Headed down the "Coal Runner" on it's way to Duluth

The Milwaukee 261 leads a perfect set of varnish past an inbound Amtrak for contrast.

MILW 261 crosses a bridge that's almost 100 years old as it dashes to Milwaukee.

MILW 261 makes a quick service stop at the Columbus depot.

MILW 261 on the move to the Quad Cities via the BNSF from Chicago. That meant running the Mendota sub from Aurora to Galesburg, a quick wye move, and now the 261 races up the Barstow sub in the n... (more)

Traveling west on US34 in Illinois you pass small towns and farms, which become more picturesque when a steam train runs as it did this day enroute to Galesburg from Chicago.

Milwaukee Road 261 puts on a show of smoke as it rolls through the curve at Dresbach, MN

Milwaukee 261 steams out of Willard, destined for Chicago.

How many modes of transport can you see in this view?

Coupler stored in lead mode, head on shot... "wait for it... shoot, shoot, shoot... run, run, run"

#261 races north out of Winona, MN on the Fall Color Excursion train

MILW 261 stops in LaCrescent for water and grease before backing up the wye to turn the train for the trip back to Winona. I found watching these two workers grease the locomotive just as interes... (more)

Another MILW 261 shot from Dakota.

#261, a WWII era built 4-8-4 Northern, has the La Crescent turn of the fall colors train at Dakota on a bright and warm fall afternoon.