Milwaukee Road 261
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 About to head out on an excursion from Minneapolis Junction |
|
| Power type | Steam |
|---|---|
| Builder | American Locomotive Company |
| Serial number | 71974 |
| Build date | June 1944 |
| Configuration | 4-8-4 |
| UIC classification | 2'D2'h |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) |
| Driver size | 74 in (1.880 m) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Boiler pressure | 250 psi (1.72 MPa) |
| Cylinders | Two |
| Cylinder size | 26 × 32 in (660×813 mm) |
| Tractive effort | 62,119 lbf (276.32 kN) |
| Career | Milwaukee Road |
| Class | S3 |
| Number in class | 10 |
| Number | 261 |
| Retired | August 1954 |
| Restored | 1993 |
| Current owner | National Railroad Museum (in Green Bay) leased to Friends of the 261 |
| Disposition | occasional excursion service based in Minneapolis, 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 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 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.
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 London.
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.
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 CMSP&P 53, now "Super Dome #53", built by Pullman-Standard for the Milwaukee Road in 1952. The historic Hiawatha-service veteran was fully updated with Amtrak certification by the "Friends of the 261."
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.
[edit] Maintenance and Restoration
The locomotive's storage facility and maintenance base is at Minneapolis Junction in Minneapolis, Minnesota near Harrison St. NE. This former Burlington Northern Railroad 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 boiler will run out of its 15 year, 1472 day certification, and will therefore have to be re-certified. What this entails is the removal of all boiler lagging, the cab, and all of the flues inside the boiler. Thereafter, the interior will be sandblasted, and the whole boiler will be sonar scanned for thickness of steel, and if there are few complications, locomotive 261 will be ready to roll again in Fall 2009.
[edit] Upcoming Excursions
The Friends of the 261 will be pulling a series of excursions in this coming Summer 2008 and early fall 2008. On June 18, Milwaukee Road 261 will pull a train from Minneapolis, MN to Milwaukee, WI. Once in Milwaukee, the group will pull two round trips to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin as well as Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The locomotive will return to Minneapolis on June 23. More details about this trip can be found on the group's website, which can be found below.
The second trip this fall is to take place in September, and will be the last trip 261 makes before its boiler is re-certified. The certification process will take place from the Fall and Winter of 08 until Fall of 09 (the time may vary due to unforeseen complications or other circumstances). Also, keep an eye on their website for more details pertaining to the trip.
The 261 came to Chicago in May of 2008 for the shooting of the Johnny Depp film, Public Enemies.
