What a weekend for steam -- midwest style

[dknelson]

This last weekend I was with friends who railfanned the upper Mississippi River on both the Wisconsin and Minnesota sides. In addition to the Grand Excursion steamboats (including a calliope concert in Red Wing MN courtesy the Delta Queen) we saw two fine steam locomotives, Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 and Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 2816. On Friday we got to see a great rarity in our time -- standing at a rural grade crossing we watched one steam powered passenger train pass by at high speed. We waited a while, less than half an hour, and then another steam powered passenger train passed by at high speed. All this on main line trackage.
But Saturday the 3rd was the real treat. The two engines double headed, and in Hastings MN due to a bridge being opened to allow the Mississippu Queen to steam up the river, we got to hear the train start from a standing stop. The exhausts were never in sync. What a sound as both engines really worked to start the train (thereafter the 2816 on the point pretty much allowed the 261 to do the work -- as evidenced by the fact that they had removed the extra water tank from the 2816, and when the train worked hard up grade the only real smoke display was from the 261. We caught it several times. Alas the weather did not always cooperate so who knows how well or poorly the pictures will turn out -- but I expect to see plenty of photos in the railfan press since not only did we see Bob Gallegos from Railroad/Railfan scoping out choice spots, but the Goodheart video van passed us by in Dakota MN. The only thing we missed seeing was bald eagles fishing in the river ;(
Dave Nelson

[Big_Boy_4005]

Dave, on Friday, I might have waved to you, as I was on that train. Saturday I probably saw you but had no idea who you were. I was in Hastings, but I ended up standing slightly around the curve from the staton.





Did you see the two topics I posted with all the photos?
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18214
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18268

[dknelson]

Great shots. We were very close, possibly some of the same locations on Saturday. We caught it at Hastings and then got out of town fast -- learned like you that the train had been stabbed by a signal so we set up just out of Hastings for an unexpected bonus shot.
If you saw three guys with cameras, -- one of which was 6'8" tall -- the tall guy is/was me. And yes we did our share of shameful driving -- BUT ya gotta keep your eyes on the prize, as the saying goes.
I am the only one of our group who still shoots slides rather than digital so I will take me a week or so to learn how my shots came out. Your are real nice. But only SOUND can truly do the double header justice.
Dave Nelson