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The Milwaukee Road ran high speed passenger trains between the Twin Cities and Chicago until maybe 1950

Right cities but rwo railroads. The Hiawatha (Burlington/Northern RR) (Diesel) and the 400 (Diesel) (NorthWestern RR) so named because it took 400 minutes (6.6 hours) between Chicago and the Twin Cities. Took the 400 often between a small town Adams WI and Chicago and was on its last run.. Great ride in luxury.

At the time beat the hell out of driving the 8 hours to get to either Chicago/Adams WI locations. If it was still around would use it because it equals todays driving time which is about 4 hours on Xways. BTW government regs lowered speeds to 78 mph on existing track most trains can run faster but I believe they are governerd

The Hiawatha, at least the one photoed in my link, was pulled by an Atlantic class steam locomotive with a streamlined shroud, at least until the steamer was retired around 1950. That particular engine with its shroud looks very much like a diesel.

“BTW government regs lowered speeds to 78 mph on existing track most trains can run faster but I believe they are governed”

The high speed trains of the past ran on improved roadbed. That roadbed is expensive, and the RRs quit maintaining that quality of roadbed when they abandoned passenger service. Freight traffic doesn’t need it. Main lines that once featured 100+ mph express trains are now nowhere near the quality that they once were, they couldn’t support high speeds.

If RRs decided to bring back express passenger trains the effort would still be hampered by the lack of infrastructure that used to service rail travel. There was an entire system of private transportation geared towards getting people to and from railroad depots. It would come back if there was enough demand, but there might not be enough demand if the infrastructure didn’t first exist. Chicken and egg.

If I was Emperor we would have both magnificent train depots and steam locomotives, diesels be damned. A N&W Y6b is my idea of technology at its greatest.