Latest News

2018 Car Shop Report Fall

2018 has brought big changes to the fleet of the Friends of the 261. 2 new domes and a complete overhaul on the Fox River Valley, former Henry Hudson. New Gaskets and windows are on their way for the Silver Palace, former Western...

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2018 September Northern Lines

Frank E. Sandberg, Jr. 1941-2018 One of the founders of the Friends of the 261, Frank E. Sandberg Jr. passed away June 13 at age 77. Together with his wife Judy (who died in 2014), Frank founded the Friends of the 261 in the early 1990s as restoration of Milwaukee...

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2018 Car Shop Report Summer

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 Algoma Central dome coach observation. The cars were last used on CN’s Algoma...

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PTC Could End Mainline Steam Excursions

Now that we have your attention we want you to know how critical PTC is to the future operations of the 261. Without it operating a steam powered passenger excursion train on any mainline will not happen. Positive Train Control, PTC, federal mandate becomes effective...

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2018 Dues Notice and Appeal

It’s dues time again for the Friends of the 261, but before I speak briefly about our activities and goals, I want to say thank you to all our members and friends for your generous support over the years. Thanks to your dues and donations, we’ve been able to keep 261...

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2016 Spring Northern Lines

261 heading to Duluth in June On Saturday, June 4, Milwaukee Road 261 will kick off the 2016 excursion season when its steams north from Minneapolis to Duluth, Minn. over BNSF Railway. The Duluth trip has become a tradition for Friends of the 261 excursion riders, and...

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Northern (On)Lines! – July 2015

Northern (On)Lines! Welcome to the first edition of Northern (On)Lines! We're planning this short email newsletter to keep members and friends informed about what's happening with the Friends of the 261 on a timelier basis. We'll try to get it out monthly, but you...

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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...

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2015 Spring Northern Lines

Fall Color Excursion dates set, Windy City Express to roll Mark your calendars! The Friends of the 261 are planning to operate two days of Fall Color excursions trips this October pulled by Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261. The Friends are currently negotiating with...

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2014 December Northern Lines

261 pulls sold out fall color excursions on BNSF to Duluth Perfect autumn weather was on tap as Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 pulled a successful round trip excursion from Minneapolis to Duluth, Minn. over BNSF Railway Sept. 27-28. The 12-car train, including two...

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