2816/261 Steam Double Header September 15, 2007

Chuck and I took the Amtrak Empire Builder to St. Paul, MN on Friday, 9/14/07 from Milwaukee and arrived by cab in downtown Minneapolis at the Marquette Hotel at approximately 11:20 PM. We were up at 6:00 AM and secured a taxi to the 261 barn across the river in St. Paul to take a few early morning images prior to the departure of our excursion on the CPR 2816 and the Milwaukee Road 261 along with the consist of 11 passenger cars and 2 crew cars.

After spending a restful night at the Marquette Hotel on Saturday night, we hailed a cab to take us back to the Amtrak station in St. Paul, MN for our return trip. It was a wonderful weekend!

CPR 2816 at sunrise in the 261 yard at Minneapolis Junction, 401 Harrison St. N.E. in St. Paul, MN. The 2816 is an oil fired steam engine. Photos by Pauline Trabert

Milwaukee Road 261 was behind the 2816 tender in the consist for the double header. Seen here at sunrise on September 15, 2007 just before we boarded for the nearly 12 hour excursion to LaCrosse, WI and back. The 261 is a coal fired steam engine.

The Skytop Lounge car, the Cedar Rapids, is the last car in the consist.

Chuck and I rode in the classic Super Dome car as part of the Premium class tickets. The galley is located on the lower level along with a restroom at each end.

The two steam engines required three stops to fill up with water from fire hydrants arranged with the cities of Red Wing, MN and LaCrosse, WI. The above image shows the CPR water line attached to the 261 as it is filled with water at Minneapolis Junction prior to departure.

While in LaCrosse, WI the Canadian Pacific Empress was gleaming in the bright sunlight.

A good sized crowd gathered around the steam double header consist as the two engines were replenished with water. Most of the crowd was on the train with some 360 passengers but some of the LaCrosse, WI locals came down to the depot to enjoy the excitement.

Video of our trip will be posted on YouTube soon. Be sure to check out my other fine videos too.

technorati tags: railfan, railroad, excursion, steam, trains, 261, 2816