Milwaukee Road 261
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 About to head out on an excursion from Minneapolis Junction |
|
| Power type | Steam |
|---|---|
| Builder | American Locomotive Company |
| Build date | June 1944 |
| Configuration | 4-8-4 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) |
| Fuel type | coal |
| Career | Milwaukee Road |
| Number | 261 |
| Restored | 1993 |
| Current owner | National Railroad Museum (in Green Bay) leased to Friends of the 261 |
| Disposition | occasional excursion service based in St. Paul, Minnesota |
The Milwaukee Road 261 is a steam-powered locomotive maintained by a Minnesota-based organization known as The Friends of the 261, which runs seasonal train excursions. The steam engine was rebuilt in 1993, and has logged more than 25,000 miles under its own power since that time. It was built by American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York in June 1944 and 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 over one million pounds (450,000 kg) is fueled by coal and has wheels in a 4-8-4 configuration.
In 2004, the locomotive participated in the Grand Excursion held that year. It (departed))from Chicago, Illinois (arriving in Rock Island, IL 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 day trips to Bureau Junction, Illinois and ???) The train then traveled north along Iowa rails near the Mississippi River including stops in Sabula and ??? 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.
In June 2006, the engine will make its first return to Milwaukee since being restored.
Most excursions with the locomotive are assisted by modern diesel-electric locomotives provided by Amtrak. Those engines can help pull longer trains or provide motive power if the 261 were to break down en route, and they also provide head end power for the passenger cars. In recent years, these have usually been GE P42 locomotives. Trains pulled by the 261 often have a Skytop lounge as the trailing car.
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.
The locomotive's storage facility and maintenance base is at Minneapolis Junction in Minneapolis, Minnesota near Harrison St. NE.
