261 Chase Guide

Milwaukee Road #261
Guide to Photo Locations

Chicago, IL to Minneapolis, MN

With the upcoming trips of the Canadian Pacific #2816 coming in September 2007 I put together a more comprehensive guide to the Canadian Pacific tracks between Chicago and Minneapolis.

The photos below were taken over the past 5 years at various times. I tried to put steam locomotives where ever possible but sometimes it wasn't possible. I also tried to get shots looking in both directions.

I also tried to get as accurate a location as possible for each shot and a Milepost if possible. So hopefully these photos and descriptions will help if you are riding or chasing "The Empress" or Milwaukee Road #261

Above was taken at entrance to Sears Outlet Store.

Click on Photos to See Larger Photo

Brookfield Depot, CPR 2816 is westbound
looking eastbound

Brookfield Depot, CPR 2816 is westbound
looking westbound

Duplainville Road, CP train is eastbound, looking westbound May 2006

Duplainville Road, CP train is eastbound, looking eastbound. Just east of grade crossing is diamond with CN(former WC)

Forest Grove Drive - Looking East May 2006

Forest Grove Drive - Looking West May 2006

County Hwy KE - Looking East

County Hwy KE - Looking West

County Hwy E - Looking East

County Hwy E - Looking West

Lapham St Looking East

Lapham St Looking West

Oconomowoc Depot and Grade crossing near-by.

River Valley Road - Ixonia CPR #2816 is westbound - Looking East June 2004

River Valley Road - Ixonia Milw #261 is Eastbound - Looking West June 2004

Ixonia - MP 125 - County Hwy F - Looking East

Ixonia - MP 124 - County Hwy F - Looking West

Hustisford Road - MP 126 - Looking East

Hustisford Road - MP 126 - Looking West

Watertown - South 12th Street - Looking East

Watertown - South 12th Street - Looking West

Watertown - West St - CP Train is westbound, Looking East

Watertown - West Street - Looking West towards UP Diamond

Looking north up Union Pacific(ex-CNW) tracks at diamond with CP - Watertown, WI MP 131.2

Reeseville - County Hwy G - MP 140 Looking East

Reeseville - County Hwy G - MP 140 Looking West

County Hwy BB MP 144 - Looking East

County Hwy BB MP 144 - Looking West

Hwy 16 Overpass - CPR 2816 is westbound - Looking East June 2006

Hwy 16 Overpass - Milw 261 is eastbound - Looking West June 2004

Hwy F - Astico, WI MP 146 - Looking East

Hwy F - Astico, WI MP 146 - Looking West

Columbus Depot - Amtrak Stop

Crossing North of Depot - Looking East MP 150

Crossing North of Depot - Looking West MP 150

Fall River - MP 153.6 Main Street Looking East

Fall River - MP 153.6 Main Street Looking West

Hwy 146 Overpass - Looking East Milw 261 westbound in June 2006

Hwy 146 Overpass - Looking West Amtrak #8 eastbound Sept 2007

Doylestown MP 159 County Hwy A - Looking East

Doylestown MP 159 County Hwy A - Looking West

Portage Amtrak Stop

Milw #261 on the Wisconsin River bridge in Wisconsin Dells, WI. #261 is eastbound.

To See Photos of Milwaukee Road #261 at some of these locations from the June 2006 Excursions, Click Here - Milwaukee #261 Comes Home to Milwaukee, WI

Franklin Park - METRA Stop at MP 13.2 Below photos taken during Franklin Park Railroad Daze in 2003

METRA platform is on my right side, Other photo taken looking opposite direction

Lake Forest MP 28.0 - CP #2816 is northbound. METRA station is just north of my location and on the westside of the tracks

Russell Road - MP 42.9 Wisconsin - Illinois State Line North of Wadsworth, IL MP #261 is southbound

WEPCO - Bain Station Road MP 50.3 - Pleasant Prairie Power Plant is here. South of Kenosha, WI

Looking north at southbound train from Bain Station Road

Looking south at northbound train from Bain Station Road. There is a nice curve south of Bain Station Road here

County Highway A - MP 58.6 - South of Sturtevant, WI

Looking South Northbound Train May 2007

Looking North Northbound Train May 2007

Sturtevant, WI - MP 61.8 Old Amtrak Depot

Looking north in May 2007

Sturtevant Depot as of May 2007

Looking south from near Depot in Sept 2004

On the wye track directly behind the Sturtevant Depot.

New Sturtevant AMTRAK Station - MP 63.2 Highway 20 Racine, WI June 2007

Looking North from Ped Overpass at Southbound train

Looking south at new depot

Looking south from Ped Overpass

Milwaukee Airport Amtrak Station - MP 78.3 - April 2007

Looking north at Southbound Train from platform

Milwaukee Airport Amtrak Station - WARNING Parking is NOT FREE !!

Looking south at southbound train

Waterford Ave - Powerton - MP 79.0 Southside of Milwaukee, WI

Looking south from grade crossing #2816 northbound in June 2004

Looking north at #261 southbound from grade crossing June 2006

Milwaukee Downtown Amtrak Station - MP 85.4

#2816 inside trainshed at Amtrak Station NOTE - The depot is currently being renovated and not very accessible. Also alot of highway construction nearby

Wauwatosa, WI MP 90.6

Brookfield, WI MP 99.4

Springdale Road MP 101.5

Looking west from grade crossing eastbound train July 2007

Looking east from grade crossing

Duplainville, WI MP 102.2 Marjean Road

Pewaukee, WI MP 104 - End of Double Track

County Hwy KE - MP 110

County Hwy E - MP 111

Neshota, WI MP 113.00

Highway C Overpass looking east #261 westbound June 2006

Looking westbound at westbound train Highway C overpass June 2006

Oconomowoc, WI MP 117.0 Lapham Street Crossing

Oconomowoc Depot MP 117.9

Ixonia - MP 123 River Valley Road

County Highway O East of Wisconsin Dells
#261 westbound June 2006

County Highway O East of Wisconsin Dells
#261 eastbound in the rain June 2006

Wisconsin Dells, WI MP 195.1

Tunnel City, WI MP 243.5

New Lisbon, WI MP 221.2

#261 departs New Lisbon June 2006 eastbound. Mainline not very visible from area of the wye.

East Portal

Dakota, Minnesota MP 290.3

#261 southbound looking northbound at Dakota Oct 2006

#2816 northbound, looking southbound at Dakota June 2004

Homer East MP 299.2

Looking north at southbound ICE train at Homer East Oct 2003

#261 northbound looking south at Homer East Oct 2003

Along Highway 61 MP 304

#2816 northbound looking southbound from Highway 61

South of Winona, MN MP 305

#2816/#261 doubleheader southbound south of Winona, July 2004
NOTE - This spot maybe overgrown with weeds !!!

Minnesota City East, MN MP 316.0

#261 southbound past Minnesota East Signal Oct 2006

Grade Crossing County Hwy #84 - MP 329.20

#2816/#261 doubleheader southbound at County Hwy #84 grade crossing. North of Minnesota City, MN July 2004

Along Highway 61 - MP 331.5 - Hotbox Detector

Southbound #2816 about to cross the 331.5 detector looking northbound June 2004

Southbound #2816 from MP 331.5 along Hwy 61 looking south

Southbound #261 along Highway 61 north of Wabasha, MN MP 350 Looking north

Along Highway 61 - MP 349.0

Southbound #261 near MP 349.0 beside Lake Pepin, looking north from roadside in Oct 2006

Frontenac - MP 360.8 Ski Road Grade Crossing

Southbound #261 at Ski Road grade crossing looking north June 2004

Frontenac MP 362.0 Hill Road Grade Crossing

Northbound #261 looking southbound from grade crossing July 2004

Southbound #261 looking north from grade crossing Oct 2003

Near Prairie Island Casino - MP 380 Rural Grade crossing

#261 and #2816 pass the same spot with one hour of each other on July 2, 2006 MP 380

East Hastings, MN MP 388.7 Along Highway

#2816/#261 doubleheader southbound at East Hastings, MN July 3, 2004.

Hastings, MN Depot MP 391.1

Southbound #261 past Hastings, MN Depot Oct 2006

Hastings, MN Drawbridge MP 391.4

#261 southbound crossing the Hastings Drawbridge Oct 2006

#261 exiting the Hastings Drawbridge from grade crossing June 2004

Jackson Street Overpass - GN Railroad Museum

Inbound #261 passes Great Northern RR Museum and under Jackson street. Also climbing a stiff grade here.

Harrison Street Shops - World Headquarters of Milwaukee Road #261

#261 sits steamed up waiting to head north for Duluth, MN June 2007

Looking North from Harrison Street Shops

I hope these photos and information help out with the upcoming visit of any steam locomotive or special train scheduled to run on the Canadian Pacific Railroad

To see more photos of Milwaukee Road #261 and Canadian Pacific #2816 and other steam locomotives.
Click Here Steam Train Photos

Updated August 2008

Along Highway 61 Maple Grove