Gallery
Engine Lift 2010
Wheel Pressing 2011
Engine Lift 2011
Projects
2019 Car Shop
In December 2017 the Friends of the 261 purchased two dome cars from Canadian National. The cars are former Western Pacific California Zephyr dome coach Silver Palace and former Union Pacific dome coach observation No. 9001. The cars were last used on Canadian...
Car Shop Report 2013
Steve Glischinski Shoreview, MN MINNEAPOLIS – Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 was steamed up Sept. 13 for the first time since October 2013. Friends of the 261 Chief Operating...
Car Shop Report 2012
Over the last few months, Friends of the 261 employees and volunteers have been busy working on the business car Lamberts Point. The car was always ‘ready to roll’ and was kept up to Amtrak standards, but the Friends decided 2012 was a good time to finish updating the...
Car Shop Report 2011
This summer the Friends of the 261 completed work to upgrade coach No. 203, the Nokomis, to full Amtrak compatibility. This car has a fascinating history, both when it was built and when it came to the Friends. American Car & Foundry constructed the car in 1947...
Car Shop Report Summer 2010
Car Shop Report 2010
Every year, the Friends take on some of our bigger projects during the winter and early spring months. Last year we took on the challenge of renovating the upper level of Super Dome 53. This year we have undertaken repairs of the observation end of the Cedar Rapids....
Trips & Movies
2015 National Train Day
The Friends of the 261 and BNSF Railway teamed up to participate in the annual Amtrak Train Day at the Union Depot in St. Paul on May 9, 2015. BNSF ES44C4 No. 8143 pulled the Friends business car Lamberts Point, baggage car 2450, Super Dome 53 and Skytop Cedar Rapids...
Station2Station
Friend’s car fleet travels cross-country on “Station to Station” artist train “Station to Station: A Nomadic Happening” an Avant-garde traveling music, film, and art extravaganza hired the Friends of the 261 to assemble an assortment of cars that traveled...
Bonton Model Shoot
In September 2013, the Friends of the 261 proudly presented the Cedar Rapids as the centerpiece for Bonton’s fall catalog. The catalog, themed "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles," featured the Cedar Rapids alongside a remarkable collection of vintage aircraft and cars,...
Loram Specail
In 2011, Loram, along with CP, ran a special train as part of the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association show held at Minneapolis's own Humboldt yard and Convention Center in downtown. [ngg src="galleries" ids="54" display="pro_tile"...
2010 Abduction
<<Gallery August, 2010 – Clocker Coaches used in filming of a new movie, “Abduction" The Friends were contacted by a movie company and asked if we had any coaches they could temporarily paint to look like Amtrak cars. In Mid August the cars were sent to...
2008 BNSF EAS
Every so often the BNSF does Employee Appreciation Specials, in 2008 the Friends was asked by the BNSF if we would do the honors in pulling the BNSF cars from MPLS Junction to Howard Lake, just west of the Cities. [ngg src="galleries" ids="50" display="pro_mosaic"...
2008 Public Enemies
In 2008, the Friends where contacted by Universal Studios and asked if they could use the 261 and the fleet in an up and coming movie about John Dillinger Called 'Public Enemies.' Here are some photos from this event in the 261s life. [ngg src="galleries" ids="51"...