Nostalgia & History > BNSF Emplpyee Special, Milw 261.

September 2nd, 1998 BNSF ran an Employee Special powered by Milwaukee Road 261. Along with some friends, was excited to be able to ride a portion of the ex Santa Fe Chillicotne Sub. We were bussed from Ft. Madison, Iowa to Chillicothe, Illinois. We were able to get seats in the last car, the Glacier View theater car. I had packed along my video camera as well as the 35mm. So here a few shots of the train and the track. I figured his would be my only chance to see these sights. Little did I know that 5 years into the future, I would cross train and become a conductor and see this track nearly every day for the lost 6 years of my employment.

1. Milw 261 at Chillicothe, Illinois.

2. Waiting for a hot westbound to over take us.

3. Crossing over main 2 to main 1 at Edilestein, Illinois.

More to follow.

Hank.

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4. Under the ex BN Mendota sub in Galesburg, Illinois.

5. Meeting a eastbound at the west edge of Galesburg.

6. Going over the ex BN Ottumwa sub at Camron, Illinois.

more to follow.

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7. Over the bridge at Media, Illinois.

8. Meeting another eastbound at Lomax, Illinois.

9. Coming off the Mississippi river bridge and into Ft. Madison , Iowa.


2 more to follow.

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10. The next day, September 3rd. The special departs Ft. Madison headed toward Kansas City.

11. Our ride!

Enjoy.

Hank.

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Thanks for the pictures, Hank. Didn't realize that the 261 ever ran on the ex-AT&SF. In fact, I didn't know that any steam locomotive had run on this line in the last 60 years or so except the 3751. Marvelous series.

Tom

The shot going under the CB&Q at Galesburg could just as easily be out in the country.
Is that the bridge at Media that they have just rebuilt this year?
Speaking of bridges, that Fort Madison shot is cool! Looks like smoke from the 261 drifting along the river too.
That must have been the year it headed down to Topeka for Railroad days.

mp51w Wrote:
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> The shot going under the CB&Q at Galesburg could
> just as easily be out in the country.
> Is that the bridge at Media that they have just
> rebuilt this year?
> Speaking of bridges, that Fort Madison shot is
> cool! Looks like smoke from the 261 drifting
> along the river too.
> That must have been the year it headed down to
> Topeka for Railroad days.


Yeah, that "under" bridge shot could be out in the country, but it's
definitely the crossing be what's now Peck Park in Galesburg.

As for the bridge near Media, it ain't toast yet. When I was there
May 5th, they were just pouring the first footing for the new bridge.
A WAG from me is that this bridge will not be replaced until this fall.
I will be curious to see the traffic changes when they put the new deck
in place.

Just some FYI.

These are very nice shots of several places I have shot from the ground.
It is good to see what they look like from a train.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

That's a great set; thanks for posting! The railfan at Edelstein looks like it could be the late, great Tim Fullbright.

Feel free to share more if you have them. I always like "out the back" photos of the ROW.

Andy