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My association with the Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 started as a part of a goal to ride a train in all of the 50 States of the United States of America. The state which would be the hardest to ride a train in would be South Dakota. Image my surprise when I was looking at my Railfan & Railroad Magazine back in early summer of 1998 and saw an ad about a Camerail Club three day trip from North Kansas City to Minneapolis. I looked at my rail atlas and saw the only BN route that would get the train back to the Twin Cities was through a small southeast corner of South Dakota. I called the phone number and was told not only was it going to South Dakota and it would spend a night in Sioux Falls. The check was quickly mailed and I planned a double Amtrak circle trip around the western United States that put me into Kansas City the day before that first trip aboard the Milwaukee Road 261.
The Milwaukee Road 261 in Falls City, Nebraska on September 10, 1998, on the first day I ever rode behind this unique coal fire burning steam engine.
The next day at Hills siding in Minnesota, the Milwaukee Road 261 preformed its first photo runby for me. I was very impressed seeing it move from the ground.
Right outside of Sioux Falls, South Dakota at Corson we did the last photo runby of the trip. I detrained at Minneapolis Jct a big fan of the Milwaukee Road 261. I wondered when I would next be riding it as I left Minneapolis Jct. We now jump ahead to May 2002 and a Minneapolis to Duluth Trip.
The Milwaukee Road 261 at Minneapolis Jct on May 17, 2002 the day before the first Duluth Trip that I would make.
On the way to Duluth outside of Hinkley, Minnesota, the Milwaukee Road preformed this photo runby on May 18, 2002. On that trip I learned of a trip down the old CB&Q tracks to Chicago. As this would be another new route for me how could I say no!
The Milwaukee Road 261 out in the morning sun on June 18, 2002.
On the first day of the two day trip to Chicago the Milwaukee Road 261 did a photo
runby at Nelson, Wisconsin on June 19, 2008.
The Friends of the 261 did a Farewell to the Erie Mining Railroad Trip on September 21, 2002. My next encounter would be in 2004 when the Milwaukee Road 261 would take place in the Grand Excursion of 2004 Celebration along the Mississippi River. By this time I had joined the Friends of the 261. I caught the train in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and would ride most of the Grand Excursion.
On June 22, 2004 The Milwaukee Road 261 is being prepared for the trip to Chicago.
The Milwaukee Road 261 coming into the Milwaukee Amtrak Station on June 22, 2004.
The Milwaukee Road 261 arrived in Chicago on June 22, 2004.
After the arrival into Chicago the Milwaukee Road 261 went to the layover servicing area during its stay in the Windy City on June 22, 2004.
On June 25, 2004 the Milwaukee Road 261 ran from Chicago to Rock Island. Here the Milwaukee Road 261 is passing through Mendota, Illinois.
Later on that same day, the Milwaukee Road 261 is steaming north through Orion, Illinois on the way to Rock Island.
On June 26, 2004 the Milwaukee Road 261 ran from Davenport, Iowa to Savanna, Illinois. Here is the Milwaukee Road 261 coming into Davenport to pick us up.
The Milwaukee Road 261 at Subula, Iowa before it backed across the Mississippi River into Savanna.
The Milwaukee Road 261 ran from Rock Island to Bureau on June 27, 2004. Here it is before it picked us up in Rock Island.
The Milwaukee Road 261 leaves Bureau for Rock Island on June 27, 2004.
The Milwaukee Road 261 ran from Davenport to Dubuque on June 28, 2004. Here is the pre trip picture at Davenport.
The Milwaukee Road 261 crossed the Union Pacific Railroad ex CNW in Clinton, Iowa.
The Milwaukee Road 261 has reached Dubuque, Iowa on July 28, 2004.
The Milwaukee Road 261 ran from Dubuque to La Crosse, Wisconsin on June 29, 2004 and we started our morning with the train backing to the Dubuque pick up point.
The Milwaukee Road 261 steamed out of Dubuque on June 29, 2004.
Just after we had arrived into La Crosse, Wisconsin on June 29, 2004.
The Milwaukee Road 261 did a Circle Trip from St Paul down the BNSF to La Crosse and back up the Canadian Pacific tracks on July 2, 2004. After that trip we went to Westminster Hill to view not one but two steam trains.
First the Canadian Pacific 2816 stormed up Westminster Hill on July 2, 2004.
A few minutes later, the Milwaukee Road 261 stormed up Westminster Hill on July 2, 2004. These two engines would double head together tomorrow St Paul to La Crescent and return.
The two engines leave Minneapolis Jct on July 3, 2004.
The engines pass below Mound Park in St Paul on July 3, 2004.
The engines ran through Pig Eye Yard on July 3, 2004.
The engines at speed at Homer on July 3, 2004.
The engines speed north along the Mississippi River south of Weaver on July 3, 2004.
In the pouring rain the engines ran by Lock and Dam #1 on July 3, 2004.
On July 4, 2004 the Milwaukee Road prepares for a trip to St Paul and Short Line Hill at Minneapolis Jct.
Arriving into St Paul.
The Mississippi Queen was part of the boat part of the Grand Excursion 2004 at St Paul on July 4, 2004.
The Milwaukee Road 261 steamed up Short Line Hill on July 4, 2004.
The inside of the Cedar Rapids on July 4, 2004.
After a series of fantastic trips on the Grand Excursion 2004 and now it would rest at Minneapolis Jct. The Friends of 261 then did a four day trip with the CP 2816 from Shoreham Yard to Portal.
Canadian Pacific 2816 at Glenwood on July 7, 2004.
The CP 2816 did a photo runby at Moselle, North Dakota on July 8, 2004. My next trip with the Milwaukee Road 261 would wait for three years to ride behind the engine but the cars would be used on the Trains Unlimited NRHS Express and NRHS Steam Trip behind the SP 4449 and SP&S 700.
On the NRHS Express our own Steve Sandburg used a broom handle to keep the damper open on the SD-38 as the Second Section with the Great Dome and Cedar Rapids climbed the steep grade on July 2, 2005.
A look at our cars used on the Second Section of the NRHS Express climbing the grade on July 2, 2005.
The Cedar Rapids brings up the rear of the NRHS Express at Black Butte, California on July 3, 2005.
On July 4, 2005 the NRHS Express on the Siuslaw River Drawbridge east of Florence, Oregon.
The Western Star Steam Excursion with the Spokane, Portland & Seattle 4-8-4 700 and Southern Pacific 4-8-4 4449 which included cars from the Friends of the 261 which are seen at Wishram, Washington on July 6, 2005. A special thank you to the Friends of the 261 for the use of their cars at the NRHS 2005 Convention in Portland, Oregon. I would now have to wait for next opportunity to ride behind the Milwaukee Road 261.
The Milwaukee Road 261 took me back to Duluth on June 2, 2007.
The Milwaukee Road 261 took the tight curve in Superior, Wisconsin on June 2, 2007.
The Milwaukee Road 261 on the wye at Duluth, Minnesota on June 2, 2007.
The Cedar Rapids at rest at Duluth on June 2, 2007.
The Milwaukee Road 261 ready to head home to Minneapolis Jct on June 3, 2007
The Friends of the 261 sponsored the CP 2816 Steamarama on the Soo Line Glenwood Turn on September 8, 2007.
The Friends of the 261 sponsored the CP 2816 Steamarama on the Soo Line Dresser Turn on September 9, 2007.
The Steam Doubleheader Trip with the Milwaukee Road 261 and Canadian Pacific 2816 on September 15, 2007.
The train has reached La Crosse for lunch and servicing as a Canadian Pacific freight train passes the Cedar Rapids on September 15, 2007. The next day the Canadian Pacific would head home to Calgary as a Friends of the 261 Excursion. I would ride the first two days from Shoreham Yard to Thief River Falls then onto Winnipeg the day after.
The Canadian Pacific 2816 at Glenwood on the way to Thief River Falls on September 16, 2007.
The Canadian Pacific 2816 at Thief River Falls ready to back up to pick up the passengers for the trip to Winnipeg on September 17, 2007.
We are now back to the present waiting for the next Milwaukee Road 261 Trip.
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