Milwaukee Road 261 went from Minneapolis to Brownton on June 22nd. I managed to get ahead of it twelve times. I had a lot of fun and met a some cool people.
They actually used it quite a bit this weekend. I heard it more than a half dozen times over the weekend. In the past 4 or 5 times I've seen it run since 2016 I'd never heard it before this past Saturday.
@@HTTVChannel No, both whistles (is has two in addition to the horn) worked just fine at every other crossing. It's there, might as well use it. That's one of the things that makes 261 unique.
I sure would of loved to go and see 261 since I have family up in Minneapolis Minnesota but with my new summer job with metro in la I can't go anywhere even for a weekend until its over on August 2 2019 but at least I got this great to video watch in the end to turn my frown upside down
@@marsh2202 The E9 wasn't used to power the brakes or serve as a backup. It was used to haul the consist back, and to supply head end power to all the cars, except the on directly behind 261. That's her original tool car, a heavily rebuilt Beaver Tail, and the Friends Of The 261 have stated that it's too expensive for them to get it certified by Amtrak.
N&W 611 for me, Would love to see a CB&Q O5 class 4-8-4 restored as well. There are 2 other NKP berkshires in the works right now and it would be nice to see something unique for a change. One class that sadly wasn't saved that I'm also a fan of is the Atlantic Coast line R-1 class 4-8-4. You should look them up sometime, they were beautiful engines.
@Nathaniel Cruz - You are probably thinking about the Union Pacific; they did have many E9s & still have 3 in their " Heritage Fleet ". Northern Pacific fans, correct me if I am wrong, but I read somewhere the Northern Pacific only had F units.
@@Petemonster62 doubtful, a following section would only be true if there was another section of excursion train following. They probably just had them on because they look cool, because no US commen carrier uses class lights anymore to designate something.
@@Mike_Squires - You are probably right! Classification lights were another visual method of communication in the pre-2-way radio days to be seen by station agents, tower operators, crews of trains on sidings, section gangs, & other railroad workers.