This trip was originally going to be my first steam excursion chase but it became my second time riding behind Milwaukee Road 261. Rather than fly from Victoria to Seattle, I decided this time to take the Clipper catamaran instead and Bob picked me up. The next day, we flew to Milwaukee via St. Louis and retrieved the rental car and stayed at a hotel near the airport.
Upon our arrival at Milwaukee Union Station (before Amtrak and other transportation servics moved to the Milwaukee Intermodal Station in 2007), we asked if there were any tickets available. It was almost sold out but there were two coach seats left. We bought these then started to take photographs before boarding.
Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 at Milwaukee Union Station prior to the excursion to Wisconsin Dells.
The steam engine with former Canadian National observation car "Pointe St. Charles" in the background.
Servicing the steam engine before departure.
The front of the locomotive.
Myself, ready for another steam excursion.
We popped into the station and found this painting of the original Milwaukee Road Milwaukee station.
Amtrak P42DC 163 leading Train 339 (Hiawatha Service) into the station.
Amtrak Hiawatha Service 399 arriving at Milwaukee. We then boarded and enjoyed the ride to Wisconsin Dells. Upon our arrival, we joined several fellow riders along the Broadway Street road bridge across the Wisconsin River to photograph the train as it headed to New Lisbon to turn.
Miwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 crossing the bridge over the Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Dells.
Milwaukee Road 261, auxiliary tender and Amtrak P42DC 75.
Amtrak P42DC 75.
A wide angle view of the front of the train.
The bridge deck and the Wisconsin River.
PPCX 800644 parlour car "Henry Hudson" (ex. AMTK 8703 1983, exx. AMTK 3230 19975, exxx. AMTK 3639, exxxx. PC 7139 1968-1971, nee PRR 7139).
NSRX sleeper 31 "Minnesota River" (nee MILW 31). Built 1954.
NSRX 3103 "Wisconsin Valley". PPCX 800787. (ex. AMTK 3103 "Le Pub" for Montrealer, exx. AMTK cafe-diner-lounge 3403, nee USAX hospital car 89553). Built 1952.
MILW Super Dome 53. PPCX 800862. (ex. NCDOT 400301 "Mount Mitchell" 1996, exx. UP 400301, exxx. C&NW 421 "Powder River" 1985, exxxx. Rail Travel Associates 53 1983, retired 1982 to Great Western Tours, exxxxx. VIA 2701 1978, exxxxxx. CN 2701 1974, exxxxxx. CN 2401 "Athabasca", nee MILW 53). Acquired by Friends of the 261 in 2005.
Part of the consist of the Route of the Hiawathas, at Wisconsin Dells.
The Super Dome and Cedar Rapids at the back of the train.
MILW 186 Skytop observation car "Cedar Rapids" (PPCX 800040), bringing up the rear of the train.
Milwaukee Road 261 had reached the end of the bridge.
The steam train on its way to New Lisbon.
"Cedar Rapids" disappearing from view.
A last shot of my favourite PV.
Smoke from the steam engine is still visible. We had lunch at Essen Haus Restaurant then returned to the Wisconsin Dells station to wait for the train to arrive.
The Amtrak station at Wisconsin Dells, a 1989 replica of the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad station, which was damaged in 1982.
Canadian Pacific AC4400CW 86402 and another lead a freight through the Dells.
Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 leading the train into Wisconsin Dells for the return trip to Milwaukee.
NSRX 1615 baggage-dormitory car "Grand Canyon" (ex. ATMK 1400, nee US Army 89520). Built 1954.
PPCX 800799 coach "Whitehall" (ex. AMTK 7617, exx. AMTK 7428, exxx. PC 1598, nee PRR 1598).
PPCX 800798 coach "St. Paul Pass" (ex. AMTK 7613, exx. AMTK 7424, exxx. PC 1594, nee PRR 1594).
PPCX 800644 parlour car "Henry Hudson" (ex. AMTK 8703 1983, exx. AMTK 3230 19975, exxx. AMTK 3639, exxxx. PC 7139 1968-1971, nee PRR 7139).
Amtrak Horizon car 58004.
PPCX 800651 coach "Mohave" (ex. AMTK 4739, exx. AMTK 4868, nee ATSF 2826).
NSRX 3103 "Wisconsin Valley". PPCX 800787. (ex. AMTK 3103 "Le Pub" for Montrealer, exx. AMTK cafe-diner-lounge 3403, nee USAX hospital car 89553). Built 1952.
PPCX 800045 open end observation/business car "Caritas" (ex. VIA 2095, exx. CN 2095 "Churchill Falls", nee SLSF 1450 "Pierre Laclede"). Built 1948 as 14-4 sleeper for Texas Special and retained configuration when sold to Canadian National. Acquired by High Iron Travel in 1983.
PPCX 800197 tap lounge "Montana" (ex. Wisconsin Central "Prairie Rose", nee MILW 162). Built 1947 for Olympian Hiawatha and rebuilt 1955, sold 1978 and leased to Wisconsin Central before being acquired by Friends of 261.
The Super Dome and Cedar Rapids proudly bringing up the rear of the train. Everyone re-boarded and I naturally spent some time in the vestibule.
We arrived back in Milwaukee at 18:30 and walked to the front of the train.
The engine had to go to Sturtevant to turn around.
Milwaukee Road 261 passes us on the way to Sturtevant.
MILW 53 "Super Dome".
What better way to end this travelogue, excursion and indeed the train itself, than with the unique and very special "Cedar Rapids"? We returned to the hotel, went out for dinner then flew back to Seattle the next day and I returned to Victoria Monday morning, drove home then to work.
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