Milwaukee Road 261
Preparing for 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′ h2
Gauge	4 feet 8½ inches (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter	74 in (1.880 m)
Fuel type	Coal
Boiler pressure	250 lbf/in² (1.72 MPa)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	26 in × 32 in (660 mm × 813 mm)
Tractive effort	62,119 lbf (276.32 kN)
Career	Milwaukee Road
Class	S3
Number in class	2nd of 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, currently undergoing boiler recertification.

The Milwaukee Road 261 is a 4-8-4, 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. In an e-mail dated Tuesday, November 17, 2009, Steve Sandberg, COO of the Friends of the 261, informed the National Railroad Museum that his organization has decided to discontinue operating former Milwaukee Road steam locomotive #261, according to Michael E. Telzrow, executive director of the National Railroad Museum. Per the terms of the current agreement, The Friends of the 261 are now responsible for returning the locomotive to the Museum.

[edit] History

Built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) 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. It operated on the Milwaukee Road until it was retired in 1954 and donated to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, WI. The Museum still owns the locomotive, while it's being leased by the "Friends."

The 261 crossing the Mississippi River in Hastings, MN

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.

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."

Triple-headed excursion train stopping for water at Atkinson, Illinois, on September 16, 2006; 261 is the third locomotive in the train.

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 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.

[edit] 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 second excursion of 2008 took place in September, and was planned to be the 261's last trip before its boiler recertification. However, in November 2009, midway through the rebuilding process, the Friends of the 261 announced that they were unable to reach a new lease agreement with the National Railroad Museum. Per the terms of the original operating agreement, The Friends of the 261 are responsible for returning the locomotive to the Museum, where it will most likely serve as a static display.

The 261 came to Chicago in May 2008 for the shooting of the film Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Milwaukee Road 261

• The Friends of the 261
• Milwaukee Road 261 Info, Photos and Video
• Milwaukee Road 261 Photo Gallery
• Milwaukee Road 261 Excursion Archive
• Steam Diary