On June 29, 1947, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, also known as the Milwaukee Road, launched its streamlined flagship, the "Olympian Hiawatha," which operated on a 43-hour, 30-minute schedule between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. The Olympian Hiawatha traveled through scenic regions such as Idaho, Montana's Bitterroot Mountains, and Washington's Cascade Range, and was advertised as a "speedliner."
Industrial designer Brooks Stevens was contracted to design the train consist, which featured some unique and signature cars of the Milwaukee Road. In 1952, the first full-length "Super Dome" cars were introduced, offering 68 dome seats and 28 lounge seats. These dome cars had seats facing the 625-square-foot double-pane windows, providing an ideal setup for sightseeing and insulation against harsh weather.
The Olympian Hiawatha was a favorite among travelers during the post-war travel boom and continued to operate until 1961. In 1955, a significant change came to the train in the form of its color scheme. The Milwaukee Road reached an agreement with Union Pacific to host its trains between Omaha and Chicago, adopting Union Pacific's Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray "Streamliner" scheme for its passenger locomotives and cars systemwide due to its economical application and maintenance.
The Olympian Hiawatha set includes all the signature cars of this luxurious streamliner. The cars feature injection-molded bodies, interior seats, metal wheels for use on Code 55 and larger rail, and Kato magnetic knuckle couplers. The cars can be lighted with optional installation of 381-11211 or 381-11212 Version 2 DCC Friendly Interior LED Light Kit (sold separately). The nine-car Kato Olympian Hiawatha set includes the following cars:
Baggage-Dormitory #1309
48-Seat Coach #520
48-Seat Coach #529
Super Dome Lounge #55
Diner #119
14-Section Touralux Sleeper "Mount Spokane" #5746
10-6 Sleeper "Lake Coeur D'Alene" #2
10-6 Sleeper "Lake Nashotah" #9
"Skytop" Lounge-Observation "Gold Creek" #16
