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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Windy City Weekends May 2015
The Friends of the 261 operated the “Windy City Express” round trips from St. Paul to Chicago on two weekends in May 2015 behind Amtrak’s Empire Builder. Three cars were used: Milwaukee Road Skytop parlor lounge observation Cedar Rapids, Milwaukee Road Super Dome No....
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...
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...
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...
Old locomotive’s trip to Duluth pays tribute to longtime volunteer.
Judy Sandberg was the backbone of the Friends of the 261, a nonprofit group that owns and operates a rebuilt steam locomotive and its fleet of historic cars. Sandberg volunteered daily for nearly 25 years for the Minneapolis-based group. As administrator, she handled...