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Milwaukee Road No. 261 to pull autumn excursions
All the cars are AMTRAK compliant meaning that they require head end power for all the onboard systems. Hence the diesel. Back in the day each car had its own wheel operated generator and battery and relied only on the locomotive to supply steam for heating in the winter. The 261 is more than capable of pulling the relatively light passenger consist.
I think the diesel is there to power the passenger cars electrical equipment. It’s common to see a diesel following a modern steam excursion.
The diesel is there to remind everybody of how important it is for 261 to have the blessing of big government by way of Amtrak. Without big government’s blessing, 261 would never move due to government lawyers finding new and improved excuses to keep it from running. 261 is evil because it burns coal. Just ask any environ-mentalist.
Good to hear 261 is reliably running. Something built by real Americans from back in the day when America was filled with 100% real Americans.
The article states, “The line has not seen regular passenger service since Amtrak rerouted the Empire Builder to the former Northern Pacific line through St. Cloud in 1979.”
This is largely incorrect. While Northern Pacific trains operating west from the Twin Cities operated through St. Cloud, the line can be more correctly identified as a “the former St. Paul and Pacific main line, predecessor to the Great Northern Railway,” as it was the first railroad entity to build track from the Twin Cities through St. Cloud to Sauk Rapids. Later, it granted Northern Pacific the right to build an adjacent main track, and GN and NP operated the line to St. Cloud as double track, with each railroad owning one of the mains. But the line had Great Northern - not Northern Pacific - heritage originally.
Ok would somebody explain the need for a diesel in the consist? Hep? Braking?
@ unti-union Guse: You forgot on word: “built by real UNION Americans”
Secondly, who do you classify as “100% real Americans”??? Even though I have a foreign sounding name, being born, raised, educated, living, working, and owning properties in Chicago my whole life, I’m I still classified as “100% real American”??? Curious and confused!!!
Regarding the AMTRAK engine, it is used for HEP, and insurance coverage. I have been on many trips with the 261. It is capable of pulling any pass. train without help. Vasyl is correct regarding Mr. GUSE. He is as clueless as usual. His life revolves around a truck sleeper cab. He knows nothing about railroads.
The P42 is there for HEP and to serve as insurance in the event of trouble with the steam locomotive (unlikely with 261’s first-class operation). One of the reason the 261 group is perpetually welcome on BNSF is their pristine record of reliability and professionalism, including acquiescing to the railroad’s very understandable requirement that backup power be in place.
Wonder why they are going west and not alongside the Mississippi bluffs?
Guse “takes the cake” on bigotry. Does he know the day when Ameica was filled with 100% real Americans, or is he referring to Native Americans, which excludes nearly all of us?
I only ride legit varnish:)
Where is this “Minneapolis” that they are talking about? Target Field? St. Paul? Northland Yards? I;d like at least to get down and see it, but that;s a pretty vague destination.