Someone mentioned that the auxillary water tender behind #261 was an ex-N&W auxillary water tender. Is this true, and what modifications were done to it by the Friends of 261 crew?
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier Someone mentioned that the auxillary water tender behind #261 was an ex-N&W auxillary water tender. Is this true, and what modifications were done to it by the Friends of 261 crew?
Hi Jim
Steve Glischinski's soft cover book MIlwaukee Road 261 - A Steam Locomotive for the 21st Century" covers this on page 61. The auxiliary tender was built in 1942 for one of the L&N's M class 2-8-4s. It has compartments for water (25,000 gallons) and storage of oil (eight 55 gallon drums of lube oil plus a pump). It was purchased by the Sandbergs (not the Friends of 261) from the NS when they ended their steam excursions in 1994. The conversion had been done by NS in 1992. The book does not mention any further modifications by the 261 group or Sandberg. Those of us who went to the C&NW Historical Society meet in the Twin Cities in May saw the auxiliary tender (and the 261 itself) during various tours.
By the way the red Mars light is back on the 261's front end.
Dave Nelson