Chippewa-Hiawatha

The Milwaukee Road introduced the Chippewa on May 28, 1937,[1][2] after an inspection tour of the new rolling stock for residents along the route.[3][4][5] The new train featured streamlined coach equipment and a 6-hour running time,[6] two hours faster than previous services. Its original northern terminus was Iron Mountain, Michigan, 291 miles (468 km) north of Chicago in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The trains operated daily, carrying number 21 northbound and 14 southbound. The northern terminus was extended twice: first to Channing on October 18, 1937[7] and then finally in March 1938 to Ontonagon, on the southern shore of Lake Superior.[8][9][10][11]

In the fall of 1948 the Milwaukee Road re-branded the train Chippewa-Hiawatha[12][13] and upgraded its equipment, including Beaver Tail parlor cars. Dieselization followed in 1950. After that the train was downgraded as the Milwaukee Road's passenger service contracted. Service north of Channing was deemed unprofitable[14][15][16] and ended on December 29, 1953. Parlor service ended north of Milwaukee in 1956. In April 1957 the train's name reverted to the Chippewa. Despite public support for the service,[17][18][19] the Milwaukee Road discontinued the train altogether on February 2, 1960.[20][21][22]

An advertisement depicts a third-generation Beaver Tail car on the rear of the Midwest Hiawatha in the 1940s. The Chippewa received these cars in 1948.

Much of the Chippewa's equipment came second-hand from its more famous cousin. The original Chippewa operated with two coaches, a railway post office (RPO), dining car, and parlor car. As part of a reshuffling of equipment on the Milwaukee Road in late 1948 the Chippewa received the "Beaver Tail" parlors made famous by the original Hiawatha. Motive power was provided by Class A 4-4-2 steam locomotives between Chicago and Milwaukee, and by the Class F3 Pacifics north. Dieselization came in 1950 with Erie-builts from Fairbanks-Morse. Later diesels included EMD E7s, EMD FP7s, and finally EMD GP9s. The train received newer equipment in 1948, including third-generation Beaver Tail parlors. These cars were removed in 1951 along with the full dining car.[23]

Between 1950-1952 a Doodlebug replaced conventional equipment between Channing and Ontonagon.[24]

• Official Guide of the Railways. New York: National Railway Publication Co. June 1950. OCLC 6340864.
• Scribbins, Jim (1970). The Hiawatha Story. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Company. LCCN 70107874. OCLC 91468.
• Scribbins, Jim (2008) [1990]. Milwaukee Road Remembered. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 9780816666621. OCLC 437119949.