CHANHASSEN, Minn. — Former Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 will make its first extended excursion in three years in October, powering “Harvest BBQ Express” trains on the Twin Cities & Western Railroad, Oct. 4-5.
Trips along a portion of the route of Milwaukee’s Olympian Hiawatha will originate at Chanhassen, Minn., with six classes of accommodations offered, ranging from coach to two types of private-car offering. Ticket prices and schedules differ for the two days; for more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Friends of the 261 website.
The trips will also feature E9A No. 32A, built for the Milwaukee Road and acquired by the Friends of the 261 in 2019. The diesel has worn a hybrid of classic Milwaukee Road paint schemes since it was repainted in 2021 [see “Minnesota group unveils …,” Trains News Wire, May 12, 2021].
Similar trips in fall 2022 were the last full-fledged excursions for the steam locomotive, built by Alco in 1944. In the interim, it has run on short trips to St. Paul Union Depot for holiday “North Pole Express” trips and other events.
A glamorous beauty of a steam locomotive… Milwaukee Road No. 261 has got one of the cleanest and most soulful whistles I have ever heard.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün