What are the background details for this cardboard Milwaukee Road Hiawatha train?

Bob,

It's probably a Strombecker kit.

Click  "here"

for a link discussing a similar Rock Island Rocket kit. They made all sorts of kits using cardstock and wood.

Jim

That’s a great link Jim! I still don’t think it’s Strombecker, but I can be proven wrong. Look at how smooth the nose of the Rock Island engine is in the pictures from your link. Notice that the wheels are beveled and have a flange. Bob’s train looks to be a more crude model. On the Binns Road site, all the Strombecker models had some detail beyond what Bob’s train has. Also, the Strombecker Rock Island has the road name on the side. 

While we’re at it, look here at the GG1 this guy made out of paper.

https://geneseesun.com/local-c...at-noyes-fundraiser/

George

I have one of the Strombecker Rock Island Rocket kits (was originally my grandfathers) and the construction/design aren't similar to the one in the original picture.  The Rock Island Rocket is a combination of wood (roof and frame) and cardstock (sides) - the pictures above look to be mostly card stock, so assuming the Hiawatha was made/designed similar to the Rock Island Rocket, the original pictures aren't of a Strombecker kit.

Retlaw posted:

I have one of the Strombecker Rock Island Rocket kits (was originally my grandfathers) and the construction/design aren't similar to the one in the original picture.  The Rock Island Rocket is a combination of wood (roof and frame) and cardstock (sides) - the pictures above look to be mostly card stock, so assuming the Hiawatha was made/designed similar to the Rock Island Rocket, the original pictures aren't of a Strombecker kit.

Retlaw,

Except for the wooden axles, the cardboard HIAWATHA train is all cardboard.  So you could be right, it's not a Strombecker kit.  So what is it?

Bob Nelson

You should contact the Milwaukee Railroad Historical Association. I would bet they have covered that model train in detail sometime in the past in one of their The Milwaukee Railroader magazine issues.

Great minds think alike!

I have already emailed MRHA and am waiting for their reply.

Bob Nelson