Friends of the 261 Complete Overhaul, Excursions are Scheduled
MILWAUKEE ROAD 4-8-4 NO. 261 made a test run over Twin Cities & Western trackage on April 20, 2013, pulling a five-car train over for- mer the Milwaukee Road between Minneapolis and Glencoe. The 1944 Alco first moved under its own power on shop tracks on April 13. To help celebrate National Train Day, on May 11-12, No. 261 was slated to pull an excursion over BNSF Railway from Minneapolis to the Lake
Adirondack Scenic
RUN IS EXTENDED NORTHWARD: The Adirondack Scenic Railroad will extend its runs out of Thendara, N.Y. to Big Moose, five miles beyond the previous turnaround point at Carter. The railroad offers excursions on the south end between Utica or Thendara to Big Moose, and between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake on the north end. The line is out of service between Big Moose and Saranac Lake. The Utica-Saranac Lake segment is the former New York Central Adirondack Divi- sion, while the Saranac Lake to Lake Placid portion was owned by the Delaware & Hudson until it was taken over in 1946 by the NYC when the D&H abandoned the line east of Lake Placid to Plattsburgh. The railroad fea- tures a New York Central Alco RS3, two ex- Canadian Pacific RS18m’s, and three EMD’s.
22 MAY 2013 •
RAILFAN.COM
Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth. The locomotive had pulled its last excursion in 2008 and was involved in a dispute between the Na- tional Railroad Museum, which owned it, and North Star Rail, which leased and operated it since 1992. The argument was settled in 2010 when the locomotive was sold to the Friends of the 261, after which the group began to overhaul the big Alco for service.
Altamont Corridor Express
WHAT’S IN A NAME? California’s Altamont Commuter Express railroad, running between San Jose and Stockton, has been re-chris- tened the Altamont Corridor Express. The railroad says “This small change highlights ACE’s service route and plans for further ex- pansion. . . . changing ‘Commuter’ to ‘Corridor’ . . . will aid SJRRC [ACE’s parent, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission] in sourc- ing additional funding for future projects.” For instance, a possible extension north to Sacramento or weekend service.
Amtrak
NEW ELECTRIC IS TESTED: On April 15 the first of 70 new Amtrak ACS-64 electrics took a spin on the short test track at the Siemens Transportation plant in Sacramento, Calif. After any bugs are worked out, it will likely head next to the Transportation Test Center in Pueblo, Colo., for high speed testing before delivery to the railroad for more testing and crew familiarization on the Northeast Corridor.
ST. PAUL SERVICE MOVES FORWARD: By the end of the year, Amtrak may be able to move the Twin Cities stop for the Empire Builder from the current Midway station to the newly-restored St. Paul Union Depot. The Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority, which owns the facility, has signed an agree-
BILL JOLITZ
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