Harmon based Milwaukee Hiawatha set

Wow! What a great project! Thanks for posting and looking forward to the progress. I bet this will look stunning when painted and finished.

I think I know someone on this forum who really likes Milwaukee Road...  Besides me.

George

Jim,

Great photos!  The Skytop sleeper is going to be fantastic!  What's next?

The 10 cars are based on actual 1948-1952 floor plans, side elevations, and/or blueprints that I obtained from the Milwaukee Road Archives and from the Milwaukee Road Historical Association.  The consist would typically include two or three more coach cars and one or two more Touralux cars.  The cars I ordered from Jim include: 

Jim,

You are a wizard with the 3D printer.  Looking forward to following the progress.

Joe

Joe Lyons - thanks for the note. Waiting on the castings and quote on the water jet cut sides. Just finished making up all the lettering for all the cars. Discovered that 'Magneto' font is just about perfect for the car names. You ever do anything with the 3 Lee Lines cars you got from Serg? (Or have you painted and lettered the NJT ones??)

Regards

Jim

Looks great, Jim.

Good luck as you continue the process!

TRW

Bob's enthusiasm for the Milwaukee Road is contagious!  I considered myself a dyed-in-the-wool PRR fan until I saw his collection.  So many cool locomotives and cars that were unique to the MR.

SGMA1 posted:

Bob's enthusiasm for the Milwaukee Road is contagious!  I considered myself a dyed-in-the-wool PRR fan until I saw his collection.  So many cool locomotives and cars that were unique to the MR.

Kirk,

I always knew that I could win you over from the "dark side" to the light of THE MILWAUKEE ROAD!

Bob Nelson

I love the Skytop car! The background on my phone and iPad is the classic Milwaukee Road painting of the Skytop car at the end of the Hiawatha traveling around the seaside rails with the picnicking couple waving. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and our passenger train station was on the Milwaukee Road. I was sad when the freight line was bought by Soo and I stopped seeing the orange and black Milwaukee Road engines.

I don't think I can afford a standard gauge version of this train, but would like to get one in O Gauge. Although, there is an Ives electric engine available with the Orange and Maroon trim. What is the best model out there? I would love shiny orange paint with a chrome Hiawatha trim on the end. I'm not partial to either the gray or dark charcoal car tops. What is the best engine(s) to pull this? Should it be the steam turbine or a set of F series or Erie builts?

George

George, The Atlantic was modeled by both Lionel and Am Flyer in the 30's. The cars for both are...not quite right. There is a modern atlantic with cars made in recent years by Lionel that is beeeeaaaauuuutiful and has a tinplatish glossy finish.... I recall that it has the wrong observation car, but despite that it is among the most attractive sets they have ever produced IMHO.

Rob English posted:

George, The Atlantic was modeled by both Lionel and Am Flyer in the 30's. The cars for both are...not quite right. There is a modern atlantic with cars made in recent years by Lionel that is beeeeaaaauuuutiful and has a tinplatish glossy finish.... I recall that it has the wrong observation car, but despite that it is among the most attractive sets they have ever produced IMHO.

Hi Rob,

Is the tinplate finish this one, Lionel 6-19187? It says it's aluminum. I need to check my local dealer. I think he may have that set on display.

George

Thats the one.  Shiny Paint on the sides, Ribbed roofs. Gorgeous set. 7 cars IIRC.

Cool. 15" long. They seem to be relatively available. I am finding 4 car sets. There must be some add-on cars. I think I found a matching station sounds diner. I haven't figured out what engine is supposed to go with them and can't find the 1999 catalog online.

George

navy.seal posted:

Jim,

Great photos!  The Skytop sleeper is going to be fantastic!  What's next?

The 10 cars are based on actual 1948-1952 floor plans, side elevations, and/or blueprints that I obtained from the Milwaukee Road Archives and from the Milwaukee Road Historical Association.  The consist would typically include two or three more coach cars and one or two more Touralux cars.  The cars I ordered from Jim include: 

1.  Mail and Express 

2.  Baggage Express 

3.  Baggage - Dormitory 

4.  Coach 

5.  Tap Lounge

6.  Touralux 14 Section Sleeper 

7.  Diner 

8.  River Series 8-6-4 Sleeper

9.  Lake Series 10-6 Sleeper

10. Skytop Sleeper

Bob Nelson

Here is the actual consist of the Olypian Hiawatha as it was in 1948-49, etc. before the dome cars.

Mail-baggage

Baggage-dormitory

3 Coaches

Tip Top Grill car

2 Touralux (14 section) sleepers

Diner

10rmt-6dbr sleeper

8 dbr Skytop lounge

One book that I have shows only two coaches and no mail-baggage, nine cars.  Another shows three head end cars.

The duplex roomette cars were not used on the Olympian.  They were used on overnight traisn, which had more demand for single passenger accomodations.

George S posted:

Cool. 15" long. They seem to be relatively available. I am finding 4 car sets. There must be some add-on cars. I think I found a matching station sounds diner. I haven't figured out what engine is supposed to go with them and can't find the 1999 catalog online.

George

6-38094 is the Loco number. And I apologize for acknowledging your set number as the one I was thinking about...it was not.. I was thinking about the 18 cars.  7 of them... 6-29191 4 pak, 6-29196 2 Pak, and 6-29199 SS diner.  I do not know if L made add on cars for the 15" 4 pak .

Sorry to hijack Jim Waterman...  The standard gauge skytop is cool!