The Milwaukee Road's Hiawathas (Great Passenger Trains)

book: The Milwaukee Road's Hiawathas (Great Passenger Trains)

books:

The Milwaukee Road...

	The Milwaukee Road's Hiawathas (Great Passenger Trains) Voyageur Press, 2006 - 160 pages average customer review:based on 1 review view larger image
	for more information click here

In 1935, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad-better known as the Milwaukee Road-introduced a new passenger service, one of the nation's first regularly scheduled streamlined passenger trains. Traveling from Chicago to Milwaukee and the Twin Cities-the train traveled routes steeped in native lore, and thus was called the Hiawatha. By 1945, there were three routes-the Twin Cities Hiawatha, the North Woods Hiawatha, and the Midwest Hiawatha-and the Hiawathas became known as the "Fastest Trains in America," clocking over 100 miles per hour on daily runs. This authoritative, illustrated history follows the Hiawathas as they powered into American railroad legend. Veteran railroad writer and photographer John Gruber gives a detailed account of the trains from 1935 to 1971. He examines their motive power?the early fleet of steam locomotives that first wore the streamlined Hiawatha shrouds and the diesel engines that followed in the 1950s?as well as their distinctive rolling stock, such as the classic ""Super Domes"" and the observation cars known as Skytop Lounges. Dozens of black-and-white archival images and period color photographs recreate the Hiawathas? heyday, capturing the texture of the time in details such as uniforms, car interiors and terminals, stations, and routes. Accompanied by period ads, design drawings, and route maps, this history offers a dramatic visual record of the railroad?s bygone glory days.

for more information click here

A Nostalgic Look at What Once Was

As I was reading this book I got to the page showing the commemorative stamps featuring an image of The Hiawatha, known as "Fastest Train in America", as it traveled over 100 miles per hour on its daily run connecting Chicago, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities. A locomotive whistle outside made me look up to see today's Amtrak (California Zephyr, Westbound) and it was only nine hours late.

This book concentrates on the Milwaukee Road's attempts to operate a successful railroad by providing (among other services of course) high speed passenger train service. They had a spectacular series of trains, both coaches and motive power, and established a standard that other roads could only attempt to beat.

Unfortunately, success eluded them, and the book also has to cover the demise as well. The last chapter covers the 'Friends of the 261,' named after locomotive number 261 that is restored and maintained by fans.

The book is well written, a nice collection of photographs, and beautifully printed.

for more information click here

products you might be interested in