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Olympian Hiawatha
Author: Milwaukee Road Historian
Date: 08-22-2019 - 10:13
The Olympian Hiawatha was the most profitable, most efficient transcontinental passenger train in American history. According to the ICC it had the lowest ridership of any long distance train -- that is the key metric. Each passenger carried on an American train lost money and was in effect subsidized by the company. Because the Olympian had virtually no passengers it had virtually no losses. From my calculations the Olympian Hiawatha essentially ran for free.
It was the only lossless train in America.
Few passengers also meant low maintenance costs and incredible employee utilization. The Burlington Route had draconian track.
I have 45 linear feet of books in my library and I have stood next to the president of Boeing. I can see a railroad consulting office from my work and I have driven by the office of a class II regional railroad. Once I received a phone call directly from a railroad officer. Too, a colleague has called to me as a great historian.
Best Regards,
Milwaukee Road Historian
It was the only lossless train in America.
Few passengers also meant low maintenance costs and incredible employee utilization. The Burlington Route had draconian track.
I have 45 linear feet of books in my library and I have stood next to the president of Boeing. I can see a railroad consulting office from my work and I have driven by the office of a class II regional railroad. Once I received a phone call directly from a railroad officer. Too, a colleague has called to me as a great historian.
Best Regards,
Milwaukee Road Historian
