Milwaukee Road 261: The High Iron Comeback
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- In September of 2008, Milwaukee Road steam locomotive #261 became cold and silent temporarily in order to begin the 15 year FRA rebuild and boiler re-certification. It was a rebuild that almost left the big Northern silent and cold permanently. In May of 2013; after four long years of negotiations, changes in ownership, blood, sweat and tears, the renown excursion star cheats death once again as it takes to the rails for a two-day excursion from Minneapolis to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth and return!
Midwest Zephyr Media was there to capture both days of mainline steam action along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway's Hinckley Subdivision. Also included is the history of the locomotive, an in-depth look at the 14-car train, and BNSF freight traffic filmed along the right-away. The biggest addition to this program is the appearance of Duluth based; SOO Line 2719! The 1923 Pacific was steamed up to take part in this historic event; including leading a dinner train on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.
It's all this and more in this one-hour presentation as Milwaukee Road 261 makes her comeback on the high iron!
For more information about...
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America and the Friends of the 261: 261.com/
Lake Superior Railroad Museum: www.lsrm.org/Ho...
North Shore Scenic Railroad: www.northshores...
The Narrator, Trevor Palczynski: / trevorpalva
Visit:
Facebook: / midwestzephyrmedia
Twitter: / midwest_zephyr
Instagram: / midwestzephyrmedia
Why anyone would give a thumbs down on any steam locomotive restoration is beyond me. Beautiful job.👍
I have had the pleasure of running Norfolk&Western 611. Young people today don't know what a remarkable piece of mechanical machinery they are. When someone states that the engine sounds alive, we who have had the pleasure know that is the truth, The most noisy,rattling,hissing, bellowing, and sometimes at full throttle screaming, they are fire breathing giants!!!
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I have people my age at my school who hasn't even seen a train outside of the suburbs and cities, so they refer to them as "slow".
Still no match for a Diesel !
It’s imperative for the future that young people like myself appreciate and preserve these machines and their stories. You can’t move forward without understanding the past.
As a child, I road in that last car of the consist, "The Hiawatha," with my Mother going up to see my Grandparents. Mid 1950s.
Like with the Hudson or the Atlantic?
(Steam)
Beautiful steam loco that Milwaukee 261 is. She looks like she just rolled out of ALCO. I'm happy to see he running on the mainline. And her whistle is so lovely, it gave me goosebumps.
What a magnificent old steam locomotive! So wonderful to see her running!
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Martina Vaslovik that old girl came from my home town. Green Bay, Wisconsin. That museum there holds a big boy.
Midwest Zephyr Media why'd they get rid of the mars light in the beginning?
Martina Vaslovik
at the time the Mars light was not working
In 2016 one of the volunteer was able to get it to work agian and sill in used today here a pic of the Mars working flic.kr/p/Pkrfnh
What a professionally choregraphed experience! Thank you for shining a light on this pristine piece locomotive history.
I've been a lover of railroads since I first saw a few steam locomotives back in the late 50's. I always marveled at the mechanical complexity and the engineering that went into their making. I'm also happy to see things from our history brought back to life.
Thanks very much for this,what a magnificent locomotive,lovingly restored,it almost seems alive.
Greetings from the UK.
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What a magnificent piece of machinery. I would jump at the chance to go on a cross-country excursion with a steam loco as the lead engine..simply AWESOME
Thank you very much for the feed back, Jeff. Have a good day.
Thank you very much for the feedback. The big reason why a helper diesel was needed because the excursion train was running as an Amtrak Special. Since Amtrak is self-insured, the insurance to run these trips is covered since buying insurance these days puts a massive dent in one's wallet, especially for a Non-Profit Group like the FO261. Of course, because they're running as an Amtrak Special, a diesel helper needs to be included.
For those of you who have issue with the diesel being present, its really only there for backup and to provide electricity and dynamic braking for the passenger cars. You will see very few excursions like this on mainline rail without a diesel being present. Only tourist railroads that only do excursions like this will have only steam power.
Train
I always hear it's to provide electricity for the passenger cars. But what are those big boxes with fans running underneath a lot of the passenger cars themselves for if they aren't some sort of generators?
Rebel9668 Some of the cars may have their own generators while others may have A/C units that draw power from another source such as the locomotive. Its main purpose is as a backup. For instance if the locomotives air lines were to fail the diesel would be able to provide another source of air for the brakes on the cars and locomotive braking in the form of its dynamic brakes. If the locomotive were to fail the train would be stranded on mainline tracks causing delays throughout the entire system. On top of all those potential delays it would be a nightmare to track down a spare locomotive and get it to the stranded train. In essence its an Amtrak insurance policy. Its like a lifeguard at the beach or the pool. I'm sure the diesel in regularly used to assist in starting heavy trains and on grades as well.
Rebel9668 The diesel is also there to make the train covered by Amtrak's insurance. The engines underneath the cars are normally AC, with power drawn from the locomotive.
Conducter49.... and what if the air lines fail on the diesel? Dynamic braking ? on those old cars? this stuff worked fine 60 years ago without the diesel why should it be different now?
Thank you very much for the feedback. It was great having you part of the project. Have a good day.
Very well done video! Your professionalism is evident. There's nothing quite like seeing the immense power of a Northern locomotive running on a main line, just poetry in motion! It's also good to see 261 remain a coal fired locomotive and not converted to an oil burner like all of UP's restoration efforts. I imagine judging by the 1944 date of production by American Locomotive that all of the main bearings on 261 were of the roller type. All in all a great viewing experience!
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Thanks very much.....When l was a boy in the 40's and 1950's....This is all they were high iron....Brings back a lot of memories for sure....Thank again from Kentucky....!
been on this line a few times over the years behind the 261. loved the trip. as a kid we took the great northern gopher on this trip and i did go on the last amtrak trip to duluth. i loved the 261 trips to lacrosse for fall color excursion's .
Thank you for this great video of a great locomotive!
Brilliant restoration& fantastic video thank you for showing us..enjoyed it all.
So excited to be riding behind 261 in the summer of 2018
Big Iron, big power. We owe our victory in WW2, in large part, to the RR system in the US, back in the day.
My Late Grandfather was kept out of WW2 because he was a switchman for Southern Railway during the war. My sweet dearly departed Grandmother once told me, being exempted from the military during WW2 always bothered my Granddaddy because my Great Uncle was called up and served in the Pacific. God Bless the "Greatest Generation."
We still owe a lot to railroads. They are powerful economic engines and the most efficient way to move freight and people over land.
Women workers were our backbone in WW2
tdshaker
P
AppealingEnd I agree with you. I’ve always been told that the country as a whole did their part with rationing of rubber and other war effort material needs. Truly the greatest generation
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Thank you for a beautifull documentary of steam power.
Glad you liked it. Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
Absolutely! Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
I'm going to be 50 this Friday June 26th 2020, i've seen allot and riden allot of Steam Locomotives in my days and it NEVER ever ever gets old, ever, been a fan of Steam Locomotives my whole life, i love Trains of all types but STEAM is the absolute best ! ! ! !
She is beauty in motion please keep her forever that way 🚂 thank you very very much.
I love the sound of a Steam whistle and locomotive. I wish there were more of them around. Even if they are not runnable but could be 1/2 pressured up to sound the whistles. I prefer to se and hear fully restored and working units like this one.
Great Documentary! Excellent Footage! Glad to be of service!
great video the 261 is my favorite steam engine that operates in the Midwest (I wouldn't say it's my all time favorite steam engine originally it was the steam engines of the up but now the title has gone to the n&w 611) I've learned a lot about the 261 on trackside (which was one of the train shows on rfd tv as well as the pentrex video Milwaukee road 261 rebuilt to run)
Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
A beautiful tribute to a heroic and strong generation. Courage we have not seen in a long time!
Indeed! Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
Great video!! Thank you for the post.
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Wow, superb video. Glorious sounds and beauty. Thrilling. Thanks.
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Thank you for posting, can't believe 203599 views only 544 thumbs up.
+K.D. Pearce Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
excellent. thanks, a great show.
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@@MidwestZephyrMedia hi
In 2013, I have found very few railroad videos.. (Not paid for by a company or railroad) That matches this video in quality! Great Job guys! Keep up this work!
Rode the 261 with my wife and grandkids up to Duluth and R.O.N whenJudy was still alive.Great people,miss those days
I have yet too see 261, but it is a high hope for next summer, great video Luke!
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To be honest though, the P42 didn't really do that much when the 261 was pulling the train except for providing power to the passenger cars since they're all HEP. The locomotive was doing all the work when running from Minneapolis to Duluth and return. To most people though, they still don't like it. But at the end of the day, if it keeps these locomotives operating continuously on the mainline, so be it. Have a good day.
What about Dynamic breaking?
Like it or not Steam is not reliable enough to go it alone on a Mainline. Thank goodness for today's modern Diesels!
I believe the P42 is there for insurance purposes if I remember correctly. Sure not the case in 2020!
Anyone know where the 261 shop is?
Just off of Harrison Street in Minneapolis. The shops will be in the middle of the BNSF wye.
Midwest Zephyr Media
Thanks!
Thank you very much for the feedback. I will look into these suggestions in order to improve our future productions and presentations. To answer a few of your questions, what the narrator meant by "differences in opinion" was mainly due to how much the NRM wanted the FO261 to pay them each year for the lease on the locomotive. We'll just keep it at that since I do not want to go further into the topic at hand.
I’ve been inside the engine. It’s massive and so gorgeous. Such a beauty.
She’s a very nice engine I have personally rode 261 myself on the TC&W. This is awesome
Wonderful Video. Thank you for posting it on UA-cam.
+Warner Athey Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
Just something about those Northerns! Sooo happy to see 261 operating again! Good work, guys!
Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
The bell is now automatic instead of it being pulled via a rope. If you're talking about how much the tickets cost to ride, I believe coach class was $179 while the most expensive tickets (Being in the domes and "Cedar Rapids") were up to $300. If you're interested, the 261 will be running Fall Color Trips on October 12 and 13. For more information, click on the FO261 link provided in the description. Thank you very much and have a good day.
Beautiful machines!
i remember going on a steam loco excursion once, when i was a kid. i'm pretty sure it was this one. boy, them memories...
Simply awesome!!! Well done!!!
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Amazing video. Absolutely awesome.
Thank you! I had fun narrating this documentary!
I very much like to see a perpendicular shot of the locomotive, while moving on the tracks. I think that's the sweet spot!
I remember the HIawatha dome cars as the tail end of the CNR Ocean Limited in the '60s when I worked for the CNR.
Beautiful footage!
Actually, I think my question was answered in part by the footage of her return trip. My god, they were giving her the beans! I don't think I've ever seen 261 move so fast!
You guys need to make a DVD of this!
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Back in 2008, 261 appeared in the movie Public Enemies. I was lucky enough to have been an extra in the 261's scenes.
Love the sound of that steam whistle!!!
gives u that prentrex like feeling this video, thats amazing!
Maravilhoso trabalho de restauração espero que um dia o Brasil faça o mesmo com nossas ferrovias e nossa história, e traga de volta estas velhas senhoras a ativa em todo país assim como foi na Europa e nos EUA.
maravilloso tren a vapor, una maquina fantastica,,, felicito a los autores de este video good gooodd !!
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Wow! I love this
43:40, "Flour, Feed, Coal, Potatoes,& Rutabagas." Now that's what I call a country store!
This guy is like the Thomas and Friends narrator 😅
I LOVED THE VIDEO, AN A GREAT JOB..
PLEASE GIVE US MORE AN THANK U.
RON, WB8NMK IN N.W.OHIO MARCH 26-2015
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@00:21:46 I ❤️ that train whistle!!
Very professional production.
Thumbs Up, Happy Sunday and be safe.
#261
The locomotive that I love but will never get to see
your voice is very relaxing, almost put me to sleep!
Feeling just like the song.."Heaven.. I'm in heaven.." It's so good to watch this, tx =D
Well done!
Sure liked that video!
I wish that engineer had that whistle in his rear. Play’s with it like a child.
Great restoration. Good to see this beast back in action again. The usual American way is to scrap it and put money first. I'm also happy they they got Big Boy up and running too.
F off.
Here's to 15 more years!
those iron horses are badass man
Notice that the bell is kinda in a very weird place at the front.. but great video!
Now Big Boy 4014 will be riding over those very same tracks this July
I hope Maine's last operating steam locomotive will get a chance at a new life someday like this locomotive right here. The New England Steam Corporation is going to undertake a 5 year project to bring her back to life. Maine Central 470 has been on public display for the last 60 years in Waterville, ME. This year, she'll be brought to Washington Junction in Ellsworth, ME... the home of the Downeast Scenic Railroad.
GrnArrow092 Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
+GrnArrow092 yes there has been a resurgance in steam engine restoration the last 3 years, good luck, we at fort wayne are trying our best to get half the boiler rebuild done that needs to be done in another 2 years for the 15 year inspection and certification, should be ready by june, I have done some minor things in her like helping to clean out the sandblasting sand from her smokebox and climbing in there with nothing to grab onto is no treat, banging my head on the inside of the firebox is no treat either but, they needed someone small to get in under the boiler cut out so they could move the fan and get it set up for the rosebud torch to preheat the inside of the boiler with some kind of heat resistant paint, it was not bad but i goughed up a new pair of boots I have had less then a month at that point last month, I was not happy about that but It is true I have done bits and pieces on the saturdays that I have off work and went out to help, sure it neat to see what few see at this stage, my hope is to ride one more mainline run of 765 when the time is right for a steam program once more, see that the t1 is finished and running for it try at the record, and hope an allegheny gets rebuilt though that would take a massive wish and lots and lots of work to do, and problably no steam shop big enough to make happen but you never know they are rebuilding big boy 4014, you never know.
Awesome. And . I own a VW Golf 4 door as seen at 7:50-the best car I've ever owned
Así como una abuela es ayudada por sus nietos o hijos , así es con éstas leyendas vivas del transporte, las Locomotoras a Vapor hicieron la economía de muchos países y gracias a ellas son hoy lo que son , una gran nación, y aunque son ayudadas por locomotoras de series más modernas , son las a Vapor las que se merecen todas las flores y el reconocimiento a su gran y maravillosa labor , gracias.
Great job Luke.
i agree and diesels are usully there to help if the 261 was to blow a safftey valve, piston pops off, etc you name it
WOW from Ipswich Queensland Australia.
I love that part when the 261 blows his whistle from far away 28:19 and 28:28
The consist reminds me of the Amtrak rainbow era (because, mixed train cars)
I've ridden in the Lake Peppin car while being pulled by the 261.
7:15, I have never heard anyone butc... pronounce Louisville like LouiseVille. It’s named after the French king Louis (Louie) and us locals pronounce it like we have marbles in our mouth. Loouhvull or loovull. Nice video!
@00:27:22 I guess it might have to wait a while for this Engine to return to steam
The leader of the coal train at 10:20 is now a BNSF 25th unit
Why was the fireman shoveling coal into her ? Isn't the 261 an oil burner ?
100% coal burner.
I believe the Milwaukee had oil burning versions of these locomotives and used them further west
I believe the 265 was a oil burner but I am not sure
farmrrick kllkhsha
Shaun the train
Historical lie: train "Hiawatha" dragged special branded locomotives, rather than this - freight locomotive 261!
4-8-4s aren't freight locomotives... The class was almost universally dual service, and both the streamlined Hiawatha classes were scrapped long ago, 261 is still running, she's in a good condition, and they have a complete Hiawatha set, so I don't see the harm in running it behind her... Even if she isn't an F7.
Woah! A coal fired steam engine?! I thought every steam engine that ran today would be oil burners. Way to keep it original!
What’s That thing after the tender looks like the water tank or something
awesome
woltar9 Thank you very much for the feedback and have a good day.
Yes l to would have like to see the inside of the cars...Thanks very much...!
I am about 20 Minutes in to this video. So far so good with 1 exception. The Narrator pronounced some of the names of the cities and towns wrong. For example Fridley is pronounced Frid ley and Cambridge is pronounced Came bridge. I would hope in the feature you find some local people to ask how to correctly pronounce the names of the cities and towns. This is a personnel pet peeve of mine. No offence intended. This is only an FYI and request. Please keep up the good work. You have a good voice for narration
Thank you very much for the feedback. We'll be taking correct pronunciation into full consideration as we're always open to constructive criticism to improve upon our future productions. Have a good day.
Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe. as we go around the world, there are so many places where people speak English with different accents and styles, we can get different pronunciations of lots of words. Please don't let it bother you. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet....
27:29. Train talk
Duluth railroad museum almost reminds me of Vancouver 🇨🇦 downtown 27:29
Apology for the mispronunciation and a thank you for letting us know. Have a good day.