We in the Northwest have had an abundance of steam running this summer. Now it's your turn in the midwest. The Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 will be leaving Minneapolis Junction Monday, Sept. 19, headed for Kansas City (here I come). This is a deadhead move, but the engine will be hauling an aux tender and all matching set, though short, about five cars, of Milwaukee coaches including the Skytop lounge Cedar Rapids. Photogenic for sure. This is a spur of the moment move (miraculous in today's insurance and Class I environment) and it could fall through. Kansas City Union Station is having a big blowout, and they were supposed to host SP 2-8-2 745, which is situated in New Orleans, so will be unable to make the run. KCUS contacted Steve Sandberg, who said, you clear it with the Class I's and we'll be there. Good hunting, photographers.
I've read a few pros and cons, as to whether this move will occur. I hope it can work out. If so, somebody please post a few pictures! Boxcab E50
According to reports from Don Crimmin and others on the steam crew, 261 is indeed enroute to KC, past La Crescent. Hope some of you guys there in that part of the country can get some pix!!!
I just got a cell phone call from Mark D in the tool car of the train. They expect to make it all the way to KC today. It was cool hearing the 261 whistling for crossings as we talked. Where are the photos, guys?
Here are some.. from the MNRail List http://mattcarlson.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=7018 Tim
In recent years I was lucky enough to have the 261 go right by my house (Isanti, MN) a few times on its way to Duluth. www.261.com is their site if anyone is interested.
Mark called again, and again I heard that whistle, wishing I was there. They are in the yard just outside of KC. (At 7PM PST) Going to make a big arrival into KCUS tomorrow. Those are great pictures. Thanks for putting them on here.
I was just thinking- In this day of modern electronics, wouldn't be great fun, if someone had a live satellite feed from on board the train? Streaming it on the web? That would be fantastic! Boxcab E50
Ken, that's a great idea. A step beyond the UP GPS system. Tim, is that a membership site? All the thumbs appear black to me, and when I click on them, I just get a blank.
Never? Hope you can spend some time there. A steamer is so much different from a diesel. Meaning that there are all the sounds. The moving parts externally to see. They are so much more like a living, breathing entity. Nothing like it in the world! Boxcab E50
Dead?? I guess you never have been up close to a steamer. Get all of your senses tuned up, as these monsters are as close to a living being as anything we mere men have come up with. Wait , as Ken said , until you hear the sounds of the air pumps, blowdown valves, injectors and all the other stuff working. Then, please, give us a report.
Just stand in a place where some steam is escaping for a minute and get a good whiff of that hot, oily steam aroma (In essence, the locomotives' "breath"). It will stir your heart .. your soul and you will know the romance of steam locomotives.
what I love is how much coal and ash dust comes out of your hair when you take a shower at the end of the day Tim
Well, I have to say, it was one of the coolest things I've seen. BTW, when I said "dead", I thought that the 261 wasn't operational. I got a ton of awesome pics! The sun wasn't the greatest, but, I did what I could.
