The perfectly lit nose of Milwaukee Road #261, so elusive to the photographers during the chase.

The beautiful Milwaukee Road #261 rests after pulling excursions through the weekend.

Milwaukee 261 moves away from her train as the 2 Chinese QJ's took the train set out for an excursion during River Way 2006.

The cool QJ logo that only the 6988 possesses, attached to the front of its smokestack. It was applied sometime in the week prior to the excursions. Anyone care to translate?

IAIS 6988 leads an excursion eastbound out of Rock Island with 7081 and 261 trailing

Friday's RiverWay 2006 excursion is over and the steam crews are preparing for Saturday's big triple-header.

Members of Iowa Interstate and Friends of the 261 prepare QJ 7081 for its excursions during Rock Island's Riverway fest.

The 261 deserves some attention too - after all, it was the one that made it a triple header.

The Saturday RiverWay 2006 triple-header departs Rock Island yard and heads for Bureau with stops at Silvis, Geneseo and Atkinson.

The QJs and 261 make it home at 44th Street Rock Island.

QJs 6988 & 7081 team up with MILW 261 on a tripleheader excursion to Bureau, Illinois.

The 6988 with both cylinder cocks open puts on a show for the crowd as it pulls out of Rock Island Yard in order to spot the triple-header on the outside track. Centennial bridge is in the backgro... (more)

Like the Chinese dragons they somewhat resemble, the two QJs (and the 261!) start 'em up at Rock Island breathing smoke and steam.

I attempted to re-create a David Plowden shot for my AP Photo class. Jitong Railway 6988 had the honor of heading the triple header. Here's the link to the shot. http://davidplowden.com/photograph... (more)

QJs 6988 & 7081 return from Iowa City, Iowa, coming off the US Government Bridge at the Rock Island, Illinois Arsenal.