anybody riding 261 to Duluth ?

Chasing. That's where the best pics are. Staying at the Hampton. Email me if you would like to meet up.

This morning's issue of the Duluth News Tribune stated that the train will have 15 passenger cars and over 500 passengers on the train.  The train will arrive in Duluth on Saturday afternoon and depart to the Twin Cities at noon on Sunday.

Wish I was scheduled into Duluth that weekend.  Would love to at least see it and 2719 alongside each other, but I'll be at the other end of the Great Lakes that weekend.

I'm going, $oo.  Email me your cell phone number and we can make medicine (see my profile).  We will be in the ex-Santa Fe Big Dome.

What time does it depart Mpls or St. Paul and from what location?

Thanks

9 am Harrison St (Minneapolis Jct)

I'm going to try stopping by Northtown yard to take pics / video, then pop over to the state fairgrounds for the big Twin City Model Railroad Club/Museum flea market. If they offer another "fall color" trip in September I'll probably try going on that, I've done that a couple of times in the past.

Did you buy a ticket anyway, to help support the group?

That would be the proper thing to do.  It takes a lot of money to run one of these trips.  Even chasers should help support these trips financially.

 

Well after a long day and many conversations with all on this maiden run of #261 to Duluth am happy to say was a fun and enjoyable trip. I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with fellow forum member Tom aka Number 90 in the santafe sky view dome car  we originally thought we would be in same car but not to be. 

tom showed me a video and a few pictures of his layout back in Texas A very nice looking layout.

$oo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While rolling along behind engine #261 I kept in contact with fellow forum member Elliot aka big boy as to where we were as he was chasing the train for photo opportunities from various places on and off roadway. I have to say that he was joined by a bunch of other train buffs and also the folks living along the way this excursion was very well photographed by all enthusiasts! the entire train was a sell out and I applaud those that couldn't buy a seat and so instead took the time to photograph the Milwaukee road S-3 while we purchased seats to ride on board he and fellow photographers did something money cannot buy photographs of an era that quite possibly will not be running a 100 years from now and so for those not ever seeing one of these steam engines actually running a priceless piece of history for all to see.

after arriving in Duluth,Mn and getting to our hotel I called Elliot and we met at a place called Grandma's grill and saloon the food was good as well as the company of his wife Tammy and Elliot. strange thing my wife's name is Tammie just spelled differently what's the odds of that! They treated us to a nice supper and we talked as if we knew each other for a long time. After a few hours we went our separate ways for the night. On Monday Tammie and I have been invited over to Tammy and and Elliot's home to see his layout and run a few trains this should be grand as he is modeling the areas in the twin cities that I can relate to as a lot of them are from my own childhood days growing up above the bluffs where the Saint Paul and pigs eye yards reside.

A special Thank You to Elliot and Tammy for a truly nice eveningl

$oo

The train ride was terrific. There are very few Forumites out on the southern high plains, so it is especially nice when I can meet one. $oo is a fine fellow and it was nice to be able to talk about O gauge trains while riding behind a beautifully maintained steam engine. The Friends of 261 run very well organized, extremely hospitable, trips. And I must praise the crew. There was not one ripple of slack and all starts and stops were glass-smooth. You don't always get THAT on a steam excursion.