Galesburg and 261

[Anonymous]

Me and a friend are going to Galesburg this weekend to see the 261 steam engine. Does anyone know what time it is going to arrive and know of good locations in Galesburg for taking pictures? We are also going to Rochelle, never been there but I have read enough in forums that it seems to be a great place. Any info will be appreciated![:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

the 261 will be leaving chicago at 11:00am and arive in galesburg around4:00pm provided it doesnt get in the way of metra or freight traffic. it will then be turned in galesburg and head up the savanna main to Barstow ill then turn west and go into rock island.The same day the 3985(Union Pacifics Challenger) will be going through Des Moines Iowa and parking in boone for the night.Just think,two mainlines sized steamlocomotives within a hundred miles of eachother. I'll be there for both. Keep in mind the 261 is also running excurtions out of the quad cities the whole weekend and will incule rare milage on the iowa interstate rr( ex-ROCK ISLAND[:D] ) on sunday. Rochell is busy. Lots of UP trains though and in my opinoin kinda gets boring. You can only see so many coal and container trains with ac44's and SD70s. Oh well better than no trains. Hope this helps and remeber:LONG LIVE THE ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CBQ_Guy]

Here is the info I have as of May 13. Hopefully, it's still accurate:



Hello All

Here is an updated list of trips the Milwaukee Road 4--8-4 #261 will be powering this summer.
These dates are tentative and times are unknown.

June 20 - Minneapolis to Milwaukee
June 22 - Milwaukee to Chicago

June 25 - Chicago to Rock Island over BNSF Chicago-Galesburg/Barstow mainline then on Iowa Interstate into Rock Island
June 26 - Davenport to Clinton and Savanna roundtrip

June 27 - Rock Island to Bureau vas Iowa Interstate roundtrip
June 28 - Clinton to Dubuque

June 29 - Dubuque to LaCrosse via IC & E
June 30 - LaCrosse to Minneapolis via BNSF River line

July 2 - NRHS "circle trip" up and down the Mississippi River. BNSF down and CP return
July 3 - St Paul to LaCrescent on CP River line and return. This will be a doubleheader with the CP's 4-6-4 #2816. They will shuttle all day between Minneapolis and St Paul

[dknelson]

If the trainwatching at Rochelle gets boring (!!) keep in mind there are depots to see in the city, and the Stewart Jct depot just south and east of town, a large food facility that gets railcars south of town, a junction with a shortline (the name of which I forget but they have a CF7) to the north and west of town (that goes up to Davis Jct itself an interesting railfan location) and to the east on the UP at DeKalb there is still a concrete coaling tower. So when the railfanning at the diamond gets uninteresting just get in the car because a short drive away are interesting things to look at.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Hey all you people out there! I'll be on the 261's train, so I'll look for y'all as I fly by!

[techguy57]

Anyone know what line sand towns it'll travel on between Milwaukee and Chicago. I'd like to get out and take some pics if possible.

Mike

[Anonymous]

If anyone out there has a chance of going, be sure and go.

There is NOTHING like seeing live steam in action!

[CBQ_Guy]

There was an article on the 261's appearance at Bureau Junction this weekend in our local paper.

http://newstrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=13580&SubSectionID=262