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...
Cedar Rapids Restoration
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...
2014 – June – Northern Lines
London Calling: Friends of the 261 to offer tour of English Heritage railways The Friends of the 261 is sponsoring a tour to England this September to tour heritage railways and ride behind mainline steam locomotives. The tour will be based in London, and will feature...
Restoration work progressing on Milwaukee Road Skytop ‘Cedar Rapids’
By Steve Glischinski Published: January 31, 2014 MINNEAPOLIS – The Friends of the 261 are progressing on the restoration of former Milwaukee Road Skytop parlor lounge observation car Cedar Rapids. The car, built by the Milwaukee Road at its Milwaukee Shops in 1948, is...