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Hiawatha Route Photos |
Route of the HiawathaOnce one of the most profitable and best run railroad operations in the world, the Milwaukee Road got caught in the fierce, cut-throat (and possibly crooked) competition between the Robber Barons that controlled the emerging US economy and its transportation network – the railroads. As one of the most fiscally sound, last independent railroad with extensive facilities in Chicago; the Milwaukee Road saw itself in a desperate battle to remain independent and built a transcontinental line to the West Coast through 5 mountain ranges to the Port of Tacoma and Seattle. What seemed a prudent move at the time, with hindsight, resulted in the railroad’s bankruptcy in 1925 and again in 1935. Many believe that stock manipulation and outright fraud of the type that made Enron infamous was also responsible. While in bankruptcy during the Great Depression, the railroad build a steam powered, streamlined passenger train that captured the public’s imagination: The Hiawatha. Connecting Chicago and St. Paul via Milwaukee, Portage, and LaCrosse; this new train set world speed records and developed an strong and loyal following and ridership base. On the Dredgby Division, the route of the Hiawatha represents Bill and Tom’s favorite scenes as the fleet-of-foot speed demon races towards St. Paul along the Milwaukee Road’s world-famous double-tracked high iron. [ Back
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