Fleet
Whatever the event, however big it may be, Friends of the 261 has a wide variety of equipment for you to choose from for your next event. The Friends of the 261 also has the personnel to staff the cars, ranging from on board car attendants to first class chefs and wait staff. With several Amtrak certified cars, many displaying matching Milwaukee Road orange and maroon painted exteriors, Friends of the 261 has plenty of options to make your next event a big hit. If you would like more information about booking one or several of these cars call 651-688-7320 to obtain rates. Rates are custom per trip, we can customize a trip that fits your needs. You can also check out our pre-planned excursions for your enjoyment.
Locomotives
Milwaukee 261
BASIC INFO Height - 15' 6" Length - 109' 7 3/4"Fuel- Soft CoalCoal Capacity - 25 TonsWater Capacity - 20,000 GalBoiler Pressure - 250 LbsCylinders - 26" x 32"Tractive Effort - 62,119 LbsFactor of Adhesion - 4.18Tender Type - 12-wheeled; consisting of two 6 wheel...
Milwaukee 32A
Friends of the 261 are now the proud owners of an original Milwaukee Road EMD E9. This classic locomotive, with its iconic streamline design will make a great addition to the Friends fleet. While the engine is close to perfection, it still needs some minor mechanical...
Passenger Cars
MKT 403
The Missouri Kansas Texas (MKT) 403 was originally built in 1913 and used as a chair car. In 1946, the M-K-T Railroad, (nicknamed the Katy), started a 2 year rebuild of the car to install the wood interiors, bedrooms and stainless-steel kitchen. The car was built...
Milwaukee
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad constructed business car Milwaukee at its West Milwaukee Shops in December 1948. The Milwaukee and sister car Wisconsin were the final, all-new cars delivered by the facility, which has since been demolished. The...
Wisconsin Valley
Enjoy nature’s splendor while riding in a car that served our country! Built in 1953 by the St. Louis Car Company, the Wisconsin Valley, formerly a U.S... Army Medic car, now offers you a smooth ride while enjoying a quiet lounge environment. With comfy lounge chairs...
Super Dome
A new outlook on happy travel boosted the Milwaukee Road, with their first end-to-end dome cars built for any railroad. Built for the Milwaukee Road by Pullman Standard in 1952 as Super Dome 53, it is one of 10 ever built and is the heaviest passenger car ever built,...
Montana
Designed and built by the Milwaukee Road shops as a Tap Lounge for the streamlined 1947 Olympian Hiawatha. Retired from regular assignments in 1955 and converted to a business car. Transferred to private ownership in the late 1970s, leased to the Wisconsin Central,...
Bella Vista
Bella Vista is a distinctive dome sleeper, diner, and lounge car combined into one exceptional rail experience. By day, the car comfortably accommodates up to 24 guests for dining and relaxation; by night, it converts into elegant sleeping space for 8. Completely...
Golden Valley
Built by Pullman-Standard in 1958 as a 73 foot baggage express car for the Northern Pacific as #220, it ran on the North Coast Limited and Mainstreeter along with other Northern Pacific passenger trains. After it was retired, it was obtained by the St. Louis Steam...
Oliver Hazard Perry
Built in 1954 for the Canadian National Railway and originally named Mount Resplendent, the Oliver Hazard Perry brings classic first-class rail travel to life. Designed for comfort and elegance, this distinguished railcar now serves as a premier first-class addition...
Minnesota River
Built in 1954 by Pullman-Standard for service on the Pioneer Limited and Olympian Hiawatha. Among the last passenger cars purchased by the Milwaukee Road, it was never used in Amtrak service. It was sold to its first private owner in 1978 and was acquired by the...
Wenonah & Nokomis
Built by American Car & Foundry in 1947 for the Central of Georgia Railway as segregated coaches (white & black passengers had separate seating sections) No. 541 & 542. These cars were used on the Nancy Hanks II streamliners that operated between Atlanta...
Yerba Buena
The Yerba Buena, built by Pullman-Standard in 1942 as a four bedroom, four compartment and two drawing room sleeper for joint Cities trains on the C&NW, SP and UP and named Imperial Drive. In 1947, when the car pool was ended, the car became Chicago & North...
Baggage 2450
American Car & Foundry built Baggage Car No. 2450 in 1957 for the Union Pacific Railroad as Postal Storage car No. 5741. While the car was built for general service, it saw frequent use on Union Pacific’s famous Cities streamliners throughout the West. It was...
Cedar Rapids
Swift of foot was Hiawatha, He could shoot an arrow from him, And run forward with such fleetness, That the arrow fell behind him! -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha The Milwaukee Road’s Hiawatha streamliners are the stuff of legend. Bringing up the...
Caritas
Caritas is a beautifully preserved private railcar with a rich history and a refined modern purpose. Originally built in 1948 for the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway (Frisco) as Pullman sleeper No. 1450, the car featured 14 roomettes and 4 double bedrooms, providing...
















