Milwaukee Road #261 spent the weekend steaming around Wisconsin. With trips Friday, Saturday and Sunday night down to Sturtevant, WI and Saturday and Sunday trips to Wisconsin Dells and New Lisbon it was a busy weekend for those who love big steam. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the greatest, but for the most part the rain held off. Below are some photos from the weekend.
The Friends of the 261 and all the steam crew should be proud of what happened this weekend. It takes alot of work and cooperation to pull off these excursions. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone that made it happen.
Here the Skytop Cedar Rapids eases around the wye at Sturtevant, WI. This is first time a non-Amtrak passenger has been on the Racine & Southwestern in quite awhile.
#261 pauses at the switch on the wye at Sturtevant. It has been many years since a steam engine has been on RS&W mainline.
The two shots above are from the Hwy 146 overpass just west of Columbus, WI. The #261 is steaming westbound on June 24, 2006
Crew members walk alongside #261 as it enters the wye at New Lisbon, WI on June 24, 2006
The Skytop Observation car and #261 ease around the west leg of the wye at New Lisbon, WI
On Sunday June 25, 2006 #261 is steaming westbound out of Milwaukee along State St just west of Hawley Road.
Hey, the Highway D crossing west of Wisconsin Dells- is that just east of the I-94 overpass? If so, I’ve taken pictures there a couple of times while camping at Standing Rock Campgrounds…
I noticed a slight error in my typing with the photo east of the Wisconsin Dells. That should be Highway O, not D. The steam train was in the hole for #8 for 1/2 hour and they came roaring out of the siding at Lewiston.
Yes it was great to meet you. By all means stop out at Waterford Ave some Friday evening. If you see the silver Trailblazer there thats me. Usually when its nice out we sit/stand near the tracks since the parking restrictions went into effect.
Nice shots on your webpage. Chasing wasn’t easy, it rained some both days, plus I had to detour around an ariplane crash.
It took me about two days to get the protocol straight for getting pictures posted.
Got this one of the Skytop Lounge “Cedar Rapids” as the “VIP” dinner train was leaving for Sturdevant Friday afternoon.
I have a few more I will put up later, but Keith’s are better than anything I have of the train at track speed. (Maybe better, period)
261 easing around the curve eastbound out of the Milwaukee station leaving a little smoke in an otherwise very clear sky.
On the approach to the Milwaukee River bridge.
Soaking up some afternoon sun at Sturdevant
261 West arrives at Wisconsin Dells on the advertised June 24, 2006
Inside the Cedar Rapids. We had our assigned seats here. The lounge seating under the skytop was open and freely surrendered for any one wishing to check the view.
Upper level in the Super Dome. The interior of the car has been significantly changed with modifications probably done when the car was in the C&NW business fleet. Originally the upper level only had 2 and 2 seating the entire length of the car. The lower level now sports a fully equipped gallery that I do not believe was in the car as built.
Impressive tools for the lub job. You should see the sucker up on the rack for the oil change.
261 East out of Wisconsin Dells
Not far from hitting the authorized 60MPH track speed.
Ummm, Kemo Sabe, freshing markings, we not too far behind.
Very nice pictures you got there. And I was out at the waterford crossing to on friday and boy was. I amd when 261 got delayed by you know who and then met the frieght coming the other way. But on the up side I got to see it 3 more times twice at 8:30 and once at 7:15 and it was the most amzaing thing. I have ever seenmaybe next time. I can catch a ride on it. [tup][tup][tup][tup]
Does anyone know when the next time Milwaukee Road 261 will make. It’s next trip to wisconsin hope it’s sometime soon so. I can catch a ride on it Any info would help.
Great shots from the trip, especially inside the Super Dome and Cedar Rapids. If you rode back there you must have gotten one of those “Premium Class” buttons. I was surprised to see that the photo they used was one of mine from when the Skytop was at the Art Museum.
I talked with Judy Sandberg with the Friends of the #261 she said they hope to make the trip to Milwaukee every other year, alternate with Chicago trips. I believe all the trips were sold out.
We did indeed go “Premium Class”, but just for the Dells-New Lisbon turn. Going top class on the longer trips would have been a tad to much of a hit on the travel and entertainment budget, but having ridden on both the cars when they were in “real” revenue service, that was the only way I wanted to go this time. And so we have the buttons with your remarkable photo. Mine will go nicely pinned to my camera bag.
I don’t remember the tariff on the Cities-Milwaukee positioning run, but if Super Dome and the CR are in the consist next time, I am sure going to try to swing it. Take the Empire Builder up the night before…, I guess I would even consider flying up to the Cities if Amtrak goes in the tank.
My sixth sense kicked in on Friday night – I just KNEW a westbound freight was going to ruin the shot at Waterford Avenue so Bob Gallegos and I (and a dozen or so others) caught it at the Grange Avenue bridge. I then drove to Sturtevant at speeds which I would not care to duplicate (I had to go well over track speed to catch it) – fortunately the police were busy with someone who had preceded me at speed down the freeway. I got to Sturtevant as the train was approaching the south leg of the wye – and my camera battery went dead! By the time I replaced the battery the train was well into the wye. So thanks to Keith and the others for catching so much of the action. It was a great sight in the late afternoon sun. We Milwaukee area railfans were lucky folks last week, that is for sure.
Mark/Fuzzybroken if you read this by all means join us some pleasant Friday evening at Waterford Avenue/Powerton.
Dave Nelson
