Milwaukee Road 261 heads by a farm just outside of Bongards, MN as it heads west to Glencoe on the Ex Milwaukee Road Mainline during its test run after a 4 year rebuild.

Hitting the curve just like in days past? Ex Milwaukee main line. The Mars light is off for now, For a time it didn't have one and it covering that time.

Storming along on rails she may have possibly ran in revenue service, the 261 passes the station sign for Norwood on her first trip in four years.

Chilly temperatures made for a nice plume of steam as the 261 made a break-in run between Minneapolis and Glencoe, MN on the former Milwaukee Road transcontinental mainline. Here she's seen just ... (more)

Checking the bearings with an IR reader and soon to take on water.

A couple enjoys the view as the 261 steams along the Twin Cities & Western west of Minneapolis.

She's back! After four years of being dormant in the shops in Mineapolis receiving a complete overhaul, Milwaukee 261 attacks the mainline for the first time, leading a five car test train ... (more)

Looks great, Smells good and muddy roads.

The Milwaukee Road 261 is back! The elegant lady is slowing to a stop in Glencoe on her first significant run in four years.

Passing the North side of Target field after a long wait for the main.

Steaming Light with only 5 cars the 261 needs to ware in it's new bearings

Newly restored Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261 stands in the snow on the BNSF next to the FO 261 Minneapolis Junction shop. 261 was making a couple of break-in runs on the pocket track adjacent to the ... (more)

Milwaukee Road 261 does some test runs back and forth at the shop so the crew can make sure every thing is working smoothly before it hits the mainline this May up to Duluth for its first public e... (more)

Got coal? That's about all Milwaukee Road 261 needs at this point - it's pretty much ready for its May debut.

I like this image because it looks to me to be a believable recreation of the past. The mulltiple tracks, industry, car spotted on the siding, crossing, perhaps even the rather mundane composition... (more)