Sunday morning was one of those crisp, clear Wisconsin mornings, and we were up early and headed for Chippewa Falls. With Anita and me were my mother (who has been known to drive a locomotive herself), my sister and brother-in-law, and their grandson Devon, who is learning to like railroading. On Monday, I chased both restored Soo Line steamers (Pacific # 2719 and Mikado # 1003) from Irvine Yard in Chippewa Falls to Eau Claire as they were returning to Altoona, where they will spend the winter in the UP roundhouse at the yard there.

	The 2719 fires a plume of smoke high into the air as she backs down to her six-car train. Photo was taken Sunday morning, September 27, 1998.

The trip had been planned to go only as far as Colfax, but because the Wisconsin Central had a clear track, we were able to go all the way to Wheeler. The high-stepping Pacific carried us along at a good clip, and all too soon we were there. A WCL GP-40 on the rear of the train pulled us back to Colfax, where the 2719 posed in front of a grain elevator. Photo was taken Sunday morning, September 27, 1998.

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	Arrangements have been made for a run-by here in Colfax for those passengers who want to get photos. The 2719 fills the crisp air with smoke and cinders as she pulls her train back up to track speed into town, to the delight of the de-trained passengers and exuberant locals. Photo was taken Sunday morning, September 27, 1998.

	On the photo run-by, the 2719 and her train approach the Colfax station, which is undergoing restoration. Photo was taken Sunday morning, September 27, 1998.
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	Here's the entire train, posing in Colfax. Click on it to see the picture full-size, which is 1300 pixels wide by 400 high; it's AWESOME! Photo was taken Sunday morning, September 27, 1998.

	Here's the entire train from the other end. Bright and shiny in fresh paint, WCL GP-40 # 3017 pulled the train back to Irvine yard after the fast trip to Colfax and Wheeler. Photo was taken Sunday morning, September 27, 1998.