After being turned at Willmar, 261 highballs East, back towards Minneapolis. The first town out of Willmar is tiny Kandiyohi, which features a picturesque midwest co-op grain elevator, unfortunate... (more)

Just outside of Waverly, MILW 261 cruises by on the main at track speed as a fellow railfan enjoys the show from a little closer with a friendly wave to the crew.

After making it's last passenger pick up, Milwaukee 261 highballs Minneapolis, westward on the Fall Colors Special. The train is crossing the bridge that takes the Wayzata Sub across Boom Island i... (more)

MILW #261 on it's round trip from Minneapolis, MN to Boylston, MN heads back to Minneapolis with the fall colors.

A pan shot of MILW #261 on it's 250 mile round trip from Minneapolis, MN to Boylston, MN and back

Just about at the halfway point of the trip. Milwaukee Road 261 accelerates through Sandstone,MN en route to Boylston,WI.

MILW 261 rolls through Henriette, MN on the first of two fall color excursions this weekend. This trip was from Minneapolis to Superior on BNSF's Hinckley Sub. Tomorrow, she'll travel to Willmar o... (more)

Milwaukee 261 rolls along the west side of the Mississippi River heading to Kansas City from St. Paul.

Milwaukee Road 261 leading the Fall Colors Special South passes BNSF 1869 on the Hinckley Local.

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.

The 261 leads this fall color train south over the trestle at the Nemadji River just south of Superior as it builds a head of steam southbound for the Twin Cities.

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)