The very first time I rode Amtrak was when my dad took my sister and I on a day-trip from Sturtevant, WI to Chicago and back in 1971 or '72 (I think it was 1971).
The southbound train was pulled by an ex-Penn Central F-unit, and while I was only 8 yrs old at the time, I'm quite certain it was either an F7 or an F9 because the grill-work on the side of the chassis wasn't the "chicken wire" seen on an F3, and it was definitely a 4-axle unit.
Of course, at the time we didn't have a camera with us and I didn't think to bring my crayons to draw a picture or note-down the engine number or record the composition of the train.
I'd love to make a good effort at reproducing the consist on my model railroad.
Might anyone have good information on what a typical passenger car consist would've been for the Amtrak Hiawatha service between Milwaukee & Chicago in 1971?
Early Amtrak Across Wisconsin
Empire Builders to Milwaukee
On the first one, keep an eye about about 3:40 in.
Pretty neat videos. Thanks. However, the first one shows PC engines, but it's south of Chicago.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Those videos are superb. My early Amtrak memories in 1971 and 1972 were of ex-NP F's on the Empire Builder and the North Coast Hiawatha often had a Milwaukee E9. Usual consist was BN coaches. I never recalled seeing any Milwaukee coaches. I remember that one unusual part of the consist was an ex- SCL diner which had a very hard time with the rough Milwaukee Road track. I had lunch on the North Coast Hiawatha in 1972 in this SCL diner and did that diner sway between Red Wing and Winona. I also recall that Milwaukee Road train crews still wore their Milwaukee uniform instead of Amtrak. BN crews,however, wore Amtrak.
Trains had an article years ago on early Amtrak equipment and railroad sources. Although many PC E units were purchased by Amtrak, it seems unlikely that F's were purchased b/c PC used E's for passenger service.
Try this link of all-time Amtrak diesel rosters:
aricatI never recalled seeing any Milwaukee coaches.
As I recall, Amtrak did not take any of the Milwaukee cars, since they had rust problems.
Johnny
Frailey's book says the Chicago-Milw trains were all MILW equipment until 11/71, when Milwaukee-St Louis thru trains started and brought greatly increased variety.
Deggesty As I recall, Amtrak did not take any of the Milwaukee cars, since they had rust problems. Johnny
Not really, the Milwaukee Coaches did not have the required FRA safety glass, safety exits, some of them had propane heating, wood paneling and the like, Amtrak initially ran them but then later dropped them from the Amtrak fleet. Amtrak was trying to standardize, most of the Milwaukee Equipment because it was built custom and looked to Amtrak as if it would be expensive to bring up to Budd or Pullman Standards, so it was not kept. I do remember Milwaukee Road Passenger cars in Amtrak service for a few years.
Milwaukee, took pretty good care of it's Passenger Equipment from my memory of riding their trains. Their biggest drawback is most of the Milwaukee fleet was custom built or built to Milwaukee Specific Specs instead of standardized.
Pure Milwaukee consists (Es and coaches) were run as supplemental trains to the "Builder" between the Twin Cities and Chicago when the through train was delayed. Agree with the other posts that these sorts of consists were seen only during that first year of Amtrak. PC Es including the 4060 frequently showed up on the Chicago-Milwaukee trains, and again as noted in the fall-winter of 1971 the consists they were pulling were hodge-podge trains. Ex-BN "Silver Dome" was frequently used on the Hiawatha Service at that time, as was the ex-BN obs "Port of Vancouver." Hope this helps - happy holidays to all! Art
I rode a Amtrak Little Hiawatha from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukee's Glass Startion in 1971 to go to NMRA's convention and consist of that train was; Milw Rd # 30 c An E-9 , A Penn Central E-8, 3 Baggage Cars(Ex Milw Rd) A PRR RPO, Milw Rd Tip Top Tap-Vending Machine Car., Three Ex Milw Coaches and a private Car. J,T,Hehman
North Pole Express I rode a Amtrak Little Hiawatha from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukee's Glass Startion in 1971 to go to NMRA's convention and consist of that train was; Milw Rd # 30 c An E-9 , A Penn Central E-8, 3 Baggage Cars(Ex Milw Rd) A PRR RPO, Milw Rd Tip Top Tap-Vending Machine Car., Three Ex Milw Coaches and a private Car. J,T,Hehman
The Milwaukee also ran a commuter service out of Milwaukee after the formation of Amtrak. Called "the Cannonball". The train was a Milwaukee-to wherever that WYE is West of Oconomowoc (forget the name of the city). Typical consist was a Milwaukee E9 and two or three coaches. It derailed on the North Avenue trestle in Brookfield, WI (prompting the installation of the current bridge over North Avenue in Brookfield). Thats how I know about the propane and lack of safety glass in the cars, there was a writeup in the Brookfield News done on this derailment.
Milwaukee discontinued the train shortly after it went off the tracks in Brookfield. Their passenger cars never would have made it past 1975-78 whenever the FRA put in the new safety exits / safety glass, etc rules. They were pretty decently maintained though from what I remember. The Locomotives not so much but the Passenger Cars were pretty good. Milwaukee was angling for Milwaukee area Commuter Rail Service contract and that was their motivation for continuing the local train past Amtrak's formation.
I think Gil Ried even did a painting of the Cannonball but I think he used a F7A or FP7 in the painting though.....not sure.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.