Few heritage rail organizations in the United States have achieved the stature, professionalism, and national recognition of the Friends of the 261, custodians of one of America’s most famous operating steam locomotives—Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261.
Based in Minneapolis, the volunteer-driven group has spent more than three decades restoring, maintaining, and operating this magnificent machine, along with an impressive fleet of historic passenger cars. Their dedication has allowed thousands of passengers each year to experience first-class, mainline railroading at a level nearly unmatched in the preservation world.
While the organization is best known for its long-distance excursions across the upper Midwest, one of its most beloved traditions is a decidedly shorter but endlessly charming holiday offering: the North Pole Express, operated in partnership with the Minnesota Transportation Museum and hosted each Christmas season on the historic rails of the former Northern Pacific in St. Paul…