Milwaukee Road 261

 Chuck and I were lucky enough to have ridden on several of the Milwaukee Road 261 excursions several times over the last decade. It was our annual treat to ourselves and fulfillment of some of our railfan dreams.

The Friends of the 261 operations and crew has always been top notch, friendly, welcoming, and warm. We respected their passion for excellence in both the train, the locomotive, and the services provided.

We have been watching with interest the negotiations between Friends of the 261 and the National Railroad Museum and today see that things have not ended well for the 261. As a subscriber to the Trains News Wire, I am posting their recent article in full here because not all railfans will be subscribers to their wonderful service.

Milwaukee Road 261 in Wisconsin Dells, August 16, 2008

No. 261 Will Return to Museum

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 will return to the National Railroad Museum after the locomotive's owner and operator were unable to work out an agreement. The museum said it will explore options that would see the engine rebuilt and restored to service.

The group Friends of the 261 had been operating the engine under an agreement with the museum, which owns it. The museum asked friends Chief Operating Officer Steve Sandberg for increased rent money to continue operating the engine, a request Sandberg balked at. Negotiations had been ongoing, but today's news reveals they've been unsuccessful.

Sandberg told the NRM he rejected the latest offer because, "At this point, our organization has lost too much time on the overhaul of the locomotive and almost four years discussing the lease extension. The mechanical requirements of the locomotive and the risk associated with running mainline steam are too high at this time to consider such an investment."

Michael E. Telzrow, the museum's executive director, said in a news release today that the museum "wishes to see No. 261 continue its excursion operations. The locomotive is a living piece of America's railroad heritage and offers a unique perspective on a bygone era. For these reasons, the museum is exploring options which involve continued operation and eventual exhibit at the National Railroad Museum."

Sandberg's group had operated the engine as one of the most successful excursion steam engines in the country. Through the years, it pulled employee trains for BNSF, movie trains, and private excursions in partnership with Amtrak [see "Milwaukee Road 261, the Energizer Bunny of Steam," TRAINS, September 2007]. The museum said Sandberg's group is responsible for returning the engine to the museum.

The conclusion of 261 operations does not spell the end for the Minneapolis-based Friends organization, however. The group is hoping to bring another "guest" main line steam locomotive to Minneapolis in 2010, and in the long run may acquire another locomotive to restore to operation. - Steve Glischinski, Trains News Wire