<<Excursions

Notice:

Milwaukee Road 261 To Pull First Steam Excursion in Four Years!
May 11-12, 2013

 Presented by the
“Friends of the 261″

This spring the “Friends of the 261,” in cooperation with Amtrak and BNSF Railway and Lake Superior Railroad Museum, will operate the Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 under its own steam for the first time in four years, pulling its inaugural excursion from Minneapolis to Duluth, Minnesota.

On Saturday, May 11, the excursion train will depart Minneapolis Jct. at 9:00 a.m.* and travel BNSF Railway’s ex-Great Northern Hinckley Subdivision. Expected arrival in at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth is at 3:00 p.m.* Minneapolis Jct is located at 401 Harrison St NE, Mpls, MN 55413, plenty of parking is available on sit

Join us in the celebration, May 10th is National Train, the 143rd anniversary of the driving of the Golden spike. Join us the evening of Saturday the 11th, Lake Superior Railroad along with the Friends of the 261, will be hosting a dinner train that will depart the museum at 6:00 p.m *. Prior to departure a reception will be held to celebrate National Train day starting at 5:00 p.m.* where refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be for your enjoying. Once en route  the train will travel an hour north of Duluth while passengers will enjoy the evening scenery of Minnesota’s North Shore while dinning in one of many vintage cars, then the engine will run around the train and we will make the hour journey back to the museum for an 8:00 p.m.* arrival.** If you’d like to join for just the reception and not the dinner train, this may be done, purchase your tickets in advance to secure your admission.

Wait there’s more! Later in the night, 261 & 2719 will be on stage for a night photo shoot starting at 10:00 p.m.*, funds from the photo shoot will go to support both 261 & 2719**

On Sunday, May 12, our train will depart Duluth at 12:00 noon* with arrival in Minneapolis at 5:00 p.m.*

Passengers can book hotel accommodations in Duluth themselves. The Friends of the 261, Lake Superior Railroad Museum, and visitduluth.com have arranged for discount rates at the following hotels, call in and mention Friends of the 261 and get a discount rate:

While in Duluth, visit the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, home of Soo Line 4-6-2 No. 2719. No. 2719 will be steamed up to welcome our excursion train to Duluth.

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While in town visit many of Duluth’s other scenic and must see attractions

Both trips will include coach, first class and premium class. Premium class includes reserved seating in Milwaukee Road Skytop observation Cedar Rapids or Super Dome 53. Food service is included with your ticket in First Class and Premium Class. Breakfast and lunch on the way to Duluth, with Lunch and hors d’oeuvres on the return trip.

Click Here to Purchase Tickets for

Excursion, Dinner Train, VIP Reception & Night photo Shoot

For Map and Directions to Minneapolis Jct, Departure location of the trips click here, Map

*Times and cars on trips subject to change with out notice and may be delayed to freight traffic.
**Dinner train and photoshoot tickets sold seperately from round trip 261 tickets

General Information

“Friends of the 261″ is not responsible for equipment substitution and assumes no liability for inconvenience caused by delays. Trains will run rain or shine. Seats are not reserved except in Premium Class. Seating will be available 30 minutes prior to departure time. Smoking is allowed only in vestibules. Light food service (such as hot dogs or sandwiches) and souvenirs can be purchased in the commissary car. We welcome disabled or handicapped passengers. However, because these are older cars, there are no special handicapped facilities available. Please consider the suitability of these trips carefully and call (651) 765-9812 for additional information between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Central Time. If you have special physical needs, please give us advance notice.

Milwaukee Road 261 Passenger Classes

~Coach Class~

Enjoy a smooth ride in one of the Friends Amtrak-certified coaches. Whether it is the No. 202 or 203, former Algoma Central coaches, or one of our other coaches, you won’t be disappointed. In these well maintained cars, you will have comfy seats, great views and plenty of space to roam around. Also featured in coach class will be the Friends baggage/concession car. In this car we will be selling snacks and food, along with 261 collectibles and memorabilia.

~First Class~

Upgrade from coach class and receive even more for your dollar. In First Class you have the opportunity to enjoy a memorable ride in one of our former U.S. Army Medical cars that the Friends have turned in to classy lounge cars. With a ride in First Class, you are able to walk through the train with access to the baggage/concession car and coaches. First Class includes a first class meal prepared by one of our chefs.

~Premium Class~

Full Dome

Due to demand for Premium Class seating, we have added more dome seating. These seats will be Premium Class in a full-length, former Santa Fe Railway dome car for our excursion to Duluth. Built in the 1950s by the Budd Company, this historic, stainless steel car once operated on such Santa Fe streamliners as the Chief, San Francisco Chief, and Texas Chief. They offer a unique “engineer’s eye view” of 261 and the passing scenery. Be sure to purchase your Full Dome tickets today!

Super Dome & Cedar Rapids

Upgrade your ticket once more and enjoy an even more memorable excursion experience. With a Premium Class ticket you have the opportunity to enjoy a ride in the famous Cedar Rapids observation car and the full-length Super Dome. Built in 1948, the Cedar Rapids was Frank Sinatra’s favorite car to ride. It’s easy to see why, with the smooth ride along and some of the most comfortable chairs you will ever sit in. This is topped off by the glass enclosed Skytop solarium at the rear of the car, which offers a great view of the scenic countryside as it passes by. Teaming up with the Cedar Rapids is Super Dome No. 53. One of the heaviest railroad passenger cars ever built, Super Dome 53 offers incredible views through 90 feet of glass. Super Dome 53 was once of the first full-length dome cars ever built and offers a superior ride with great views. Recently renovated, Super Dome 53 has plush seats and a full service wet bar in the center of the dome.