Milwaukee Road 261 stands ready for departure at St. Paul Union Depot, ready to head out to the "North Pole" on a dreary winter day in the Twin Cites.

Gary Nelson, a conductor aboard 261's train, is a veteran Great Northern conductor who also served on Burlington Northern and BNSF.

A trio of Milwaukee Road F7s makes a move east of the engine facilities at Pigs Eye Yard on a sunny day in January 1975. The power appeared to be preparing to head up an eastbound train. Note the ... (more)

Milwaukee Road 261 is decorated for "North Pole Express" duties; it's the first steam locomotive to use St. Paul Union Depot since CB&Q 5632 - and that was fifty years ago.

Milwaukee Road 261 is loading some last-minute passengers as it prepares to depart Union Depot for the "North Pole." At the same time, Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train is visiting the d... (more)

View from the rear platform of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train as we roll westbound through the ex-Northern Pacific 1885 brick-lined tunnel under Westminster Junction.

GN "Hustle Muscle" sits outside the museum as a BNSF coal train passes.

MILW 908, a venerable Baldwin VO-1000 rests outside the Pig's Eye Yard roundhouse on a chilly January 1975 morning. Milwaukee had a number of Baldwins still in service in the Twin cities area at t... (more)

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stops at St. Paul Union Depot for a show - there were around 5,000 people there to greet it!

Milwaukee Road 261 and the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train meet for the first time at St. Paul Union Depot. What a sight this was!

Four GE's from BNSF and CSXT lead an oil train eastbound through the triangle of track at Division and slows for a signal at Hoffman all while the St. Paul Skyline stands tall in the background.

Milwaukee Road 261 departs St. Paul Union Depot with the 1:30 North Pole Express. Friends of 261 and BNSF are operating steam-powered trains out of the Union Depot this holiday season. The trips... (more)

The Empire Builder starts its decent down Short Line Hill which extends from Merriam Park to Chestnut Street along the former Milwaukee Road right-of-way through St. Paul.

Milwaukee Road 261 has just arrived at St. Paul Union Depot, becoming the first steam locomotive into the station since its reopening earlier this year. The last steam locomotive that operated i... (more)

The conductor walks back to his well worn ex Conrail GE after throwing a switch.