Olympian Hiawatha

[beagledoggg]

I don't read or see much of the Olympian Hiawatha in the railfan press, so I was wondering, how did it compare in quality, service, food, schedule with its North Coast Limited and Empire Builder competition? i am especially interested in the postwar services.

[passengerfan]

I personally would rank the northwest trains as follows:

1 Empire Builder Best Food Most domes after 1955 Superb crews always clean and washed

2 North Coast Limited Great crews Great Baked Potato nice after Raymond Loewy treatment and the addition of domes.

3 Western Star Excellent first class streamliner even though did not operate domes always clean excellent food and crews

4 Olympian Hiawatha Rode this one round trip between St. Paul and Seattle once last year in service. Almost like they knew the end was coming train was already painted UP streamliner colors. Interior had unkempt appearance and was beginning to look threadbare. Food was nothing memorable

5 City of Portland Really excellent train but only rode once between Portland and Denver food nothing special. View along Columbia River from Dome excellent. 

6 Mainstreeter Secondary train of NP rode once and not really impressed not the newest of equipment.

7 Portland Rose: Rode last year before Amtrak to Denver from Portland did not carry food or lounge car meals were in diner added during meal hours.  

8 Columbian Rode once between Seattle and Spokane and was not impressed. Maybe I needed to ride further to get a better idea. 

[wjstix]

FWIW the "Olympian Hiawatha" only came about after the Milwaukee started the Hiawatha train and added "Hiwatha" to many of it's other trains. The Olympian as a separate went back before the Hiawatha, at least back to the 1920's.