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Olympian Hiawatha Days at South Cle Elum Depot
Author: Donovan Gray
Date: 06-26-2007 - 12:45
Historic train’s 60th birthday celebration at South Cle Elum Depot
OLYMPIA – June 18, 2007 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Cascade Rail Foundation invite the public to Hiawatha Days, a 60th birthday celebration of the historic train Olympian Hiawatha at the South Cle Elum Depot, 819 Milwaukee Road.
The free celebration runs from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, June 29 and continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. At 7 p.m. June 29, “A Ticket to Tomahawk,” a light-hearted 1950s movie filmed on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, will be shown. The event also will include a 1947-style reenactment, displays, Morse code demonstrations, refreshments and guided interpretive talks.
A temporary post office approved by the U.S. Postal Service will operate during the two-day event. Ticket window staff will sell a special postmark depicting the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha logo, along with a specially designed, corresponding envelope. The envelope (also called a cachet) will be available for purchase online after the event at www.milwelectric.org.
The Olympian Hiawatha’s inaugural run in June 1947 traveled between Seattle-Tacoma and Chicago. The train featured a more streamlined design than previous passenger trains with sleek, new diesel locomotives. The train’s last car had a rounded, glass observation car known as the Sky top Lounge. In 1952, a full-length car called the Superdome was added to the train. Until it was decommissioned in 1961, the Olympian Hiawatha ran on the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad, which is now part of the Iron Horse State Park – John Wayne Pioneer Trail.
The Cascade Rail Foundation partnered with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to save the historic South Cle Elum Depot, and it was recognized as a National Historic District in 2004. The depot is part of Iron Horse State Park, which features more than 113-miles of converted rails-to-trails now available for a variety of recreation uses, including hiking, biking and horseback riding. A 1,500-foot interpretive trail now runs through the historic rail yard.
The Cascade Rail Foundation was formed in 1999 for the rehabilitation and historic preservation of the Milwaukee Road facilities at South Cle Elum.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of more than 120 parks and several recreation programs, including trails, boating safety, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The 94-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.
OLYMPIA – June 18, 2007 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Cascade Rail Foundation invite the public to Hiawatha Days, a 60th birthday celebration of the historic train Olympian Hiawatha at the South Cle Elum Depot, 819 Milwaukee Road.
The free celebration runs from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, June 29 and continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. At 7 p.m. June 29, “A Ticket to Tomahawk,” a light-hearted 1950s movie filmed on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, will be shown. The event also will include a 1947-style reenactment, displays, Morse code demonstrations, refreshments and guided interpretive talks.
A temporary post office approved by the U.S. Postal Service will operate during the two-day event. Ticket window staff will sell a special postmark depicting the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha logo, along with a specially designed, corresponding envelope. The envelope (also called a cachet) will be available for purchase online after the event at www.milwelectric.org.
The Olympian Hiawatha’s inaugural run in June 1947 traveled between Seattle-Tacoma and Chicago. The train featured a more streamlined design than previous passenger trains with sleek, new diesel locomotives. The train’s last car had a rounded, glass observation car known as the Sky top Lounge. In 1952, a full-length car called the Superdome was added to the train. Until it was decommissioned in 1961, the Olympian Hiawatha ran on the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad, which is now part of the Iron Horse State Park – John Wayne Pioneer Trail.
The Cascade Rail Foundation partnered with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to save the historic South Cle Elum Depot, and it was recognized as a National Historic District in 2004. The depot is part of Iron Horse State Park, which features more than 113-miles of converted rails-to-trails now available for a variety of recreation uses, including hiking, biking and horseback riding. A 1,500-foot interpretive trail now runs through the historic rail yard.
The Cascade Rail Foundation was formed in 1999 for the rehabilitation and historic preservation of the Milwaukee Road facilities at South Cle Elum.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of more than 120 parks and several recreation programs, including trails, boating safety, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The 94-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 Olympian Hiawatha Days at South Cle Elum Depot |
Donovan Gray | 06-26-2007 - 12:45 |