American Passenger Trains and Locomotives Illustrated by Mark Wegman

Author:Mark Wegman
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Voyageur Press
Published: 2008-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Milwaukee Road 4-4-2 No. 4 charges through Kirkland, Illinois, with the Midwest Hiawatha in the late 1930s. Johnson Wax Company photo, author collection

The new streamlined passenger express was named for the Native American hero made immortal in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem, “The Song of Hiawatha.” After a period of test runs and exhibitions, the new Hiawatha entered revenue service on May 29, 1935, just in time to steal some of the thunder from the Burlington’s new Twin Zephyr. The train was so popular with travelers that the Milwaukee began operating another version of it on October 11, 1936, still utilizing the Atlantic-type locomotives but with new nine-car consists that introduced the famous “Tip Top Tap” bar-lounge and “beaver-tail” parlor-observation cars.

In February 1938, the Milwaukee Road announced that it was building another batch of 35 cars in its own shops for yet another upgraded version of the train. The road remained loyal to steam power, placing an order with Alco for six streamlined 4-6-4 Hudson-type engines that were delivered in late summer 1938 and designated Class F-7. Noted industrial designer Otto Kuhler, along with Alco and Marshall Field & Company, collaborated in the design of the new version of the Hiawatha, and the results were stunning. In terms of sheer beauty, the F-7 Hudsons today are considered in the same league as the streamlined Hudsons built for the 20th Century Limited, and the Southern Pacific 4-8-4s built for that line’s Daylight.

On September 19, 1938, the third version of the Hiawatha began service. It was one of the fastest scheduled passenger runs on the planet; speeds of 100 miles per hour were not uncommon.

The Zephyrs, 400s, and Hiawathas all became well-known names among travelers, as well as premium trademarks for their respective railroads. Each railroad incorporated these famous train names in additional fleets of trains that extended to other parts of their systems.

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