MINNEAPOLIS — After being in storage since August in Minneapolis, Southern Pacific “Daylight” 4-8-4 No. 4449 will stretch its legs again this weekend with sold-out round trip excursions from Minneapolis to Winona and La Crescent, Minn., on Oct. 10-11. The trips over Canadian Pacific’s ex-Milwaukee Road route are sponsored by the Minneapolis-based “Friends of the 261” and the “Friends of SP 4449.”

The “Daylight” 4-8-4 is based in Portland, Ore., but traveled east to Owosso, Mich., in July to participate in TrainFestival 2009, which featured several steam locomotives and drew over 30,000 people. The engine departed Michigan on July 31 and arrived in Minneapolis on Aug. 3. Since then the Minneapolis Junction shop crew has performed minor repairs to 4449. The shop is also home to No. 261, which has been out of service since its last trip on Sept. 14, 2008. At that time, 261 was due for its mandated federal inspection and overhaul. However, work has been delayed until the 261’s owners, the National Railroad Museum of Green Bay, Wis., and the non-profit “Friends of the 261,” come to a conclusion on their new lease agreement. The 4449 trips are being operated as a fundraiser for the 261’s eventual overhaul.

After the weekend excursions, No. 4449 will begin a ferry move on BNSF back to Portland. The schedule for the ferry move is:

Oct. 13: Minneapolis - Fargo, N.D.
Oct. 14: Fargo - Minot, N.D.
Oct. 15: Layover Minot
Oct. 16: Minot - Havre, Mont.
Oct. 17: Havre - Whitefish, Mont.
Oct. 18: Layover Whitefish
Oct. 19: Whitefish ­- Spokane, Wash.
Oct. 20: Spokane - Portland

Tickets are still available for the ferry trips and can be ordered at www.trainfestival2009.com/tickets.