Crews park the cars and prepare to get water after day 1 of the 2025 BBQ Express.

The 2025 BBQ Express heads to Chanhassen to pick up passengers. A TCWR train is parked on a siding.

MILW 261 departs Hopkins heading to Chanhassen to pick up passengers for the 2025 BBQ Express.

MILW 261 pieces together its consist for the 2025 BBQ Express. First Class car Caritas sports a 261 logo drumhead and will soon be joined to the rest of the train before departing Hopkins.

261's crew prepares to layover for the night for the next day's excursions, while us foamers were busy photographing the locomotive.

After completing two fall dining excursions over the former MILW Pacific Coast Extension/Soo Line Ortonville Line, the MILW 261 and consist head back to Harrison Street, passing the massive light ... (more)

First of two fall dining excursions over the former MILW Pacific Coast Extension/Soo Line Ortonville Line chuffs out of Hopkins for Chanhassen, where passengers will board for a trip out in the co... (more)

The 261 Gourmet Express passes three TCWRR engines in Hopkins.

A westbound TCW road freight passes the depot in Hopkins.

The Twin Cities & Western heads west down home rails in Hopkins, which is home to a nicely maintained depot.

Three Twin Cities & Western Railroad units layover in Hopkins awaiting their next assignment. TC&W operates over this former Milwaukee Road mainline. The paved trail to the left used to be Minne... (more)

With 35 buggies in tow, the St. Paul turn departs Hopkins on a sunny spring morning. The former Milwaukee Road depot still stands and remains in use for crew changes and MOW.

A very interesting consist on the TC&W that included a leased SD20 (by TC&W) leading three units for the Minnesota Valley in Morton, Minnesota. Those included a former IC geep rebuild, SP geep and... (more)