Getting ready for a busy excursion season. I saw 261 9 years ago in upstate NY, big engine compared to NYSW's little mikado #142.

Pictures of Work

> Getting ready for a busy excursion season. I
> saw 261 9 years ago in upstate NY, big
> engine compared to NYSW's little mikado
> #142.

"Cedar Rapids" is in primer as I type this and will be fully repainted in the orange and maroon scheme in days, depending on weather conditions in the "Cities". Click on the photo to enlarge it and look at the nifty set-up for the 480v receptacles on the observation end. When not in use, the "cans" may be slid under the skirting and covered with contoured doors. When in use, they may be slid out and locked into place after the doors are removed. Tim O'Neill and Rob Mangels have worked long and hard to make this modification a reality. Tim is also working to relocate the cut lever behind the skirting as the car was originally built. Sometime about 1967 or 1986, the Milwaukee re-engineered this appliance and it was relocated outside of the skirting, detracting from the original streamlined design. "Cedar Rapids" will be fully Amtrak compliant for the Grand Excursion. If you are planning to see the Grand Excursion, take time to look at all the work that was done over the winter to the Skytop and make sure to thank Steve and his hardworking crew for keeping this unique car in operation.

Don C.



http://www.261.com
milw261@sbcglobal.net

I noticed in the second picture that the whistles are now located on the top middle of the boiler. If I'm not mistaken, weren't they positioned more on the engineer's side before?

Robert T.

> I noticed in the second picture that the
> whistles are now located on the top middle
> of the boiler. If I'm not mistaken, weren't
> they positioned more on the engineer's side
> before?

> Robert T.

Robert,
The photo that this link displays does not indicate that, although now there is a second whistle off of an AT&SF 2900 series 4-8-4 mounted alongside the original. At the time of this photo (1993) she was carrying only the Milwaukee Road whistle.

Don C.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=34273



milw261@sbcglobal.net

Don
Thanks for clarifying that. I've never had a good look at the engine from the top before.
BTW. I'm looking forward to the Grand Excursion trips. Especially the doubleheader.

Robert T.