At 1:40 PM, Milwaukee Road 261 departed La Crosse station and proceeded east to the Canadian Pacific Railway yard and interchange with the BNSF, formerly Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, mainline.
We pulled east to the yard switch where we had to wait to be lined into the yard.
The train then made its way into the yard.
We went down the yard track.
A Canadian Pacific Railway freight passed on the mainline on its way to the Twin Cities.
The steam engine had to take some really tight curves to get out of the yard.
We had reached the mainline.
A BNSF freight waited at Grand Crossing for us to clear.
A look west to Minnesota across the Mississippi River.
Another BNSF freight waited in the BNSF yard in La Crosse.
Curving north out of La Crosse.
Another look west across the Mississippi River.
A look east at Wisconsin.
Further north at Trempleau, the marina to the west.
The Mississippi River before we started across the long fill north of Trempleau.
Looking east across the lake.
The Mississippi River to the west.
One of the many lakes in this area.
We stopped at the end of double track.
One of the 261 crew inspected one of the cars during the stop.
An eastbound BNSF passed us on the way south to La Crosse.
A look west across the Mississippi River at Minnesota.
One of the lakes covered with giant lily pads.
We were paralleling the Mississippi River.
A dredge at the harbour at East Winona.
Our train was running along colorful Wisconsin!
An interesting barn near Cochrane.
We passed the Dairyland Power Plant at Alma, Wisconsin.
Going by Lock and Dam 4 which forms Lake Pepin.
Views across the Mississippi River at Minnesota.
We continued along the Mississippi River.
The lake to the Wisconsin side of our train.
Running along the Mississippi River.
Beneath the bluffs near Nelson.
Crossing the Chippewa River.
The Mississippi River with Minnesota across the great waterway.
Red Wing is across the Mississippi River.
The Mississippi River mades a large turn to the northwest just before we entered the heavy rainshowers that would be with us until we returned to near Cottage Grove.
The train made a brief servicing stop at Diamond Bluff.
The chasers had to put up with the heavy rains this afternoon.
The interior of the concession car.
The crossing of the St. Croix River.
The view across the river.
Looking up the Mississippi River to the Hastings lift bridge.
Approaching St. Croix.
The Circle was complete at St. Croix.
Approaching Lock and Dam 1. We ran straight back to St. Paul and up Westminster Hill, but about three miles from Minneapolis Junction, we stopped. I relayed the football scores so everyone in the Great Dome knew how their favourite team did today while we had been riding the rails. At least the rain stopped.
Looking forward during the longer-than-expected delay.
During the delay I walked back to the rear of "Cedar Rapids" for the view. Our train finally resumed its journey and about three miles later, we returned to Minneapolis Junction at 6:42 PM, ending another excellent Milwaukee Road 261 excursion. As I drove away, I hoped that the fifteen-year rebuild would go off without a hitch. I drove west on Interstate 384 West to Interstate 494 south to Eden Prairie, where I found the Best Western Eden Prairie Inn and checked in for the night.
Going Home 9/15/2008After a continental breakfast at 6:00 AM, I checked out and drove back to the Minneapolis Airport and returned the rental car. Security here was a lot friendlier than other places as they call one by your first name. The flight was oversold so they asked for fourteen volunteers to take other flights. I boarded my Northwest Airlines Flight 319 and did Sudoku puzzles almost the whole trip, arriving at LAX early, but it took too long to deplane. I waited twemty minutes and finally spotted the LAUPT Flyaway Bus approaching.
I boarded the bus at 11:18 AM and once all the pickups had been made, proceeded to LAUPT with no delay. I went up to the train and sat on the bench looking at a Metrolink train. I thought of the accident pictures I had seen and how the entire side of one of those cars had been ripped open.
At 12:15 PM, the doors of Pacific Surfliner 774 were opened and this train returned me to Santa Ana on time, ending another great trip with Milwaukee Road 261.
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