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I was looking for pictures and other artifacts to hang on the walls going to the train room.  Since I have Milwaukee road Hiawatha set, I start a search for collectibles. I ran across a picture of the Beavertail observation. So I was wondering if anyone made in 3 rail?

 

Thanks for your reply

 

 

Jim

beaver

beaver

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Here are two Milwaukee cars I ran into in Buffalo about a while ago.  My friend Jim Strom and I were doing some rail fan action and as we were passing by Buffalo Creek, we observed this old Ferry boat with two MLW observation cars on it.  Jim thought they were intended for a gambling boat.

 

 

 

 

Railfair 329

Railfair 330

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Last edited by Marty Fitzhenry

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.

 

Phoenix Hiawatha Observation

 

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.

 

Wall_Tinplate1

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Last edited by Southwest Hiawatha
Originally Posted by dgauss:

Marty, Those 2 obs.cars were a planned restaurant moored at the foot of Woodward Ave. along the Detroit River. 

More than just a planned restaurant.  It existed for a number of years and my wife and i went there a number of times.  It was called the Landsdowne and featured a fairly high end menu.  One of my favorite places.  Another train related place here in the Detroit area was called Victoria Station.  It featured a number of boxcars and cabeese which were the dining areas and bars.  Of course, it too went defunct.  Good food, reasonable prices, what more can you ask for?  But both are now gone.  Such is "progress".  Remember, "fast food" is neither....

IMG_0035IMG_0036K-Line made two versions: Cedar Rapids (18") and Adler Creek (21"). The "Friends of 261" out of Minneapolis have done a superb restoration of Cedar Rapids and the Super Dome. I have ridden it twice. Also known by some as "The Frank Sinatra Car", it was the first class car for the Olympian Hiawatha. Our family couldn't afford tickets to travel in that car, so it wasn't until 60 years later that I could!!!

 

 

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Last edited by Bruce Brown

A Walthers Beaver Tail MILW observation sold on eBay recently.  It looked like a quality build.

I find Walthers kits to be excellent still today considering they date to the 30's in some cases.  The challenge with the built kits is the quality of the build.  Some are assembled well and others not so much so.  Full interiors were part of the kit so the builder had a lot of options.  I have a standard heavyweight observation that the original builder put real wood paneling in with door knobs at each of the compartments, the equipment for the rear lounge, real fabric on the seats and simulated carpet on the floor.  Truly astonishing.  On the other side of the equation, I have one where the ends don't line up and the parts weren't prepped properly.  The ones I have built myself, I have found enjoyable and not overly complicated, they just take patience.

Hello Beaver ( tail ) fans ...  Walthers brought out a set of cars in 1935 ...which will mate up with a Lionel engine ....heck Walthers offered a service to "help" the Lionel engine and bring it closer to scale with proper wheels  and 

re-gearing  to run better ..

 

here is a link to more information about Walthers and his Hiawatha cars 

http://www.modeltrainjournal.c...1&hilit=hiawatha

 

Here are a few photos of my set from the late 30's. Cars have metal sides & ends with wood floors and roofs.

Lionel Hiawatha has had some modifications to bring it closer  prototype with a scratch built tender .

Cheers Carey 

 

 

 

 

IMG_6954

 IMG_7657IMG_7666IMG_7660

 

 

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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.

 

Phoenix Hiawatha Observation

 

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.

 

Wall_Tinplate1

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.

My Shrine To Milwaukee Road.

Bob Nelson

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Last edited by navy.seal
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.

 

Phoenix Hiawatha Observation

 

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.

 

Wall_Tinplate1

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.

My Shrine To Milwaukee Road.

Bob Nelson

OMG!!!

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