Content Idea - Hiawatha

[Mavadelo]

So I was browsing the tube a bit watching videos of (mainly) American diesels and steamers when I came across some "weird" or at least different looking trains that seem to be quiet famous in the US and that I would love to see ingame as well.

I am talking about the Hiawatha. I have seen two versions, if the actual engine is called Hiawatha I don't know so if anyone knows please enlighten me but nonetheless I would like them in my collection

see for yourself
first one is on the back of this Amtrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvfKtwxcmGw

I take a wild guess that it is the modern version

the other one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cph7KwNMon8

the second one is a steam engine if I am correct, well it is according to this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zylB5TbnxRI

anyone know anything about these engines? are they called Hiawatha or is the line called that? Would you like to see them ingame? I know I think they are awesome, in fact the steam engine would be class Superduper imho :D

[Growler]

The Hiawatha, is now the train service run by Amtrak along the shore of Lake Michagan, from Chicago to Milwaukee. It was formerly a term used for a collection of the old historic routes running out of Chicago to the midwest. Which were historically run by the Milwaukee Road (Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul and Pacific RailRoad) served by the Hiawatha fleet of Passenger trains, collectively operating the original 5 key routes running from Chicago City to the mid west. The Hiawatha trains were some of the fastest passenger trains of the 1930s (the streamlined F7 steam locos), the 86 mile route from Chicago-Milwaukee took 70 minutes back then; whilst today the modern Amtrak locos manage the same trip in about 90 minutes.

One of these five historic routes, was the biggie, the "Empire Builder" running all the way from Chicago to Portland/Seattle. It's run today by Amtrak using 2 x GE P42 Genesis locos (so you'll be fully familiar with those in TS) with Superliner coaches. This amazing route, runs some 2,200 hours long (46 hours durations); splitting at Spokane; with one half of the train headed for Portland and the other Seattle. Boy that's one route I'd like to try for real.

But both routes look to have amazing scenery. I think the Hiawatha of the two (as nice as it would be to see the whole Empire Builder route!) is perhaps the more doable potential route for the game! :) That's an extremely concise summary, I'm sure our American colleagues can do a far better job of filling you in on the specifics.

[Mavadelo]

Thanks my friend :) Yes I noticed some videos where the epire builders where used and the steam version in the second video somehow resembles the A4 Pacific (also an amazing looking steam engine, only thing holding me back from buying it yet is....steam lol)

I keep getting jawdrops when I watch those videos from the USa and UK steam and diesel engines, although a big fan of the SD40 series and the SD45's I could maybe name just two engines that I am think look.... uh.... let's say it nice... lego-isch (thinking Zephyr and to a lesser extend the pooch) Do you think that the steamer is the F7? which I got. It does look a lot like it but (maybe due to the grainy footage) I have the feeling it is slightly older.
The other from the first video, if anyone can tell me what it is (or rather tell DTG so they can make it asap). I might not even wait for a sale if they bring that one lol

Is there anything you DON'T know about this game and the content lol, I tip my hat to you sir, one can always count on Growler :D

[OldAlaskaGuy]

The train was named for the epic poem The "Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow".

The first Hiawatha trains ran in 1935. By 1948, five routes carried the Hiawatha name:
• The Twin Cities Hiawatha — the main line route from Chicago through Milwaukee to St. Paul and Minneapolis, in Morning and Afternoon editions;
• The North Woods Hiawatha — a spur route off the Chicago-Minnesota main line leading from New Lisbon to Minocqua, Wisconsin;
• The Chippewa-Hiawatha — connected Chicago to Ontonagon in Michigan's Upper Peninsula via Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin;
• The Midwest Hiawatha — used the Milwaukee Road's mainline across Illinois and Iowa to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Omaha, Nebraska (the train split into two parts in Manilla, Iowa); and
• The Olympian Hiawatha — which traversed the Milwaukee mainline from Chicago-Twin Cities-Seattle/Tacoma.
More here :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiawatha_(train)