Another sad day for the railfanning community. But this time, it's here out in the midwest. News is spreading that 4-8-4 Milwaukee Road 261 will not be running again. After 15 years of nothing but nonstop show performances, news on Train Orders said that the coal burner shall be returned to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin next year.

Now, I'm not gonna be pointing fingers and yelling......or typing out the sentence starting with an F with NRM to follow (Don't want to repeat GCRY). Still, Im really disappointed and heartbroken. 261 was in fact the very first operational mainline steam engine I ever saw.

All I can say is that I was very lucky to see it at full steam last year and taking video and pictures but also appreciating it more (First time I saw the engine was back in the 90's when I was a little kid. Not that much to say since it was a really big blur).

So let me just say, "Farewell 261 and thank you for everything! Hats off to Steve Sandberg and the Friends of the 261!"

Luke