Olympian Hiawatha

Olympian Hiawatha
1911 promotional postcard for the new train, which had all steel passenger cars from its beginning
Overview
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleUnited States
First serviceMay 28, 1911; 113 years ago (1911-05-28)
Last serviceMay 22, 1961; 63 years ago (1961-05-22)
Former operator(s)Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Railway (5/28/1911-1/1/1913) Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (1913-1961)
Route
TerminiChicago, Illinois
Tacoma, Washington
Distance travelled2,189 miles (Chicago-Seattle), 2,207 miles (Chicago-Tacoma)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)15/16
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)

The Olympian and its successor the Olympian Hiawatha were passenger trains operated by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (the "Milwaukee Road") between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. The Olympian operated from 1911 to 1947 and was, along with its running mate the Columbian, the first all-steel train to operate in the Pacific Northwest. The streamlined Olympian Hiawatha operated from 1947 to 1961 and was one of several Milwaukee Road trains to carry the name "Hiawatha". The Olympian Hiawatha was designed by industrial designer Brooks Stevens and included the distinctive glassed-in "Skytop" observation-sleeping cars. It later featured full-length "Super Dome" cars.