SMWorks
  • Home
  • Photos
  • Store
  • Blog
  • About
Picture
Built in 1944, the Milwaukee Road 261 operated in service with the railroad for just a dozen years before being retired. Donated to the museum in Green Bay, the locomotive was selected for excursion service in the 1990s and returned to operating condition in 1993. Since then, its travelled over 25,000 miles under steam and gone through quite a lengthy journey, from adventuring to the east coast for the inauguration of Steamtown to a triple-header event with a pair of Chinese-imported steam engines, but it's biggest test was the financial and legal disputes in the late 2000s that resulted in it finally leaving the museum collection officially and becoming independent with the Friends of the 261 group. Alongside the recently acquired and even more recently repainted MILW 32A, an EMD E9A, as well as a plethora of unique coaches, from the legendary Milwaukee Road Skytop Cedar Rapids to the Super Dome to the California Zephyr dome Silver Palace, the Milwaukee Road 261 operates excursions out of Minneapolis and along the Twin Cities & Western Railroad.

Since 2017, I've made it to at least one excursion each year, always in the fall. Due to the pandemic, there were no 2020 excursions, but in 2021, the 261 and the new 32A returned for a long weekend of excursions. With coal soot raining across us and the howl of the S2M atop the 32A in our ears, a plethora of chasers flocked to the route from Chanhassen to Glencoe, making quite the trip to remember.

2022

Picture
"Switching It All Up"
Picture
"Back to the Start"
Picture
"Back to Bongards"
Picture
"Saved for a Rainy Day"
Picture
"Independent Indecision"
Picture
"The Slowly Drying Well"
Picture
"Accidentally Ahead of the Game"
Picture
"Done For The Day"

2021

Picture
"Pack of Wolves"
Picture
"Second Connection"
Picture
"Round & Round"
Picture
Picture
"Slow Jam"
Picture
"Thrillseekers"
Picture
"Fine Time"
Picture
Picture
"Strands in the Wind"
Picture
"Dream Attack"
Picture
"Primitive Notion"

2019

Picture
"Meet & Greet"
Picture
"Breathe"
Picture
"Up In Smoke"
Picture
"Slip"
Picture
"Paradise Alley"
Picture
"Way Back Home"

2018

Picture
"Speed Freak"
Picture
"Dusk"
Picture
"Back Up"
Picture
"Everything's Blue"
Picture
"Runby"
Picture
"Eternal Elegance"
Picture
"Juggernauts"
Picture
"Awaiting"
Picture
"Far From August"
Picture
"At The Drive In"
Picture
"Surprises"
Picture
"Gates"
Picture
"Tourniquet"

2017


Picture
"Flyby"
Picture
"Around The Bend"
Picture
"Steam Over Water"
Picture
"Final Destination"
Picture
"Coupling Up"
Picture
"Leader"
Picture
"Bring It On Home"

LINKS

STORE
PHOTO GALLERY
STORE FAQ

BLOG
ABOUT THIS SITE
HOME

SOCIAL MEDIAS & CONTACT

If you are having issues displaying the website, please try on a laptop or desktop computer.
  • Home
  • Photos
  • Store
  • Blog
  • About