Milwaukee Road 261
Encyclopedia
The Milwaukee Road 261 is a 4-8-4
, steam-powered
locomotive
owned and maintained by a Minnesota
-based nonprofit organization known as the Friends of the 261, which runs seasonal train excursions. The steam engine, rebuilt in 1993, has logged more than 25,000 miles under its own power since that time.
On Friday, May 7, 2010, National Railroad Museum operations manager Bob Lettenberger announced that the Museum had sold Milwaukee Road No. 261 to the Friends of the 261 for a low six-figure price. That money will go into preserving or restoring other railroad equipment at the Museum. The formal announcement of the sale occurred on May 8, 2010 – National Train Day
.
The locomotive is undergoing federal mandated overhaul. Once rebuilt, Friends of the 261 will be able to resume an excursion schedule across the Upper Midwest and to the eastern United States.
(ALCO) in Schenectady, New York
in June 1944 in the 4-8-4
configuration, was originally operated by the Milwaukee Road when that rail company was officially known as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific. The locomotive, which weighs in at 460,000 pounds, is rated at a maximum horsepower
of 4500 and maximum speed of 100 mph, is coal
fueled. It operated on the Milwaukee Road until retired in 1954, and was donated to the National Railroad Museum
in Green Bay, Wisconsin
, in 1954. The new museum's first acquisition, the 261 was moved to the museum site in 1958.
In 1991, the newly formed "North Star Rail" selected 261 for restoration for mainline excursions. The 261 was selected for a variety of reasons. The engine was large enough to handle the expected trains at track speed. It featured several modern features for a steam locomotive, including easier to maintain roller bearings. It also already had its asbestos
lagging removed, which is very expensive to remove for environmental and safety reasons. Finally, the 261's relatively short 10 year service life meant that the engine's boiler was in remarkable shape, meaning it would take less work to rebuild the engine.
North Star Rail and the National Railroad Museum came to an agreement in November 1991 for a ten year lease (which was later renewed ten years later). The 261 was moved from Green Bay to Minneapolis to the GE shops at Humboldt Yard in September 1992. There, a full time staff rebuilt the engine. Work progressed quickly, allowing for a hydrostatic test in June 1993, a test fireup in July, and the eventual restoration completion in September. After passing the FRA inspection on September 14, the engine deadheaded over Wisconsin Central
in time for its first public excursions on September 18–19, 1993. The engine later returned to its new home at the leased Burlington Northern Minneapolis Junction.
The following year, the 261 had an extensive season including excursions on Wisconsin Central and the Twin Cities and Western. Notable events included "Chocolate City Days" excusions, campaign trains, a movie shoot painted as "Lackawanna 1661", running over CSX for the famed "New River Train", and a wrap up celebrating the engine's 50th birthday.
The most recognized event that the 261 participated in was the Steamtown
Grand Opening in July 1995. Over five days, the 261 deadheaded from Minneapolis to Scranton, PA. The 261 was the largest engine running at Scranton for the Grand Opening. The locomotive stayed in Scranton for the next year pulling numerous excursions, including rare mileage trips, a rare snow plow run, and the engine's first steam doubleheader with Susquehanna
142.
The 261 returned to the Midwest after almost a year at Steamtown. On its way home, the 261 made its first runs over the newly formed Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. It pulled a few sets of excursions in 1997 and 1998 over BNSF and the TC&W.
The year of 1998 presented 261 on its biggest assignment yet as it was the first steam engine to pull BNSF's Employee Appreciation Special. The engine led a BNSF diesel and a dozen of BNSF's business fleet around the upper Midwest portion of the BNSF's route. This brought the engine back to Chicago
before heading north to North Dakota
and Montana
, then through Minneapolis into Iowa before the EAS concluded at Topeka Railroad Days. The 261 ended the 1998 operating season after a few more days on BNSF.
The 1999 season was short with a weekend excursion in May from Minneapolis to Duluth
along with runs on the Lake Superior Railroad Museum
's tracks, along with another excursion in September. The year 2000 saw the 261 leading excursions out of places like Chicago, Omaha
, and Kansas City
. The engine also led an AAPRCO special on August 29 to Duluth. The engine then led a long circle trip over the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range as well as the North Shore before heading back home. The 2001 season had excursions out of Minneapolis and Montevideo over BNSF and TC&W tracks during June and July. The trips were notable as they showed off a rare matched consist of all Hiawatha passenger cars. The next year, the 261 pulled an almost matching consist between Minneapolis and Chicago. At this point, insurance rates were skyrocketing due to outside events as well as new FRA guidelines. The Friends of the 261 had an insurance policy to run through 2002, making these trips among the last time that the group could afford to have 261 run solo.
In the following months, some major changes were made to the Friends of the 261's operations. With insurance being too high to charge reasonable ticket prices, the group decided to team up with Amtrak
. Amtrak is self insured, so the added cost of excursion insurance was much less. However, Amtrak requires that all equipment meet Amtrak certification. The 261 became the second steam engine to become Amtrak certified, and the Friends of the 261 began to buy or rebuild coaches that would meet Amtrak specifications. The first team up with Amtrak occurred in October 2003 with the engine's return to old Milwaukee Road tracks between Minneapolis to Winona. These trips have been repeated each year since.
Most 261 excursions are assisted by modern diesel-electric locomotives, required by and provided by Amtrak. Those engines can help pull longer trains or provide motive power if 261 were to break down en route. The diesel can also provide head end power
for the passenger cars. In recent years, these have usually been GE P42 locomotives.
Part of the success of the Friends of the 261 has been the purchase of numerous passenger cars for use on excursions. One that fans might recognize is the first tool car, the "Earling". The car was built by the Milwaukee Road as a "cat-tailed" observation in 1939, but was rebuilt into a tool car in 1959. The car was donated to the Friends in 1992, and was the main tool car until 2003. The car's age made it expensive to upgrade to Amtrak spcifications, so a new tool car, "Grand Canyon", was bought and repainted. For ease, here is a list of the cars now owned by "Friends of the 261". All are painted in the Milwaukee Road's famed "Hiawatha" orange and maroon unless otherwise noted.
Amtrak Certified
Non-Amtrak certified coaches include the "Earling" (1959), three more coaches ("Hiawatha", "Minnehah" and "Nokomis", numbers 200, 201 and 203 originally of L&N and Central of Georgia heritage), and concession car "Shoreview" (9107, one time New York Central) which is leased to and painted in Canadian Pacific colors. Though the cars are not Amtrak certified (as of writing), they are used for added capacity for non-Amtrak insured excursions. In addition, the Friends of the 261 own a water car, number 250002. The water car was once a tender used behind an L&N "Big Emma" 2-8-4
, and later became a water car for the Southern and Norfolk Southern steam program. The water car was bought at an auction in 1995 when NS ended its steam program.
Trains pulled by the 261 usually feature the distinctive Skytop lounge Cedar Rapids, created by the noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens
, and built by the Milwaukee Road shops for Hiawatha service in 1948. This car, completely upgraded in 2004, is equipped with 36 seats, one drawing room/kitchen, shower, TV, VCR, CD and stereo. It is commonly paired with a 68-seat vista dome former CMStP&P 53, now "Super Dome #53", built by Pullman-Standard for the Milwaukee Road in 1952.
In June 2004, the engine made its first return visit to Milwaukee since being restored, overnighting on its way to Chicago to participate in the Grand Excursion
. It departed from Chicago, Illinois (arriving in Rock Island, Illinois
to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi River
) to the Quad Cities
(Rock Island Illinois
and Iowa
. During the Grand Excursion the 261 made a day trip to Bureau Junction, Illinois
). The train then traveled north along Iowa rails near the Mississippi River
including a stop in Sabula, up to the Twin Cities, stopping at a number of communities along the way. For a day, the locomotive was joined by the Canadian Pacific 2816
, pulling the train in a "doubleheader" setup.
The 261 ran an excursion from Minneapolis to Duluth over BNSF rails in both 2005 and 2007.
Three June 2006 excursions were launched from 261's hometown of Milwaukee: a dinner train Friday the 23rd to Sturtevant, Wisconsin
, and Saturday & Sunday treks (24th & 25th) to the Wisconsin Dells. For these runs, the train was turned at New Lisbon. These excursions would be repeated in August 2008.
In September 2006, the 261 and its train visited Rock Island, Illinois
as part of RiverWay 2006, a Quad Cities
celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River
in 1856. As part of the festivities, 261's train was coupled to a pair of Chinese-built QJ 2-10-2
steam locomotives for a trip to Homestead, Iowa
, on September 15, 2006. The next day, 261 was added to run a "triple-header" from Rock Island to Bureau Junction, Illinois
; then, on the following day, the QJs pulled the train, without 261, to Muscatine, Iowa
, and back. Diesels were not used on any of these excursions.
In September 2007, the Canadian Pacific 2816 and 261 reunited for another doubleheader to Winona. No diesels or water cars were used on the trip. The Friends of the 261 had helped the Canadian Pacific plan the 2816's return to the United States, as well as providing half of the consist 2816 led.
In May 2008, the 261 was featured on a photo charter on the TC&W. Following this, the engine was deadheaded to Chicago for filming in "Public Enemies
", a movie based on the life of John Dillinger
and staring Johnny Depp
and Christian Bale
. Though the 261 was built ten years after Dillinger died, the engine did fit the bill for a steam engine that could be filmed at Chicago Union Station. The engine's final excursion before the required Federal Railway Administration's "15 year inspection" for the 261 was a run in September 2008 on both Canadian Pacific's ex-Milwaukee Road line from Minneapolis to Winona with a return on BNSF's ex-Burlington line between LaCrescent to Minneapolis. Following the engine being pulled from service, the Friends quickly began the teardown for the rebuild. The 261 had set an impressive record, as it had been able to pull at lease one public excursion for each year between 1993 and 2008.
In 2009, the work on 261 was halted to concentrate efforts on the Southern Pacific 4449
. The famed "Daylight" was to participate in TrainFestival 2009, and the Friends of the 261 played a major part in the engine being able to participate. The group provided several passenger cars for the 4449's excursion from Portland
, OR to Owosso
, MI as well as TrainFestival 2009. The 4449 was stored in the Minneapolis Junction Shops after the festival until October. Before the engine returned to Portland, it led the annual trips from Minneapolis to Winona.
In November 2009, the Friends of the 261 and the National Railroad Museum had problems with negotiations over lease agreements. The museum was asking too much for the Friends to pay, especially while in the middle of a large overhaul. The Friends of the 261 decided to end the lease with the National Railroad Museum citing the high costs. NRM later put the 261 on sale for an asking price of $225,000 on Sterling Rail. There were reports of someone from California buying it who would let the Friends continue running it, but the sale never followed through. In May 2010, the National Railroad Museum made a final offer to the Friends of the asking price of $225,000. Since this would be the only way to keep the engine on track, they bought it and now completely own it. The locomotive will run again when its 15-year overhaul is complete.
In October 2010, another Fall Color trip was run with an Amtrak P42 in the lead. This trip was used as a fundraiser
for the 261's restoration.
near Harrison St. NE. This former Burlington Northern
Diesel Shop is home to the locomotive as well as many of the group's rolling stock. Operating with many volunteers and only four employees, the shop crew is able to complete many tasks, ranging from the rebuilding of passenger car trucks, brake systems, HEP, etc. to the upcoming full re-certification of the locomotive's boiler. In September 2008, the locomotive's 15-year FRA boiler safety certification had expired, and therefore required recertification. What this process entails is the removal of all boiler lagging, the cab, and all of the flues inside the boiler. Thereafter, the interior is sandblasted, and the whole boiler will be sonar scanned for thickness of steel.
The 261 came to Chicago in May 2008 for the shooting of the film Public Enemies (2009 film), starring Johnny Depp
.
The second excursion of 2008 took place in September, and was planned to be the 261's last trip before its boiler recertification.
4-8-4
Under the Whyte notation classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-4 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles .Other equivalent classifications are:UIC classification: 2D2...
, steam-powered
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
owned and maintained by a Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
-based nonprofit organization known as the Friends of the 261, which runs seasonal train excursions. The steam engine, rebuilt in 1993, has logged more than 25,000 miles under its own power since that time.
On Friday, May 7, 2010, National Railroad Museum operations manager Bob Lettenberger announced that the Museum had sold Milwaukee Road No. 261 to the Friends of the 261 for a low six-figure price. That money will go into preserving or restoring other railroad equipment at the Museum. The formal announcement of the sale occurred on May 8, 2010 – National Train Day
National Train Day
National Train Day is a holiday started by Amtrak in 2008 as a method to spread information to the general public about the advantages of rail travel and the history of trains in the United States...
.
The locomotive is undergoing federal mandated overhaul. Once rebuilt, Friends of the 261 will be able to resume an excursion schedule across the Upper Midwest and to the eastern United States.
History
Built by the American Locomotive CompanyAmerican Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
(ALCO) in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
in June 1944 in the 4-8-4
4-8-4
Under the Whyte notation classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-4 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles .Other equivalent classifications are:UIC classification: 2D2...
configuration, was originally operated by the Milwaukee Road when that rail company was officially known as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific. The locomotive, which weighs in at 460,000 pounds, is rated at a maximum horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
of 4500 and maximum speed of 100 mph, is coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
fueled. It operated on the Milwaukee Road until retired in 1954, and was donated to the National Railroad Museum
National Railroad Museum
The National Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, in suburban Green Bay.The museum is one of the oldest institutions in the United States dedicated to preserving and interpreting the nation's railroad history. It was founded in 1956 by community volunteers in...
in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, in 1954. The new museum's first acquisition, the 261 was moved to the museum site in 1958.
In 1991, the newly formed "North Star Rail" selected 261 for restoration for mainline excursions. The 261 was selected for a variety of reasons. The engine was large enough to handle the expected trains at track speed. It featured several modern features for a steam locomotive, including easier to maintain roller bearings. It also already had its asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
lagging removed, which is very expensive to remove for environmental and safety reasons. Finally, the 261's relatively short 10 year service life meant that the engine's boiler was in remarkable shape, meaning it would take less work to rebuild the engine.
North Star Rail and the National Railroad Museum came to an agreement in November 1991 for a ten year lease (which was later renewed ten years later). The 261 was moved from Green Bay to Minneapolis to the GE shops at Humboldt Yard in September 1992. There, a full time staff rebuilt the engine. Work progressed quickly, allowing for a hydrostatic test in June 1993, a test fireup in July, and the eventual restoration completion in September. After passing the FRA inspection on September 14, the engine deadheaded over Wisconsin Central
Wisconsin Central
Wisconsin Central could refer to:*Wisconsin Central Railroad , Wisconsin Central Railway , and Wisconsin Central Railroad , successive names for a predecessor of the Soo Line...
in time for its first public excursions on September 18–19, 1993. The engine later returned to its new home at the leased Burlington Northern Minneapolis Junction.
The following year, the 261 had an extensive season including excursions on Wisconsin Central and the Twin Cities and Western. Notable events included "Chocolate City Days" excusions, campaign trains, a movie shoot painted as "Lackawanna 1661", running over CSX for the famed "New River Train", and a wrap up celebrating the engine's 50th birthday.
The most recognized event that the 261 participated in was the Steamtown
Steamtown
Steamtown may refer to:* Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre, museum in Peterborough, South Australia* Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc., former heritage railway in Peterborough, South Australia* Steamtown, USA, former Vermont museum...
Grand Opening in July 1995. Over five days, the 261 deadheaded from Minneapolis to Scranton, PA. The 261 was the largest engine running at Scranton for the Grand Opening. The locomotive stayed in Scranton for the next year pulling numerous excursions, including rare mileage trips, a rare snow plow run, and the engine's first steam doubleheader with Susquehanna
Susquehanna
-In Pennsylvania:*Susquehannock tribe, Native American tribe of Pennsylvania*Susquehanna Bank*Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania*Susquehanna Depot, Pennsylvania, a borough in Susquehanna County...
142.
The 261 returned to the Midwest after almost a year at Steamtown. On its way home, the 261 made its first runs over the newly formed Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. It pulled a few sets of excursions in 1997 and 1998 over BNSF and the TC&W.
The year of 1998 presented 261 on its biggest assignment yet as it was the first steam engine to pull BNSF's Employee Appreciation Special. The engine led a BNSF diesel and a dozen of BNSF's business fleet around the upper Midwest portion of the BNSF's route. This brought the engine back to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
before heading north to North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, then through Minneapolis into Iowa before the EAS concluded at Topeka Railroad Days. The 261 ended the 1998 operating season after a few more days on BNSF.
The 1999 season was short with a weekend excursion in May from Minneapolis to Duluth
Duluth
Duluth may refer to:*Duluth, Minnesota*Duluth, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta*Duluth , an album by Trampled by Turtles*Duluth , by Gore Vidal...
along with runs on the Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Lake Superior Railroad Museum
The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is a railroad museum in Duluth, Minnesota.The museum has seven steam, fourteen diesel and two electric locomotives, and over 40 other pieces of rolling stock...
's tracks, along with another excursion in September. The year 2000 saw the 261 leading excursions out of places like Chicago, Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
, and Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. The engine also led an AAPRCO special on August 29 to Duluth. The engine then led a long circle trip over the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range as well as the North Shore before heading back home. The 2001 season had excursions out of Minneapolis and Montevideo over BNSF and TC&W tracks during June and July. The trips were notable as they showed off a rare matched consist of all Hiawatha passenger cars. The next year, the 261 pulled an almost matching consist between Minneapolis and Chicago. At this point, insurance rates were skyrocketing due to outside events as well as new FRA guidelines. The Friends of the 261 had an insurance policy to run through 2002, making these trips among the last time that the group could afford to have 261 run solo.
In the following months, some major changes were made to the Friends of the 261's operations. With insurance being too high to charge reasonable ticket prices, the group decided to team up with Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
. Amtrak is self insured, so the added cost of excursion insurance was much less. However, Amtrak requires that all equipment meet Amtrak certification. The 261 became the second steam engine to become Amtrak certified, and the Friends of the 261 began to buy or rebuild coaches that would meet Amtrak specifications. The first team up with Amtrak occurred in October 2003 with the engine's return to old Milwaukee Road tracks between Minneapolis to Winona. These trips have been repeated each year since.
Most 261 excursions are assisted by modern diesel-electric locomotives, required by and provided by Amtrak. Those engines can help pull longer trains or provide motive power if 261 were to break down en route. The diesel can also provide head end power
Head end power
Head end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
for the passenger cars. In recent years, these have usually been GE P42 locomotives.
Part of the success of the Friends of the 261 has been the purchase of numerous passenger cars for use on excursions. One that fans might recognize is the first tool car, the "Earling". The car was built by the Milwaukee Road as a "cat-tailed" observation in 1939, but was rebuilt into a tool car in 1959. The car was donated to the Friends in 1992, and was the main tool car until 2003. The car's age made it expensive to upgrade to Amtrak spcifications, so a new tool car, "Grand Canyon", was bought and repainted. For ease, here is a list of the cars now owned by "Friends of the 261". All are painted in the Milwaukee Road's famed "Hiawatha" orange and maroon unless otherwise noted.
Amtrak Certified
- Tool Car/Dormitory "Grand Canyon" 1615. Former U. S. Army, later Amtrak. Bought in 2002.
- Coaches "St. Paul Pass", "Arizona" and "Lake Pepin", numbers 7613, 7615 and 7616. Former Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
clocker coaches. Acquired in 2003. Each holds 88 passengers. Painted in Amtrak colors after a movie shoot. - Open Window Coach "Wenonah" 202. Former Louisville & Nashville, later Pittsburgh & Lake Erie, later Fort Wayne Railway Historical Society. Bought in 1994.
- Concession Car 2450. Former Union Pacific, later Amtrak.
- Lounge "St. Croix Valley" 3101. History to come. Bought in 2009.
- Lounge "Wisconsin Valley" 3103. Former U. S. Army, later Amtrak. Bought in 2002.
- Sleeper "Minnesota River" 31. One of the last new cars bought by the Milwaukee Road.
- Super Dome 53. Former Milwaukee Road, later Canadian National, later Chicago & Northwestern, later North Carolina Department of TransportationNorth Carolina Department of TransportationThe North Carolina Department of Transportation is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries in the U.S. state of North Carolina.-History:...
. Bought off eBayEBayeBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
in 2006. - Skytop Lounge "Cedar Rapids" 186. Original and distinct to the Milwaukee Road. Bought in 1999.
- Observation "Lamberts Point" 800702. Former Norfolk & Western, late Norfolk Southern. Leased to Canadian Pacific steam program between 2004 and 2009. For sale.
- Reportedly, a former Milwaukee Road business car has also been purchased.
Non-Amtrak certified coaches include the "Earling" (1959), three more coaches ("Hiawatha", "Minnehah" and "Nokomis", numbers 200, 201 and 203 originally of L&N and Central of Georgia heritage), and concession car "Shoreview" (9107, one time New York Central) which is leased to and painted in Canadian Pacific colors. Though the cars are not Amtrak certified (as of writing), they are used for added capacity for non-Amtrak insured excursions. In addition, the Friends of the 261 own a water car, number 250002. The water car was once a tender used behind an L&N "Big Emma" 2-8-4
2-8-4
In the Whyte notation, a 2-8-4 is a railroad steam locomotive that has one unpowered leading axle followed by four powered driving axles and two unpowered trailing axles. This locomotive type is most often referred to as a Berkshire, though the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway used the name Kanawha for...
, and later became a water car for the Southern and Norfolk Southern steam program. The water car was bought at an auction in 1995 when NS ended its steam program.
Trains pulled by the 261 usually feature the distinctive Skytop lounge Cedar Rapids, created by the noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens
Brooks Stevens
Clifford Brooks Stevens was an American industrial designer of home furnishings, appliances, automobiles and motorcycles — as well as a graphic designer and stylist....
, and built by the Milwaukee Road shops for Hiawatha service in 1948. This car, completely upgraded in 2004, is equipped with 36 seats, one drawing room/kitchen, shower, TV, VCR, CD and stereo. It is commonly paired with a 68-seat vista dome former CMStP&P 53, now "Super Dome #53", built by Pullman-Standard for the Milwaukee Road in 1952.
Grand Excursion
The Grand Excursion was a voyage by train and steamboat into the Upper Mississippi River valley, USA that first took place in June 1854. 150 years later, in 2004 the Grand Excursion route was retraced by both riverboats and a steam locomotive....
. It departed from Chicago, Illinois (arriving in Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
) to the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
(Rock Island Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. During the Grand Excursion the 261 made a day trip to Bureau Junction, Illinois
Bureau Junction, Illinois
Bureau Junction, usually called Bureau, is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 368 at the 2000 census. Though its official name is Bureau Junction, the village is more commonly called Bureau, and Bureau is the main name used by phone companies, the federal Board...
). The train then traveled north along Iowa rails near the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
including a stop in Sabula, up to the Twin Cities, stopping at a number of communities along the way. For a day, the locomotive was joined by the Canadian Pacific 2816
Canadian Pacific 2816
Canadian Pacific 2816, named the Empress, is a 4-6-4 H1b Hudson used by the Canadian Pacific Railway in occasional excursion service. The 2816 is the only non-streamlined H1 Hudson remaining .-First career:Locomotive 2816 was one of ten H1b-class Canadian Pacific 2816, named the Empress, is a 4-6-4...
, pulling the train in a "doubleheader" setup.
The 261 ran an excursion from Minneapolis to Duluth over BNSF rails in both 2005 and 2007.
Three June 2006 excursions were launched from 261's hometown of Milwaukee: a dinner train Friday the 23rd to Sturtevant, Wisconsin
Sturtevant, Wisconsin
Sturtevant is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6599 at the 2009 census.Sturtevant celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007.-Geography:Sturtevant is located at ....
, and Saturday & Sunday treks (24th & 25th) to the Wisconsin Dells. For these runs, the train was turned at New Lisbon. These excursions would be repeated in August 2008.
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
as part of RiverWay 2006, a Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in 1856. As part of the festivities, 261's train was coupled to a pair of Chinese-built QJ 2-10-2
2-10-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle, usually in a trailing truck...
steam locomotives for a trip to Homestead, Iowa
Homestead, Iowa
Homestead is an unincorporated community in Iowa County, Iowa, United States. It has the ZIP code 52236.Homestead is a census-designated place with the population recorded as 148 in the 2010 census....
, on September 15, 2006. The next day, 261 was added to run a "triple-header" from Rock Island to Bureau Junction, Illinois
Bureau Junction, Illinois
Bureau Junction, usually called Bureau, is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 368 at the 2000 census. Though its official name is Bureau Junction, the village is more commonly called Bureau, and Bureau is the main name used by phone companies, the federal Board...
; then, on the following day, the QJs pulled the train, without 261, to Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
, and back. Diesels were not used on any of these excursions.
In September 2007, the Canadian Pacific 2816 and 261 reunited for another doubleheader to Winona. No diesels or water cars were used on the trip. The Friends of the 261 had helped the Canadian Pacific plan the 2816's return to the United States, as well as providing half of the consist 2816 led.
In May 2008, the 261 was featured on a photo charter on the TC&W. Following this, the engine was deadheaded to Chicago for filming in "Public Enemies
Public Enemies
Public Enemies is a 2009 American crime drama film directed by Michael Mann and written by Mann, Ronan Bennett and Ann Biderman. It is an adaptation of Bryan Burrough's non-fiction book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34...
", a movie based on the life of John Dillinger
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
and staring Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
and Christian Bale
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
. Though the 261 was built ten years after Dillinger died, the engine did fit the bill for a steam engine that could be filmed at Chicago Union Station. The engine's final excursion before the required Federal Railway Administration's "15 year inspection" for the 261 was a run in September 2008 on both Canadian Pacific's ex-Milwaukee Road line from Minneapolis to Winona with a return on BNSF's ex-Burlington line between LaCrescent to Minneapolis. Following the engine being pulled from service, the Friends quickly began the teardown for the rebuild. The 261 had set an impressive record, as it had been able to pull at lease one public excursion for each year between 1993 and 2008.
In 2009, the work on 261 was halted to concentrate efforts on the Southern Pacific 4449
Southern Pacific 4449
Southern Pacific 4449 is the only surviving example of Southern Pacific Railroad's GS-4 class of steam locomotives. The GS-4 is a streamlined 4-8-4 type steam locomotive...
. The famed "Daylight" was to participate in TrainFestival 2009, and the Friends of the 261 played a major part in the engine being able to participate. The group provided several passenger cars for the 4449's excursion from Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, OR to Owosso
Owosso, Michigan
Owosso is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,713 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the eastern side of Owosso Township, but is politically independent...
, MI as well as TrainFestival 2009. The 4449 was stored in the Minneapolis Junction Shops after the festival until October. Before the engine returned to Portland, it led the annual trips from Minneapolis to Winona.
In November 2009, the Friends of the 261 and the National Railroad Museum had problems with negotiations over lease agreements. The museum was asking too much for the Friends to pay, especially while in the middle of a large overhaul. The Friends of the 261 decided to end the lease with the National Railroad Museum citing the high costs. NRM later put the 261 on sale for an asking price of $225,000 on Sterling Rail. There were reports of someone from California buying it who would let the Friends continue running it, but the sale never followed through. In May 2010, the National Railroad Museum made a final offer to the Friends of the asking price of $225,000. Since this would be the only way to keep the engine on track, they bought it and now completely own it. The locomotive will run again when its 15-year overhaul is complete.
In October 2010, another Fall Color trip was run with an Amtrak P42 in the lead. This trip was used as a fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
for the 261's restoration.
Maintenance and Restoration
The locomotive's storage facility and maintenance base is at Minneapolis Junction in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
near Harrison St. NE. This former Burlington Northern
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
Diesel Shop is home to the locomotive as well as many of the group's rolling stock. Operating with many volunteers and only four employees, the shop crew is able to complete many tasks, ranging from the rebuilding of passenger car trucks, brake systems, HEP, etc. to the upcoming full re-certification of the locomotive's boiler. In September 2008, the locomotive's 15-year FRA boiler safety certification had expired, and therefore required recertification. What this process entails is the removal of all boiler lagging, the cab, and all of the flues inside the boiler. Thereafter, the interior is sandblasted, and the whole boiler will be sonar scanned for thickness of steel.
Excursions
The Friends of the 261 pulled a series of excursions in the Summer and early fall of 2008. The trip which was planned for June 18–23 from Minneapolis to Milwaukee and return was cancelled due to excessive flooding in the midwest and Wisconsin.The 261 came to Chicago in May 2008 for the shooting of the film Public Enemies (2009 film), starring Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
.
The second excursion of 2008 took place in September, and was planned to be the 261's last trip before its boiler recertification.