Bill and I checked out of the Knight's Inn in Breckenridge, North Dakota and went to McDonald's for breakfast, after which we drove to where the steam train had overnighted.
Milwaukee Road 261 and train preparing to return home to the Twin Cities.
Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 built by American Locomotive Company in 1941.
Breckenridge Great Northern station built in 1901. We then went by the Red River Valley and Western engine shops.
Red River Valley and Western GP20C 2051, ex. Twin Cities and Western 2003, exx. Burlington Northern 2003:2, exxx. Burlington Northern GP20 2008:1, nee Great Northern 2008, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1960.
Red River Valley and Western SW1200RS 1213, ex. Canadian Pacific 1213, nee Canadian Pacific 8104, built by General Motors Diesel in 1958.
Red River Valley and Western SW1200RS 1276, ex. Canadian Pacific 1276, nee Canadian Pacific 8108, built by General Motors Diesel in 1958.
Independent Locomotive Service {ILSX} GP39-2 1390, nee Kennecott Copper 795, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1978. From here we drove east to Doran and set up for Milwaukee Road 261.
Milwaukee Road 261 at Doran. We took off chasing the train east.
Railfans chasing the train.
We stopped in Campbell but did not like the shot so returned to the highway and pulled off at East Campbell, where 261 had to take the siding for this freight train.
The rear of the BNSF freight train.
Milwaukee Road 261 at East Campbell. We high-tailed it to Norcross.
The Great Northern water tower was still here.
Milwaukee Road 261 and its train at Norcross bound for Minneapolis. Then it was back to the highway.
Milwaukee Road 261 at Herman. East we went!
The steam train east of Herman. The chase continued.
Milwaukee Road 261 at MP 162. We went next to the east end of Morris.
The impressive train at East Morris.
Milwaukee Road 261 East at Hancock. Bill and I proceeded to West Benson.
Railfans chasing a train!
We caught the train at West Benson with a yellow-over-red signal. Not wanting to tie up traffic here, it was decided to wait for the green signal and we knew there would be a great show of steam upon departure.
Scenes as we waited.
Departing West Benson. We drove to Kerkhoven and set up for a grain elevator picture.
Milwaukee Road 261 and its train at Kerkhoven.
Railfans chasing a train.
After catching the train at Penncock, we broke off the chase and drove into Wilmar.
Great Northern 4-8-2 2523 built by Baldwin in 1923. Designated Class P-1 and originally intended to haul passenger trains, these 4-8-2s proved too slow on the railroad's 2.2 percent grades over the Cascades and were soon transferred to freight service. In 1928, they were rebuilt as 2-10-2 Santa Fe types and hauled the Oriental Limited from Minneapolis to Seattle. 2523 was retired in 1958 and was placed on permanent display at the Kandiyohi County Historical Society in Willmar on 17th October 1965.
Bill and I had lunch at the Golden Arches before driving south to Currie, our next adventure. Thank you to Milwaukee Road 261 for a good and fantastic, as well as safe, steam chase this morning.
| RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE |