Steam Locomotive

[crouse]

If anyone is interested in old steam locomotives, on July 29th and 30th the Milwaukee Road #261 will be pulling excursion trains from St. Louis Park to Cologne and from Cologne to Glencoe then back to St. Louis Park. There will be one round trip per day.

http://www.261.com/

Schedule: Departure time from St. Louis Park is 9 a.m. with arrival in Cologne at 10 a.m. Departure from Cologne for Glencoe will be at 10:30 a.m. with arrival back at Cologne at 12:30 p.m. Departure from Cologne will be at 2:15 p.m. with arrival at St. Louis Park at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased on the web site to ride in various vintage passenger cars, however, I like to photograph the locomotive at several grade crossings along the route.

It's actually quite fun. We race to get ahead of the train then set-up at a scenic grade crossing and then photograph it as it passes by. Then it's back on the road racing to get ahead of the train and finding another spot to set-up.

Thanks,
Curt

[VNMUS]

My daughter would love to ride on the train. She's a huge Thomas fan. I might just have to look into this for her. Thanks for the info.

[TooManyFords]

I went to the photo gallery and it appears that they -pull- the steam engine with a diesel GP38-2 with dynamic brakes.. no steam at all.

Being a rail fan, I may still make the trek...

John

[crouse]

Hi John,

The 261 has run on other railroads such as the BNSF or Union Pacific and they often reguire a diesel locomotive in case the steam locomotive has trouble. The diesel usually just idles along and the steam locomotive does all the work. The excursion on July 29th & 30th is running in the TC&W (Twin Cities & Western) Railroad which is not heavily used. I'm not sure if a diesel will be used on this trip.

Thanks,
Curt

[Dr Caleb]

I'm not a train fan per se, but I've been on a couple private tracks around here, and it was a very cool experience.

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/alberta.cfm

Here's a list. I've been on the last one, the 6060 Stettler to Jasper National park. It was pretty cool.

[Merc-O-matic]

Saw the 261 run through OHIO a few years back on the
Ex-B&O mainline to Chicago. NRHS convention
in Ohio this year July 18-23 with steam.:)

[GarageMahal]

I will see if we can make it. I love old steam.

Here are some pics from 2004: http://www.garagemahal.com/gallery/v/Excursions/Train/


jta

[jdando]

Bump



Hoping to do some "trainspotting" on Sunday


jeremy

[I Tried]

I will be in cologne on sunday to see the train and parade but will not be riding.

Tim

[crouse]

Hi Tim,

I'll be chasing & photographing the train on Sunday also. I'll either start near Augusta (Cty Rd 43 & Hwy 212) or just to the east of Cologne (Cty Rd 41 & Hwy 212). I'll probably chase it all the way to Glencoe. Maybe see you at a grade crossing. I'll be driving a black Mercury Marauder.

Thanks,
Curt

[jdando]

I am ready for some trainspotting:D

X marks the spot and then chasing out to Cologne.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/jdcrossingx.JPG

With any luck I will beat the train to Cologne. If not I will chase to Glencoe!

jeremy