MILW 261 heads out from under the Post Office in Chicago and gets ready to make the swing onto the BNSF racetrack for an appointment with Galesburg RR days.

Steaming between Hoffman and 7th Street.

Steaming through the Hoffman Avenue plant on the return trip to Minneapolis. What a great looking train!

No. 261 takes the siding at Frontenac, Minnesota on its return trip from the Quad Cities.

Milwaukee Road #261 in a pan shot, caught between 2 QJ's and a near solid consist of Milwaukee Road passenger cars. BW Photo.

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

MILW 261 works up the hill at Jackson St. on its return from the Iowa excursions.

Looking very much in place next to the old Milwaukee Road station sign, 261 heads upriver home to St. Paul.

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

The firebox glows with fire as Milwuakee Road steam engine 261 sits in Rock Island.

"In the white-hot spotlights", Milwaukee Road 261 poses under the Centennial Bridge at Rock Island, Illinois. Special thanks to my wife Tami, for supplying the flash-fill.

The lady in waiting. Milwaukee Road 261 and train poses elegantly on beautiful night at Rock Island, Illinois.

Here come the "Hot Rod Hearts". MILW 261 flexes her muscles in front of QJ 7081 in the night at Rock Island, Illinois. Both these steamers, along with QJ 6988 are ready to pull trips for the River... (more)