In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Canada, arriving at Wolfe's Cove, Quebec, on 17 May 1939.

Specially painted in silver and blue, the locomotive ran 3,224 mi (5,189 km) across Canada, through 25 changes of crew, without engine failure.

[1] The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) owned a total of 65 class H1 Hudsons built by Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW).

2860−2864) Royal Hudsons were all built as oil-burners for the service between Vancouver and Revelstoke where they worked until they were displaced by diesels.

There, a more powerful Selkirk took over till Revelstoke and another Royal Hudson brought the train over the last 379 miles (610 km) to Vancouver.

It was the first locomotive of five to be built new as a Royal Hudson and delivered with painted cast-brass crowns affixed to its skirts.

However, the association was unable to find a place to display the locomotive, and it remained in storage at the Drake Street shops in Vancouver.

The locomotive was restored by Robert E. Swanson's Railway Appliance Research Ltd. team and the staff of the CPR's Drake Street Roundhouse shops beginning on November 25, 1973, and then operated by the British Columbia Department of Travel Industry with the cooperation of the British Columbia Railway.

The BCR commenced a Royal Hudson steam excursion service between North Vancouver and Squamish on June 20, 1974.

The excursion service on BC Rail between Squamish and North Vancouver has ended for the year of 1988, making it possible for the 3716 and the 2860 to be used on the trip.

Over the course of the five-day trip, the train travelled through some of Canada's most spectacular scenery, from the rocky canyons and wide valleys, to the lush forests and rolling rivers.

This special excursion run was also historic, because this was the 'homecoming trip' for CN 6060, which had been staying Vancouver since her visit to Steam Expo 86, and her long-time stay at the BC Rail steam shops in Squamish, having been used on roundtrip excursions between North Vancouver and Squamish.

The first two days of the "Great Canadian Steam Excursion" special featured 2860 and 6060 pulling the train from North Vancouver to Kamloops and Jasper.

Since Jasper was the home base for 6060 and the Rocky Mountain Rail Society, 2860 led the excursion train solo to Prince George.

The remainder of the trip from Prince George to 100 Mile House and North Vancouver featured the 3716 on the point with 2860 behind the 2-8-0's auxiliary tank/water car.

Several hours into the trip, while passing through Chilliwack, the rear wheel-set on the last passenger car of the train, picked a switch and derailed.

The following morning, at the Kamloops Rail Yard, 2860's front and leading driving wheels came off the tracks, while being turned on the wye.

On the fourth day, 3716 suffered a mechanical lubricator failure during the midway portion of the journey to 100 Mile House, B.C.

However, a crew member of the locomotive cautiously stood on the running board of 3716 and lubricated by hand for the journey to 100 Mile House.

While the engine was being prepared for the Christmas trains at the end of the 1999 tourist season, 2860 was found to have serious leaks from the superheater elements.

After the election of the BC Liberal government in 2001 all passenger services were gradually phased out starting with the Royal Hudson excursion.

3716 (an ex-Canadian Pacific 2-8-0 which is also provincially owned and as of 2024[update] operates on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway in Summerland).

On September 28, 2006, the Royal Hudson steamed into the WCRA Squamish station under its own power for the first time since October 1999.

Due to the strict "no steam" policy that CPKC and CN have, the excursions are restricted to special occasions only.

During her brief career with the Southern, 2839 earned the nickname "beer can" due to the Royal Hudson's cylindrical streamlined design.

[3] Royal Hudson locomotive 2839 appeared in the 1980 Academy Award-winning movie Coal Miner's Daughter.