SWIFT OF FOOT WAS HIAWATHA. Despite troubles elsewhere on the Amtrak system, the Hiawatha Service trains between Chicago and Milwaukee uphold some of the old traditions. Last evening, the Chicago gate attendant looked back into the departure lounge for stragglers, keyed the green light on the platform, and at precisely 8 pm according to the new digital clocks, the train started to move. The last arrival from Milwaukee was running about 5 minutes early, setting up a sweet three-train meet involving it, the 8.40 Chicago-Elgin, and the 8.40 Chicago-Geneva, which had to wait at Western Avenue for the Elgin and the Amtrak to free the crossing.

In other railroad news, there was a long line of these retired diesels, some 30 years of service behind them, outside the Western Avenue Hiawatha ramp, and some of the even older smooth-side bilevel coaches at the Spaulding interchange with the EJ&E. Destination: the scrap yard. Either of these vehicles would be more deserving of a fitting farewell procession than a Nahsville bus.