Kids & Families

CPKC Railroad Final Spike Steam Tour

See the restored 2816 Steam Train up close as it stops in downtown Minot on April 30, 2024. as part of the Final Spike tour, starting in Calgary, Canada, and ending in Mexico City, Mexico. This free interactive event is a one-of-a-kind experience for all ages to celebrate the unique, unrivaled railway network that connects a continent and links Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Experience the story of the North American railway’s history and compelling future for railroad enthusiasts and visitors across the continent.

Minot, a town with railroad roots, is this historic engine’s only stop in North Dakota and one of eleven stops along the recently merged Canadian Pacific and Kansas City railroad lines.

When you see the engine in Minot, you will have the opportunity to see 2816 up close, learn more about the locomotive and CPKC’s history, and ride the Puffer Belly Express mini-train, a quarter-scale steam locomotive model of the 2816 Steam Train – plus more free activities like arts and crafts for children.

While you’re here, explore Minot’s railroad history by visiting the Railroad Museum of Minot or photographing the Gassman Coulee Trestle just outside of town. Grab lunch or dinner at Ironhorse Kitchen + Bar, where you can watch trains go through downtown Minot, or the newly opened restaurant, The Depot and Baggage Claim, housed within Minot’s historic train depot, originally built in 1912.