Robert Fry speaks about Canadian Pacific

Tindle News

Transcript

00:00Thank You Rebecca and thank you for that warm welcome. The applause was much

00:07appreciated.

00:17Ladies and gentlemen, how exciting to be here today on this beautiful day. You've

00:21engineered the weather as well so I know you can't take sunny days for

00:26granted here in the UK. It's really an honour for me to be here today to

00:32celebrate the launch of the newly restored Canadian Pacific that we just

00:35unveiled. A locomotive that stands as a symbol of the deep shared history

00:41between Canada and the United Kingdom and one that holds a special place in

00:45the hearts of many Britons, Canadians and railway enthusiasts around the world. As

00:51I stand before you today beside this magnificent Canadian Pacific I can't

00:57help but feel, I can't help but feel that I'm standing a little bit in two worlds

01:07at once. One foot firmly placed in the present and the

01:11other swept away by the echo of steam whistles and the rhythmic pulse of

01:17pistons long past. There's something magical about a steam train and we're

01:23all gathered for that. It's more than just machinery, more than steel and

01:27rivets, more than the roar of the boiler and the hiss of the steam. It's a living

01:32breathing, breathing thing and this locomotive, this beautifully restored

01:36Canadian Pacific is not just a piece of history, it's a heartbeat that has been

01:42rekindled. Thanks to the tireless dedication of thousands of those who

01:47refuse to let her voice be silenced, she lives again. Every gleaming bolt in

01:53polished brass fixture tells a story of resilience and love, of countless hours

01:59spent breathing life back into a vessel that once connected towns, hearts and

02:04dreams. The hands that restored her didn't just rebuild a train, they

02:09resurrected a symbol of adventure, of romance, of the undying human spirit. The

02:17Canadian Pacific carried more than just passengers, she carried the weight of

02:22memory, the gentle whisper of lovers parting on the platform, the laughter

02:27children pressing their faces to the glass and the quiet reflection of those

02:31who found solace in the steady rhythm of the tracks. She reminds us that sometimes

02:37the past is not meant to be left behind, sometimes it's meant to be carried

02:41forward, rekindled and shared with new generations. So thank you so much. Canada

02:49and the UK have shared, has a deep shared history. It's rooted in our country's

02:54lengthy lived experience with one another, family bonds and the respect and

03:00trust we have built over so many years. The values we have promoted and defended

03:05together in the world for a very long time. Although our relationship extends

03:10much farther back than World War II, it was during those dark days that our bond

03:14was fostered together as we stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight

03:18against tyranny. So I'm heartened to see this locomotive, a brilliant symbol of

03:23that allied effort and the Canada-UK relationship restored to her full glory.

03:28During the Second World War, the Watercastle Line route and the Canadian

03:33Pacific locomotive were vital strategic assets that helped the UK, Canada and our

03:39allies through secure peace and secure freedom that we still enjoy today. Built

03:47at the height of World War II, the Canadian Pacific played a key role

03:50transporting troops and munitions to the British coast in preparation of D-Day

03:55where 14,000 Canadians landed on Juneau Beach on June 6th. The locomotive was

04:02named to recognize the Canadian Pacific Shipping Line and Merchant Navy which

04:06were crucial in keeping Britain supplied and honored the sacrifices made by the

04:11many brave crews lost to German U-Boats attacks. By end of the war, the Canadian

04:16Pacific Line had lost every one of the ships they had in 1939. These Canadian,

04:22British and other allied seamen made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our way of

04:27life and for that they have our undying gratitude. At a time when Canadian

04:33sovereignty is being tested, I was reflecting it's very relevant to talk

04:38about the railway but the Canadian Pacific because the building of the

04:42railway across Canada is what united Canada in the 19th century. It's what

04:47helped fend off the expansion from the south at the time and so that's

04:51something that resonates today more than ever. I'd like to extend my heart

05:04fire of gratitude to Rebecca Daly, the CEO of the Watercrest Line, Stephen Evans,

05:10Chair of the Watercrest Line Heritage Railway Trust, Eilish McGinnis, Chief

05:15Executive of the National Lottery and Heritage Fund, everyone and all those

05:19that were involved in this amazing project. Your dedication has brought the

05:23Canadian Pacific back to life. So as we watch her esteem pulse into the

05:28sky and hear the unmistakable echo of her whistle, let us not simply see a

05:33train restored, we see a promise fulfilled, a love story renewed and a

05:39journey that will never truly end. Thank you so much and thank you from Canada.

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