[WARC] Steam Engine 261 support requested Sept 13.

[Erik Brom]

Hi Everyone,
The Friends of the 261 group (www.261.com) is running their annual 
fall trips to Winona again this year, although the format and timing 
is a little different.
They have again requested our assistance in providing crowd control 
at the Winona Depot.

First of all, the trips are earlier this year, due to the engine's 
flues going out of date with the FRA around Sept 15.  So, this is the 
last operation before it goes down for major work.  I heard that they 
do have all the flues on hand, so its a matter of labor to install 
them.  Its a big job, but I know they are intending to run next 
year.  I was talking to Judy Sandberg a couple months ago, and she 
said they have run major mainline excursions every year since they 
restored the engine, and it doesn't sound like they intend to miss 2009.

Second, the usual trip format we are used to, Mpls - Winona - 
LaCresecent - Winona - Mpls will be run only on Saturday.  On Sunday, 
they will be doing a circle tour Mpls - LaCrosse (via CP), then back 
to Mpls vin BNSF.  That trip will not have any passenger stops.

So, we are only needed on Saturday Sept 13, and we won't have the 
opportunity to work one day and ride to LaCrescent the other 
day.  I'm not sure what, if any, gratuity we will get.  The people 
I've talked to, though, say that's ok.

We will be doing the same sort of thing as last year.

The crowd at the return stop always seems to want to get their last 
pictures of the train bearing down on them, and we have difficulty 
keeping them in a safe position.  I'm again asking for assistance 
from both the railfan and Amateur Radio groups.  We need the most 
people from about 1:30 until the train leaves.  We will also tell 
everyone who wants a picture to please form a photo line at the east 
end of the platform.

Please let me know if you are interested and available.   Then I'll 
get more details out.

Thanks,
Erik