The Hiawatha Story by Jim Scribbins (review)

354 Book Reviews TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE he might have utilized his model to formulate a European pattern de­ scribing the development of entrepreneurial attitudes based on the ex­ perience of the Russian Old Believers. Thus, although Gerschenkron’s model does not lend itself, in its present form, to a comprehensive explanation integrating social, politi­ cal, and economic developments in the modernization of Europe as a whole, historians cannot forsake the task of constructing conceptual models with which to explore the interrelations between technology and culture and between economic and sociopolitical developments as elements contributing to the comparative history of Western Civiliza­ tion. In comparison with the grandiose schemes which typify many current books on modernization, the precision and verifiability of Ger­ schenkron’s model provide a compelling point of departure. H. Ray Buchanan* The Hiawatha Story. By Jim Scribbins. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Pub­ lishing Co., 1970. Pp. 268; illustrations. $17.00. This lavishly illustrated volume will be treasured by the widespread fraternity of railfans; they will cherish the minute description of each locomotive and each piece of equipment used in regular Hiawatha ser­ vice. Yet this book is more than just an encyclopedia for rail buffs. As A. C. Kalmbach says in the introduction, it is the story of mid-20thcentury railroad passenger service in microcosm. As such it is worthy of some attention by the serious student of American railroading. In the very depths of the depressions—1934—several western roads began experimenting with streamlined trains of different types; the Milwaukee undertook to build in its own shops full-size cars that were 35 percent lighter than conventional coaches. The road decided to use steam power on the new trains because, among other considerations, it was felt steam was best suited to haul full-size cars, the consist could be easily varied, and initial investment for steam was a quarter of that for diesel. On May 29, 1935 the Milwaukee inaugurated Hiawatha daily double service over its main line between Chicago and Minne­ apolis. The new trains were an instant success, and as the years went by countless improvements were made. There were new cars in 1937 and 1939; during the two years in between, the Hiawathas carried over half a million persons and grossed $2.6 million. These trains, while hauled by steam, regularly hit 100 miles per hour, but in September 1941 the Milwaukee yielded to current trends and switched to diesel power; the new units could travel twice as far as steam engines in any given day. As war overtook the nation, the Milwaukee shared the difficulties of * Dr. Buchanan, assistant professor of history at Southern Methodist University, specializes in Russian economic history. TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE Book Reviews 355 all railways in obtaining enough materials to build equipment capable of handling the crowds that descended on the rails. In 1947, however, new Hiawatha trains were put on the Minneapolis run; by the next year 153 Hiawatha cars were in service, not only to the Twin Cities, but to the North Woods, to western Iowa, north to Iron Mountain, and to the West Coast. A new feature was the Skytop lounges that afforded passengers unobstructed views of the countryside; in 1953 the nation’s first full-length dome cars entered service. But the days of profitable passenger train service were already num­ bered. In 1956 both the Midwest and North Woods Hiawathas were withdrawn. The Chippewa Hiawatha was a casualty of 1960, and in the next year the Olympian Hiawatha was discontinued—all this despite efforts to attract travelers by rates lower than the cheapest air fares. Finally in January 1970, the Milwaukee regretfully took off the After­ noon Hiawatha to the Twin Cities. This, according to Scribbins, was truly the end of an era. After that date the only Hiawatha still in oper­ ation was the Morning Hi between Chicago and Minneapolis. Scribbins closes his book with a chapter each on locomotives and equipment. The former includes detailed rosters on all engines—steam, electric, and diesel—that ever pulled any of the Hiawathas. The chapter on rolling stock gives a detailed account of every individual car that ran in Hiawatha service. It should be noted that throughout

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