Hi folks,

I opened the 3rd quarter 2007 issue of the Milwaukee Railroader and almost dropped it. On page 33 there is a picture of a rusting Hiawatha A class steam engine in a field in Iowa.

From the picture, I am not sure about the size. It could have been a scale model but I doubt it. It could just be the shell. Does anyone else know about this? Is this the real thing?

Please tell me this is real.


Charles

No, it is not real. I turned up this parade unit built on a factory custom Dodge chassis a couple of years ago in some weeds in Waukon, IA in the northeast corner of the state. Purchased by an auctioneer at an unknown time and place, his heirs were unaware that the unit had a historic prototype. They were interested that anyone cared about this creature and were as helpful as they could be. It was my supposition at the time that the unit was MILW built because of the attention to detail of what really doesn't look like a typical steam locomotive. The Class A's were the first factory built stream lined locomotives. Since then I am told a photo has turned up of the unit on the shop floor in Milwaukee. The lead truck consists of two steering axles, the drivers went along for the ride and power went to the trailing truck. The shop photo shows a tender but that disappeared somewhere along the way. It was driven in local parades for several years before a transmission problem side lined it. There is an organized attempt to preserve it.

Alex Huff [/i]

Hi,

Thanks for the information. I was hoping that some screwball quirk of fate had saved part of the hiawatha.

Charles