Milwaukee Road #261, 2000 Duluth, MN, Part 3 of 5

[Jemalacane]

I really hope for a massive resurgenge in the use of steam locomotives in the United States!

[wendell707]

We should have never got rid of the trains because they were a very important part of our infastructure and they are absolutely beautiful.

[brickmaster24]

why does it need the diesel helpers 844 doesn't travel with a diesel or atleast it didnt when i saw it

[hpaul15]

The diesels were cut in for a few steep grades and tight curves in the Two Harbors area. I believe she was pulling 21 cars this excursion.

As for he more recent excursions, they were run as a partnership with Amtrak, and Amtrak requires all cars to be equipped with Head-end power. (480 volts I believe.) this is accomplished by having one or two AMD-103s cut in for power generation.

either way they are moot points now

RIP 261 (Lousey NRM)

[TVRM610]

@hpaul15 At least Steve Sandberg purchased the locomotive, and it will run again.

[bizzer261]

@TVRM610 Well technically the Friends of the 261 did, but Steve of course is the head honcho.

[LoneSniperSG]

If you ask me, there's nothing better than the gorgeous Northern 4-8-4 Type. the 4449, 261 and the 844 are like supermodels of steam railroading.

[colinroxanduknowit]

When will it run again?

[bermudatri007]

The "Friends of the 261" run the train from Minneapolis. there are trips every summer and fall.

[hpaul15]

unfortuantely due to disagreements between the owners (THe national Railroad Museum) and the Operator (Friends of the 261) the 261 is out of service, in need of a massive overhaul, and returning to the museum.

[tinman3804]

I heard a rurmor that the friend of 261 were trying to get 265 as a new engine, is this true? Also are they going to try and purchace it so they don't have to go threw this again?

[bizzer261]

@tinman3804 1) Illinois Railway Museum would never give up the 265 2) The 265, sadly, can never be operational again 3) the Friends of the 261 did purchase it!

[tinman3804]

@bizzer261 Well my coment was from a year ago and since then I know Steve and the friends have bought the 261 from the NRM. I think the NRM screwed them over on the sail and charged way to much. The engine was DONATED to the musiem, I understand that they kept it up for close to thirty years. But $250,000!!! Oh well it is done and over with I am just happy she will be riding the High Iron soon. Well i guess the friends don't need 265.

[freckldnred]

Good job!

[GSpro]

Shes a beautiful steam locomotive... hard to believe she was at Steamtown for the grand opening.

[Nec1228]

WOW!! the 261 AND 2 SD45-Ts!!

[TommyBNSF]

261 is one my most favorite steam engines EVER!!!!

[radiolarion]

Hey, those DMIR engines are tunnel engines!

[EternalFallout]

lol @ that kid jumping back when it goes into reverse :)

[allanorr]

Is the DM&IR still around? I thought they would have been obsorbed by a larger road by now.

[farmrrick]

cn owns it now

[colinroxanduknowit]

they do????

[LNERMallard]

CN took it over and repainted all of the SD40s (Including the ones in the vid) but left the SD-38s Maroon

[LNERMallard]

Never mind. My uncle works for the former DM&IR and he told me that now all of the engines are CNized. At least EX-Messabe SD-18 193 will always remain in full maroon. It's owned by the LSRM and is in her full glory, pulling almost all of the NSSR excursions.