On Saturday, June 17th 1998...I rode behind restored Milwaukee Road steam locomotive #261 from Chicago to Galesburg Illinois, on a fantrip sponsored by the 20th Century Railroad Club of Chicago.The trip started out alright, but by the time we were riding through Meridan Illinois out in the cornfields, Number # 261's number # 2 right side main axel bearing began running "Hot". The train had to be stopped for some emergency servicing. We sat out in the hot Illinois sun, and waited for clearance. We were rolling again on a slow order, and soon had to make an emergency servicing stop again, and let some freight trains go around us. This happened a few more times that day, and we finally made it out to Galesburg Illinois just before sunset. By then, it was too late. The Galesburg festival was winding down, and the stores were closed for the day. We were told to wait by the Galesburg station, as our return train to Chicago, pulled with a substitute diesel locomotive, would be here in about an hour. I was able to take a few photos at the Galesburg Railroad Museum nearby, but that was about it. Around twilight, we were heading back to Chicago behind an Elderly EMD SD-9 still in Burlington Northern markings and colors.
After spending a night at the Galesburg enginehouse, the # 261 pulled the Sunday return train to Chicago after having her driving axel bearings machined / replaced. Oh well.
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