navy.seal posted:Southwest Hiawatha posted:Weaver also did a model of the 1937 version, with just two horizontal ribs and square rear windows (no Buck Rogers sunshade). I have one, but I don't have a photo handy. Weaver has done all three versions of the Beaver Tail, with complete sets of 20" scale size cars. The 1937 and 1939 versions did not have interiors. They were sold in 5-car sets and add-on coaches were available singly or in a 2-pack. Weaver's version of the original 1934 Hiawatha came along later. It was sold as the "Hiawatha Morning Train" in a 5-car set. There were no add-on cars made.
There was also a version of the original Hiawatha made a long time ago by Phoenix. The cars were 18" long and had silhouettes in the windows. I've never seen one in person but here's a photo of the Beaver Tail.
I almost forgot, there is one more 0 gauge version of the Beaver Tail, a tinplate model made by Pride Lines. It did not pretend to be a scale model, just a tinplate train that looked more prototypical than the old Lionel tinplate Hiawatha. Here it is, with a repro Lionel tinplate Hiawatha.
I own a full set of the Phoenix Hiawatha cars. I am in the process of digging through boxes in my barn trying to locate my set of Jerry Brown Hiawatha cars. I will now also be looking for my Phoenix set to photo graph and post here. For now, here's a photo of my shrine to Milwaukee Road in which several beaver tail cars can be seen.
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Bob Nelson
OMG!!!
