Friends of the 261 to Host Exclusive Charity Dinner and Free “Train Days” Weekend at St. Paul Union Depot

Published: May 14, 2026

St. Paul, Minn. – Friends of the 261, the nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and operating historic rail equipment, invites the public to celebrate railroading heritage with a special evening charity dinner and a free family-friendly “Train Days” weekend in June 2026. The flagship event is an exclusive charity dinner aboard historic Milwaukee Road passenger cars at St. Paul Union Depot on Friday, June 5, 2026. Guests will enjoy a cocktail and social hour followed by dinner served directly on the vintage rail equipment.

The evening offers up-close access to restored cars, behind-the-scenes insights into rail preservation, and an exclusive preview of the weekend’s activities. All proceeds directly support the next major mechanical rebuild of the iconic Milwaukee Road 261 steam locomotive, ensuring its continued operation for future generations. Seats are limited—early reservations are strongly encouraged via the event page at https://261.com/train-day-2026/ or the ticket portal at events.leapevents.com/events/8813.

Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261 is seen here following her recent resortation resting at the Buffalo & Pittsburgh yard in Buffalo, New York on June 25, 1995. The engine was headed to Steamtown that year. Doug Kroll photo.

The dinner kicks off a full Train Days weekend at the same location:

Saturday, June 6, 2026 – 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Sunday, June 7, 2026 – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

This free, family-friendly public celebration will feature exhibits, historic railcars (including the Super Dome, Caritas, Baggage Car 2450, and Minnesota River), hands-on activities, and opportunities to meet volunteers and learn about mainline passenger rail history. Note that Milwaukee Road 261 itself will not be on display during the weekend.

“Events like Train Day 2026 are vital to keeping steam alive on America’s rails,” said a Friends of the 261 spokesperson. “Every ticket purchased helps fund critical maintenance and allows us to continue sharing this living piece of history with the public through excursions and educational programs.”

Background on Milwaukee Road 261

Milwaukee Road 261 is a Class S3 4-8-4 “Northern”-type steam locomotive built in July 1944 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, New York (serial number 71974). It powered heavy mainline freight and passenger trains for the Milwaukee Road until its retirement in August 1956. Rather than being scrapped, the locomotive was preserved and displayed at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin, starting in 1958.

In 1991, the volunteer group that would become Friends of the 261 formed to restore and operate the engine. It returned to service on September 14, 1993, and has since become one of America’s most beloved operating mainline steam locomotives. As of 2026, 261 is owned, maintained, and operated by the Minneapolis-based nonprofit Friends of the 261. The group runs seasonal excursions and special events using its signature fleet of restored Milwaukee Road passenger cars. The locomotive recently completed a major FRA-compliant rebuild and continues to draw crowds on heritage trips across the Midwest.

Friends of the 261’s mission is to promote public understanding of railroading history through preservation, restoration, operation, and interpretation of historic locomotives and railcars. The organization relies on ticket sales, donations, and events like Train Day 2026 to keep these treasures running for years to come.

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