The Mississippi River Hiawatha
Milwaukee Road No. 261 and Canadian Pacific No. 2816 teamed up for a
double-head steam excursion down the former Milwaukee Road route of the
Hiawathas. No. 261 is an S-3, type 4-8-4, built for the Milwaukee Road in 1944.
In 1994 a for-profit company was incorportated in the Twin Cities to restore a
large steam locomotive. A volunteer association was formed and the 261 was
selected for restoration. By 1993 the extensive restoration was completed and
since then the 261 has been involved in countless, highly sucessful excursions
throughout the country. No. 2816 entered excursion service in 2001 as a roving
ambassador for the Canadian Pacific Railway. CPR's No. 2816 was built by the
Monetreal Locomotive Works in 1930 as a class H1b Hudson. The engine was taken
out of regular service in 1960 and is currently restored to its appearance of
the 1940/50s.
The trip departed the St. Paul late and made its first scheduled stop at Red
Wing. Prior to arriving in Red Wing, the excursion train was held up at a
drawbridge and then was held for Amtrak's Empire Builder to pass. Here
the engine was serviced and took on water before departing for Winona. At
Winona passengers were allowed to debark the train for photographs but would
not be picked up until several hours later on the return leg of the excursion.
The layover provided ample time to explore the town of Red Wing and have lunch.
The train arrived in LaCressent well after the scheduled 10:45 am arrival time.
After wying the train, it departed LaCressent for Winona. After picking up
passengers at Winona, the train ran to Red Wing where it took on water again
and departed for St. Paul during a steady rain. The train arrived back at St.
Paul nearly two hours later than scheduled.
The consist for the trip included:
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Canadian Pacific No. 2816
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Milwaukee Road No. 261
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No. 261 auxiliary tender
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Nol 2816 auxilary tender
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Amtrak P40 No. 135
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Amtrak P40 No. 123
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Grand Canyon
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Minnesota River
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Arizona
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Echo Canyon
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Golden Sand
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Tolani
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Silver Larch
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Amfleet No. 54513
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Amfleet No. 54578
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Henry ?
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Mohave
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Wisconsin Valley
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Pickry Henderson
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Caritas
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Montana
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? Point
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Sierra Hotel
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Cedar Rapids (see photo below)
Report by Jeffrey Smith
