Steam Tripleheader Eastbound at Mineral, IL

The Pair of Chinese QJ 2-10-2's tripled up with Milwaukee Road #261 to create a steam tripleheader that ran from Rock Island, IL to Bureau, IL and return

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• chinese
• steam
• excursion
• tripleheader
• milwaukee
• road
• 261

[Miketherailfan]

And to think next July, Santa Fe 3751 will polish these rails for Train Festival 2011...

[kschmidt626]

@Miketherailfan Can't wait. I love it when the midwest is the center of the steam world, kind of. Maybe a 3751 QJ tripleheader ??

[UnionPacificChief]

What are chinese engines doing in Illinois???

[kschmidt626]

They are owned by Rail Development Corp/Iowa Interstate RR. They were pulling a special excursion on the Iowa Interstate. They seem to come out about once a year and run on the Iowa Interstate. I believe that they are stored in Iowa just north of Iowa City.

[deloreanman14]

It breaks my heart to this day to know that the chances are slim that 261 will ever run again. Thanks to all of you in this corner of the country who caught her in action.

Still stuck on the West Coast...

[kschmidt626]

Thank You. It has been fun chasing the #261. It is going to be awfully quiet here in the Midwest with the Energizer Bunny.

[SeniorMinch229018]

A triple doppler effect!!!

[NKPBerk779fan]

The 261 had the best whistle of all. It sounds a lot better than the qj's whistles.

[WPRR1]

#261 was about 10 times louder than both of the others.

[beowulf3075]

Hey, that's impressive.  Like rwk360 I like to smell the coal smoke (most of us do?), I wonder often how many U.S. steam locos are oil fired, they have to be coal, really, imho.

Chinese engines are relatively new compared to any others so guess a lot of life left in them, and not too expensive maybe.

[dylanbobby1]

Amazing! Up should do this with 844, 3985, and 4449. But who will lead?

[rwk360]

One of the coaches has windows that open? That's great for steam excursions to get the full effect and whiff of coal smoke. It's no fun in sealed window coaches. Why did older heavyweight steel coaches have openable windows but more modern coaches from 1940's and up have non openable windows? I like to ride excursion trains in coaches with open windows.

[Xantec]

those Morning daylight colors like what 4449 hauls??

[foroke1]

We need to deport those imigrants :p (QJs)

[Miketherailfan]

@kr4449 Don't count on the Daylight being there.

[kr4449]

@Miketherailfan will the 4449 be there

[PereMarquette1223]

@kschmidt626 I don't know. BNSF is giving the Trainfest crew a hard time, they've been refunding people who already bought tickets early to ride behind her. Her chances are slim of coming east.

[PereMarquette1223]

@Miketherailfan I don't know. BNSF is giving the Trainfest crew a hard time, they've been refunding people who already bought tickets early to ride behind her. Her chances are slim of coming east.