The Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Railway, known as The Milwaukee Road, started service between the Midwest and Seattle in 1909. In 1911, the company added two new, all-steel, state of the art trains to the line, one of which was called The Olympian. When the United States entered World War I in 1918, the Milwaukee Road reduced all trains' level of service to support the war effort.
In 1918, Charles Ephriam Hunt (1865-1928), Railroad Editor for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, wrote the words and music for "The New Steel Trail," a song touting the charms of riding on The Olympian. A march and two-step, the piece was arranged by Carl A. Weber. It was published by the Passenger Department of The Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.
Caption information source: "The Seattle Daily Times," May 29, 1911; February 4, 1918; May 31, 1918; and December 23, 1928.
Physical Description: 1 score (6 p.) + 1 part ; 10.25 x 13.25 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
