Awesome footage; too bad it wasn't filmed with sound though. Those Atlantic Hiawathas had air horns above the headlight as their warning device. I wonder if they also had a tradition steam whistle. I've also wondered the same about the Hudsons that came later.
"I fought desperately for retaining the steam whistle and argued long enough to have one located under the grill next to the headlight. It too was abandoned later and replaced with a modern airhorn. However, the immediate, high success of the new trains proved my concerns based on my life-long loyalty to the iron horse unjustified. But I did get disgusted everytime an uninitiated person asked me: "Is that a Diesel?"
seen alot of this this train in books but this footage was a real treat it was a real cool looking train in the time period it ooozed "The Future" thanks for posting it. Steve
WOW! This is great footage. I think you may have some of the oldest color footage known to exist that wasn't made for a movie (or at least that I know).
"It may be mentioned that the fastest time made by a 4-4-2 Hiawatha Atlantic between Chicago and Milwaukee was 59 minutes"
This was 75 years ago !!! Jointed rail, steam power. Wisconsins High Speed Rail dream on this same route will never come close to these speeds and time.
@rwundrock Here, Try this on the disput form! Copy & paste in box #2 & that should get your audio unmuted! Good luck!
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
In 1939 the Morning Hiawatha began a schedule of 58 minutes to run 78.3 miles from Sparta to Portage -- average of 81 mph. They ran steam engines that could supposedly hit 125 mph. They ran at over 100 daily, on the same route the Empire Builder takes today at a max of 79. Signaling regulations put an end to the speed demons.
@mulad Frank Bottoni Sr., ran that train at a 125 mph! i know! his son, Frank Bottoni Jr., and his sons, James, robert, michael, and gerald , all ran with him! when they finished, they all got drunk, and stoned! especially the younger ones, jim, jerry. i actually witnessed frank bottoni Jr., drinking beer while operating a train!
I understand Otto Kuhler (the guy who designed the train) had some 16mm Kodachrome shot of the "A's" in 1936. Anyone know the whereabouts of that footage?
Dissappointing they took the cool track away from this vid.
About the WMG deal, it really shows how stupid they are, heads just right up their asses like greedy eight year olds. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A DUKE ELLINGTON CD AFTER HEARING "TAKE THE A-TRAIN" FROM THIS VIDEO!!! What, if any profit will they make or loose?
We should all stage a revolt against WMG till they stop forcing the audio to be stripped off histporical and great videos like this who gives a fuck weather or not you use a song or such in a video it isnt like your buting a cd and burning millions more and handing them out on the street.
@trekkieguy34 thank Jim Bottoni of the Soo Line for killing the audio! he is a big man in the company, formerly known as The Milwaukee Road! also, a well known drug addict, and boozer, just like his grandfather, Frank Bottoni, Sr., and his father, Frank Bottoni, Jr.
The first shot on the curve looks like a westbound on the trackage along Underwood Creek in Wauwatosa. This shot appears to be taken from Hwy 100.
These roller bearing equipped Atlantic 4-4-2s built in 1935 were the first of their type built since 1914. The had 300 psi boilers, were oil fired, and designed to cruise at 100mph.
My Grandmother passed away in 1959 I was just 13 yrs old we took the HIAWATHA to Milwaukee, Wis. and WOW what a ride. My mother said if I had known how fast it was going I would have gone spaz ed on her.
It's hard to believe that this film is now over 70 years old - World War 2 in Europe was still over a year away. Probably everyone on those trains is long gone, and yet it looks as if it could have been filmed last week. A real time capsule.
It wasn't long after these shots were filmed (June 19,1938) that my uncle, his older sister, and his younger brother lost their parents in the wreck of Milwaukee's Olympian just east of Miles City, Montana.
It's a shame the film speed is so slow in the first clip. It would be awesome to see that thing fly by at real speed.
oL5re9re55ion 6 months ago
@oL5re9re55ion If only camera's back then could record speed like they do no that thing would be moving a heck of alot faster
amtraklover 5 months ago
Awesome footage; too bad it wasn't filmed with sound though. Those Atlantic Hiawathas had air horns above the headlight as their warning device. I wonder if they also had a tradition steam whistle. I've also wondered the same about the Hudsons that came later.
nev594 7 months ago
@nev594 From another web site:
"I fought desperately for retaining the steam whistle and argued long enough to have one located under the grill next to the headlight. It too was abandoned later and replaced with a modern airhorn. However, the immediate, high success of the new trains proved my concerns based on my life-long loyalty to the iron horse unjustified. But I did get disgusted everytime an uninitiated person asked me: "Is that a Diesel?"
-- Otto Kuhler, designer of the Hiawatha--
rwundrock 7 months ago
That is amazing footage! Thanks so much for transferring and uploading it!
Dreamshavenoend 7 months ago
thats the way is should be at lease one engine of every make should be saved
grizzleybearz282004 8 months ago
This is ashame! Milwaukee Road should have thought of saving #1 for preservation. Save the Steamers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ThePete352 9 months ago
I always loved the Hiawatha. Even when it is hauled by the #261 engine :)
thebluetrain57 11 months ago
seen alot of this this train in books but this footage was a real treat it was a real cool looking train in the time period it ooozed "The Future" thanks for posting it. Steve
TFabuous181987 11 months ago
One word: AWESOME FOOTAGE! Oops, that's TWO words! Thanks for posting this!
snickpickle 1 year ago
Cool Vid!!! But leave the audio in it!!!
ford9572 1 year ago
WOW! This is great footage. I think you may have some of the oldest color footage known to exist that wasn't made for a movie (or at least that I know).
StoneTrainz944 1 year ago
@StoneTrainz944
Check out the video THE GLORY MACHINES Volume 3 issued by Herron Rail Video for some great 1930s-40s color Hiawatha footage shot in Wisconsin.
rwundrock 1 year ago
"It may be mentioned that the fastest time made by a 4-4-2 Hiawatha Atlantic between Chicago and Milwaukee was 59 minutes"
This was 75 years ago !!! Jointed rail, steam power. Wisconsins High Speed Rail dream on this same route will never come close to these speeds and time.
engineerboy99 1 year ago 2
did any engines survive?
trainlover479 1 year ago
@trainlover479
None of the Hiawatha streamlined engines survived. Several of the passenger cars have been refurbished and run on fan trips.
rwundrock 1 year ago
@rwundrock could we rebuild one? to match the coaches?
trainlover479 1 year ago
@rwundrock Here, Try this on the disput form! Copy & paste in box #2 & that should get your audio unmuted! Good luck!
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
IntoWisOutdoors 1 year ago
What was the music that the idiots at WMG don't want heard? I'd like to know so I can go pirate me a copy.
ccoraxfan 2 years ago 4
'Take the "A" Train' in a 1940s recording.
rwundrock 2 years ago
I understand these Hiawathas used to be on record for some serious speed during routine runs between Chicago and St. Paul.
railadvocate 2 years ago
At times they could do the 89 miles between Chicago & Milwaukee in 67 minutes. The route to St. Paul through Wisconsin was at a slower MPH.
rwundrock 2 years ago
In 1939 the Morning Hiawatha began a schedule of 58 minutes to run 78.3 miles from Sparta to Portage -- average of 81 mph. They ran steam engines that could supposedly hit 125 mph. They ran at over 100 daily, on the same route the Empire Builder takes today at a max of 79. Signaling regulations put an end to the speed demons.
mulad 2 years ago
@mulad Frank Bottoni Sr., ran that train at a 125 mph! i know! his son, Frank Bottoni Jr., and his sons, James, robert, michael, and gerald , all ran with him! when they finished, they all got drunk, and stoned! especially the younger ones, jim, jerry. i actually witnessed frank bottoni Jr., drinking beer while operating a train!
gbotts1949 1 year ago
Stupid WMG. >:-(
iinlovejameslafferty 2 years ago 7
I understand Otto Kuhler (the guy who designed the train) had some 16mm Kodachrome shot of the "A's" in 1936. Anyone know the whereabouts of that footage?
paullubliner 2 years ago
Check Herron videos for John Plichta's 1930s footage of the Hiawathas.
rwundrock 2 years ago
Fantastic
theredarrow78 2 years ago
Have you seen the latest Lionel version of #3? They did a great job.
Trainbrain1949 2 years ago
Dissappointing they took the cool track away from this vid.
About the WMG deal, it really shows how stupid they are, heads just right up their asses like greedy eight year olds. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A DUKE ELLINGTON CD AFTER HEARING "TAKE THE A-TRAIN" FROM THIS VIDEO!!! What, if any profit will they make or loose?
bandarna 2 years ago
is are a youtube police force? if not then who rats out these videos to the WMG secret Police?
granitefinder 2 years ago
We should all stage a revolt against WMG till they stop forcing the audio to be stripped off histporical and great videos like this who gives a fuck weather or not you use a song or such in a video it isnt like your buting a cd and burning millions more and handing them out on the street.
trekkieguy34 2 years ago 12
@trekkieguy34 thank Jim Bottoni of the Soo Line for killing the audio! he is a big man in the company, formerly known as The Milwaukee Road! also, a well known drug addict, and boozer, just like his grandfather, Frank Bottoni, Sr., and his father, Frank Bottoni, Jr.
gbotts1949 1 year ago
muchas gracias por su informacion- thanks a lot for you information sorry de delay in my answer
pradochiqui 3 years ago
When did the original photographer live and die? How old was he when he shot this?
omaha1962 3 years ago
My uncle Tom was born sometime around 1903. He shot this when he was in his mid-30's.
He died in the early 1990's.
rwundrock 3 years ago
estas locomotoras son de vapor o diessel?
those locomotives are steam or diessel
pradochiqui 3 years ago
pradochiqui from barcelona
pradochiqui 3 years ago
The locomotives are steam engines with oil for fuel.
rwundrock 3 years ago
son de vapor
3254man 3 years ago
The first shot on the curve looks like a westbound on the trackage along Underwood Creek in Wauwatosa. This shot appears to be taken from Hwy 100.
These roller bearing equipped Atlantic 4-4-2s built in 1935 were the first of their type built since 1914. The had 300 psi boilers, were oil fired, and designed to cruise at 100mph.
KalesAvenue 3 years ago
My Grandmother passed away in 1959 I was just 13 yrs old we took the HIAWATHA to Milwaukee, Wis. and WOW what a ride. My mother said if I had known how fast it was going I would have gone spaz ed on her.
Jujube219 3 years ago
what version of Take the A train is This.
trainboy94 3 years ago
My question exactly! Nice trumpet solo.....lyrical......some swingin' cats for sure........
richmeister1 3 years ago
It's hard to believe that this film is now over 70 years old - World War 2 in Europe was still over a year away. Probably everyone on those trains is long gone, and yet it looks as if it could have been filmed last week. A real time capsule.
bitrex 3 years ago
What you don't see (because I edited it out) is my three cousins as young kids watching the train. My cousins are now all in their 70's.
rwundrock 3 years ago
Amazing footage! That's priceless film.
BackOnTheRoad 3 years ago
Great footage, and what loads for such small engines by USA standards.( UK rail fan that loves USA streamliners ).
baldgit646 3 years ago
Very nice footage!
It wasn't long after these shots were filmed (June 19,1938) that my uncle, his older sister, and his younger brother lost their parents in the wreck of Milwaukee's Olympian just east of Miles City, Montana.
placekicker 3 years ago
"...Take the 'A' Train"... nice!
Zebrails 3 years ago
WOW. back when milwaukee was a farm town.
ERIELACKU34CH 4 years ago
My early years were spent near 89th and Lisbon when that was the new part of the city.
rwundrock 4 years ago
What truly amazing and rare footage :)
LightMyFire92 4 years ago