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Friends of 261 (Milwaukee Road Northern) move

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 3:11 PM

Just to clarify, the Friends of 261 aren't moving to Illinois, they're expanding to Illinois - adding those facilities to what they already have here in the Twin Cities.

Stix
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, March 5, 2022 3:56 PM

Electroliner 1935
I think you mean SILVIS IL near the Quad Cities

Yes I got it confused with another firm in St. Louis area.    This is in Quad Cities.

  • Member since
    January 2015
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Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, March 5, 2022 1:53 PM

From information I have seen, it is my understanding that 261 has gotten a PTC installation this winter of the type that UP 4014 has.

Look for possible tenants to be the modern QJ 2-10-2 twins with an "accomodating" Iowa Interstate mainline adjacent to it.

Who knows what one might find happening there. Perhaps Illinois Railroad Museum might lease CRI&P 938 for restoration, for example.

Or perhaps a CB&Q 4-6-4 (Friends of 261 originally considered trying to lease the CB&Q S-4A 4000 in La Crosse before settling on 261) as there is a whole gaggle of them within about a 150-mile radius of Silvis.

Lots and lots of possibilities with a facility like that if they can afford to fix it up and can generate a net profit from contract work.

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Posted by Leo_Ames on Saturday, March 5, 2022 5:43 AM

I imagine moving the #261 there would pose an issue for the folks that work on her in the Minneapolis area. While I'm not privy to any of these decisions, I assume preserving that group is one of the big factors behind why she'll be staying behind at least for now.

I wonder if the E9 will be moving to Silvis.

 

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Posted by Backshop on Friday, March 4, 2022 8:57 PM

I found it interesting that they're not planning on moving the 261 there.

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    September 2010
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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, March 4, 2022 7:05 PM

CMStPnP

Pretty cool, they moved to much more expanded facilities in St. Louis.    Hopefully they will continue to build their business.    Check out the new location:

https://261.com/

I think you mean SILVIS IL near the Quad Cities

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Friends of 261 (Milwaukee Road Northern) move
Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, March 4, 2022 6:21 PM

Pretty cool, they moved to much more expanded facilities in St. Louis.    Hopefully they will continue to build their business.    Check out the new location:

https://261.com/

 

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