For the first time since its restoration to service in 1993, Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 will pull a series of excursions out of the Milwaukee Road’s hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The trips will be operated in June 2006 with the cooperation of Canadian Pacific Railway and Amtrak. The train will include four fully restored former Milwaukee Road passenger cars: Pioneer Limited sleeper “Minnesota River,” business car “Montana,” “Super Dome 53” and Skytop observation car “Cedar Rapids”.

The first excursion of the series will operate on Wednesday, June 21, when 261 will pull a one-way positioning move from Minneapolis to Milwaukee. This train will make all the regular Amtrak stops as it travels east over the former Milwaukee Road main line and passengers will be allowed to board at these stops. There may also be tickets available for a deadhead move back to Minneapolis but this has yet to be determined. On the evening of Friday, June 23, the 261 will pull a special round trip dinner train excursion from the former Milwaukee Road Station in downtown Milwaukee to Sturtevant, Wisconsin. At Sturtevant the train will be turned for the return to Milwaukee. On Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25, 261 will pull a round trip excursion from Milwaukee to Wisconsin Dells. After unloading passengers at Wisconsin Dells, the train will continue on to New Lisbon, where it will be turned for the return to the Dells and Milwaukee. The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Dells round trip and Wisconsin Dells-New Lisbon round trips will be sold as separate excursions.

Coach, First Class and Premium class tickets will be available on all four trips but are expected to sell out quickly. The ticket prices and train schedule will be available in the coming weeks. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale March 20 and will be available at www.261.com. Before March 20 a priority ticket list has been established. To get on the priority ticket list send an e-mail to milw261@msn.com, or send a postcard to Friends of the 261, 4322 Lakepoint Court, Shoreview, MN 55126.

Congratulations to Steve Sandberg and the entire 261 crew for keeping the mainline steam flame burning(and doing it in a 1st. class way) in these very difficult times. I'm confident they'll put on their usual great show and that these will be memorable outings!
Ross Rowland

It's Steve Sandberg, not Lemberg