The 2141 steam locomotive was built in 1912 and hauled freight and passengers across the prairies until 1948 when it underwent a rebuild. It then worked on Vancouver Island until 1958 when it was retired. The locomotive was purchased by the mayor of Kamloops in 1961 and sat in a park until 1994 when plans were made to restore it. After nearly a decade of restoration work, the 2141 steam locomotive began operating again on the Kamloops Heritage Railway in 2002, providing passengers the opportunity to experience the only remaining locomotive of its kind.

1. 2141 Steam Locomotive
“SpiritofKamloops”
The 2141 steam locomotive was built in 1912 in Kingston,
Ontario. She spent her early years hauling freight, passengers,
and mixed trains across the prairies until being pulled from
service for a rebuild in 1948. She emerged from the shops with
a brand new look and was now burning oil instead of coal. She
was then shipped to Vancouver Island where she worked with
her sister engine the 2149 until 1958. Both engines were retired
and diesels took their place on the island branch line.
The 2149 and all 23 sister locomotives (2130 to 2154) soon met there date with the cutting torch and the 2141 became
the sole survivor of the family, thanks to Mayor Jack Fitzwater of Kamloops. In 1961 Mr. Fitzwater purchased the 2141
from the CNR for $2000.00 and had her shipped back to the sunny city of Kamloops. From 1961 until 1994 the 2141
sat idle in the downtown park and generations of Kamloops children played on her, sitting in the cab and pretending
to thunder down the rails. Weather and vandalism soon took their toll on the old engine and in 1994 plans were put
into place to restore her. This meant a lot more than a few cans of paint: 2141 was destined to ride the rails again!
In October of 1994 the 2141 was lifted out of the park and trucked to a nearby barn for
nearly a decade of work to begin. For eight years, men and women of all ages toiled away
hoping one day to see steam. In 2002 they finally did: the barn doors swung open and 2141
chugged out under her own steam for the first time since 1958. Two open-air cars were
built, three coaches, a café lounge and a caboose followed suit, and the Kamloops Heritage
Railway was open for business! In the summer of 2002 the 2141 carried her first load of
passengers… on a sold out train!
2141 now spends her second chance at life leisurely transporting passengers back in time, all
the while providing guests the chance to see and hear the sound of the only remaining
steam locomotive of its kind!