ON BOARD - Milw 261 Minneapolis to Milwaukee

[railfan619]

I was down at the waterford crossing just a little while ago but since they just had to wait for the wonderful mayor of milwaukee it ended up meeting a frieght train at the crossing and so I. Missed it but on the plus side I did get covered in black dust. And now you have guessed it I'm now mad at the mayor for delaying the train by 10 minutes. [banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead][censored][censored][censored]

[wcfan4ever]

I'll be on the Saturday trip.

[CopCarSS]

Keith,

Nice pix. Thanks for sharing!

[jeaton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kschmidt

I believe the Genesis unit is for HEP, however I think each car could run with its own generator. Also because this is technically an AMTRAK excursion being pulled by #261. Amtrak's insurance is what is making the trips possible, otherwise the ticket prices would probably double or triple. Another reason for the Amtrak unit.

They watered the train in LaCrosse, but between the two tenders there 45,000 gals of water capacity.

As far as shots, the east side of the Amtrak is a pretty nice shot, the locomotive would be on a pretty tight curve, it would also be whistlng for the grade crossing. There is small parking lot just before the bridge.

Keith Schmidt

Tanks

Jay

[kschmidt]

I believe the Genesis unit is for HEP, however I think each car could run with its own generator. Also because this is technically an AMTRAK excursion being pulled by #261. Amtrak's insurance is what is making the trips possible, otherwise the ticket prices would probably double or triple. Another reason for the Amtrak unit.

They watered the train in LaCrosse, but between the two tenders there 45,000 gals of water capacity.

As far as shots, the east side of the Amtrak is a pretty nice shot, the locomotive would be on a pretty tight curve, it would also be whistlng for the grade crossing. There is small parking lot just before the bridge.

Keith Schmidt

[rrandb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hugh Jampton

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrandb

Is the Genisis for head-end/hotel power?

Partly, and also as insurance in case the steamer breaks down. Can't have a broken down steam engine blocking the tracks.

Do you mean like the single engine(Genisis) Silver Meteor did recently? LOL. I thougt they had a HEP car as part of there consist?

[Hugh Jampton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrandb

Is the Genisis for head-end/hotel power?

Partly, and also as insurance in case the steamer breaks down. Can't have a broken down steam engine blocking the tracks.

[rrandb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tharmeni

Where/how did you replenish water?

They travel with a second water tender. It can be refilled from Fire hydrants etc.

[Tharmeni]

Where/how did you replenish water?

[rrandb]

Is the Genisis for head-end/hotel power?

[jeaton]

Keith

I am thinking about trying to catch a shot or two over around the curve out of the east side of the Amtrak Station. Is that a problem area? Located the Waterford Av crossing on MapQuest. Never been there. Good parking, open views? What would you recommend?

Jay

[railfan619]

OK that will be really cool to hear the train blow his horn and. So if it leaves amtrak at
6:00 it should be at the crossing around 6:15- 6:30 right at least I think. like I said that would be totally awsome to see it go by.

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

The 261 is scheduled to leave Milwaukee Amtrak Station at 6:00pm. I will probably be at Waterford Ave also for the shot. I know that Wauwatosa has a "NO WHISTLE" ordinance and #261 blew the whistle at every crossing through town. So I don't believe that they follow those bans very well, and I've never heard anyone complain.

Keith

[railfan619]

Does anyone who what time the 261 will be leaving milwaukee and be around the waterford ave crossing so. I can get some nice pics of the train going by and will the train be exempt from the quiet zone at the crossing.

[jeaton]

I'll have to say that the Cedar Rapids and the Super Dome are really sparkling in their native dress and kudos to the team that has gotten them looking so good.

Putting myself at extremly high risk, I will say that I rather liked the UP colors that were on during the years when I rode those cars. It didn't have anything to do with the colors themselves than this: My trips down to Chicago from the farm would start with boarding at Merrill (later Wausau) on the Valley Line. An Alco, a couple home built rib sided coaches, colors a little faded, dark territory with 65 MPH top speed, typical branch low rail ride, but not too rough. Then change at New Lisbon and take a quantum jumb to a mainline, all streamlined train with Super Dome, and even if reserved for First Class, a smart looking Sky Top Observation car carrying the markers. Stow the suitcase and get in the front seat of the upper level of the Super Dome as the engineer notched up to the 100 MPH track speed. I'd hang there for a bit and then head downstairs.

Back in the day, Wisconsin allowed service to 18 year olds in taverns that held a beer only liquor license. However, the lounge in the car served hard liquor so the 21 year old regulations of Wisconsin applied. (An aside, in Illinois it was 21 for service of anything to a male, but the girls could be served at age 18. And you gals complain about discrimination.) I don't know for sure, but I think the criteria set by the lounge crew was that if you looked like you had to shave every day and you laid a bill on the table that was larger than the price of one beer, you met the legal criteria for service. Let the fun begin.

And so the association to the paint jobs.

If that service was available today, I don't think I'd care if the cars were pink.

[locomutt]

Great Pictures!!! Really like the one of the Humvee and military personnel.

[MichaelSol]

Unlike the Burlington's Budd-built Vista Domes, the Milwaukee wanted the dome extended the full length of the car, rather than the one-third on the Vista Domes. The Milwaukee Super Domes were ordered from Pullman-Standard. Described as “massive,” they were the heaviest streamlined railroad passenger cars ever built. At 112 tons, they featured 68 coach-style seats under the dome, and 28 seats in a lower-level cafe/lounge. The name “Super Dome” had been suggested by the head of the railroad tie section in the Milwaukee’s Chicago offices, although employees also suggested “Master Dome,” “Panorama Dome,” and “Ultra Dome.” At Rondout, Illinois, December 6, 1952, Jane Kiley, daughter of Milwaukee President John Kiley, broke a bottle of co-mingled waters from Lake Michigan and the Puget Sound, on the huge domeliner, “I christen thee ‘Super Dome.’”

The passenger department did not begin the Union Pacific contract until October 30, 1955, so these cars spent nearly three years in the resplendent orange, black and maroon. They were something.

[Murphy Siding]

Nice photos! I like the coal *loader* equipment. Vintage Rube Goldberg, perhaps?[;)]

[jeaton]

Whoa! Nice!

Got my tickest for the Dells-New Lisbon turn Saturday. Would have liked to have taken the whole trip from Milwaukee, but wanted tics for the dome and the Cedar Rapids. Just a budget consideration, but I will be a happy camp..., er rider.

Question: Were the dome cars built before or after the MILW got the City trains and went to the UP colors on the mainline equipment? Just wondering if the dome cars ever ran in the MILW pumpkin.
Jay

[chad thomas]

[blhanel]

Great shots, Keith- especially of that observation car![;)]

Thanks for sharing!

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

I had the great priviliege to ride behind Milwaukee Road #261 as it made a trip from Minneapolis, MN to Milwaukee, WI on Wednesday June 21, 2006. The weather was great and so was the ride. It is great to see the #261 "Come Home". This weekend the #261 will pull several trips, including round trips to the Wisconsin Dells and several trip down to Sturtevant to turn the train on the wye. From what I have been told the Saturday trips are SOLD OUT. Sunday is close to selling out. Which is great. Steve Sandberg, and Frank and Judy Sandberg from the Friends of the 261 recieve a great deal of thanks for all the hard work they put into making these trips GREAT.

Here are some photos from the trip on June 21, 2006


Topping off the coal tender behind #261 before leaving Harrison Street in Minneapolis, MN


#261 sits waiting at Harrison Street


Low Angle Power Shot of #261 at Harrison Street in Minneapolis


#261 eases through a curve in the Minneapolis area


Passing MP 347 on the Canadian Pacific along the Mississippi River north of Winona, MN


A crowd is waiting on the platform at La Crosse, WI


The Cedar Rapids Skytop Observation Car on the rear of the train


The Super Dome freshly makes it first run behind #261 after being painted.


No one going to take his railfanning spot. As we pass through Fort McCoy/Camp Douglas in Wisconsin.


#261 rounds a curve on the CP single-track mainline west of Wisconsin Dells.


#261 ease through an S-curve at Grand Avenue in Milwaukee near Miller Park


#261 passes an eastbound CP train at Cut-Off in Milwaukee


About to stop for the evening at the Milwaukee Amtrak Depot


The #261 after pulling the train from Minneapolis heads into the siding until Friday when it will being a weekend of excursions.

Keith Schmidt