher’s family at the time the Lincoln’s lived at Knob Creek. (Knob Creek Farm is 228 acres but the Lincolns only lived on and farmed 30 acres of it.)
I was fortunate enough to visit both locations on January 13, 2024. You can see that video in the YouTube link above.
If you’re a car enthusiast or simply curious about automotive history, Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, is a hidden gem you won’t want to miss. Let’s take a virtual tour of this fascinating museum that celebrates the golden eras of automobiles.
The story of the Swope Vintage Collection traces back to a pivotal moment in history. It was May 8, 1945, and Bill Swope, a young soldier fighting with the United States Army in Germany, experienced an extraordinary event: Victory in Europe day. The cheers of both Germans and Americans echoed through the streets as World War II came to an end—for Europe, at least.
Bill returned to the United States, and during his 30-day leave, he married his college sweetheart, Elizabeth Sanford (now affectionately known as Betty Swope). But fate had other plans. President Truman dropped the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, ending the war in the Pacific. Bill’s military service shifted, and he found himself in Fort Benning, Georgia, instead of Japan.
Back home, Bill’s passion for cars ignited. He realized that his true calling lay in the automotive industry. So, he opened his very first dealership—a Dodge/Plymouth store on Main Street in Winchester, Kentucky. Little did he know that this decision would eventually lead to the creation of the Swope Vintage Collection.
Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum opened to the public in May of 1999.
Fast forward to today, and the Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum stands as a testament to Bill Swope’s love for classic cars. Here are some key highlights:
Free Admission: Yes, you read that right! The Swope Auto Museum is open to the public with no admission charge. There’s no “suggested donation box” either. The Swope family wanted everyone to enjoy this automotive treasure without any barriers.
I found myself in Kentucky with a couple of days to spare before flying out to Florida. I was browsing Google Maps for things to see in the area and saw Swope’s appear on the map. I thought it sounded interesting and when I saw it fit into my budget (see “free”, above) I knew I had to pay a visit.
The sight of beautifully restored vintage cars took me back in time. I even created a YouTube video (of course!) to share my experience with fellow enthusiasts.
So, if you find yourself near Elizabethtown, Kentucky, make sure to stop by Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum. It’s a journey through time, fueled by the love for automobiles. 🚗🕰️
Contact Information:
This blog post was written by an artificial intelligence (A.I.) and is purely informative. While the details are accurate, the passion and excitement you’d feel during an actual visit are beyond the scope of this digital narrative. I did make some minor changes for tone and to add/remove some sections based on relevance to the post.
DanOCan 