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A Day in Minot, North Dakota via an Empire Builder Round Trip 7/4-6/2004

The train arrived at Midway station between Minneapolis and St. Paul at 11:30 PM {10:02 PM} and about twenty minutes later, the conductor called out the destinations in order. Bob Riskie went in the first group since he was going to Grand Forks, Minnesota and I was in the second group as my destination was Minot, North Dakota. I boarded coach 31509 and took seats 29/30 and was already almost asleep when the train departed just before midnight.

7/5/2004 I awoke as we were rolling west across North Dakota and visited the lounge car for some orange juice and Mrs. Good Cookies that I enjoyed on a mostly cloudy early morning. We came to Devils Lake and after a brief double stop, we departed a mere forty-nine minutes late. The train's consist was P42DCs 95 and 83, baggage 1172, transition 39041, sleepers 32051 and 32056, diner 38038, coaches 34066 and 31509 (a former smoking car), lounge 33004, coach 34045, coach/bagggage 31044 and sleeper 32053. West of Devils Lake we came upon some light rain and I hoped that it would not put a damper on my day in Minot.

I found a paperback book called "Horrible Histories - The Ruthless Romans" by Terry Deary which I enjoyed reading to Ruby, the geographical center of North America, from which we left forty-eight minutes late and as the Builder made it way west, the skies improved.

The train entered Minot by first running past BNSF's Gavin Yard before entering the Amtrak station at 9:00 AM, just fourteen minutes late. As the train departed, I checked my luggage in for the day.

I first walked over the Soo Line station built in 1912. Passenger train service ended on December 9, 1963, when trains 13 and 14 were discontinued from the Twin Cities to Portal, North Dakota. Mixed train service continued for some time thereafter. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Canadian Pacific Railway 8531 West. I also saw a pair of BNSF trains before going in search of the Days Inn that Bob had booked us in then had my usual MacDonald's breakfast before walking over the hills and all the way to the far south end of town where I finally found it. It had almost been a three mile walk. I asked about a shuttle to Amtrak but they did not have one and the cost of a taxi to downtown was $15, which made me wonder am I back in Davenport, Iowa with their high taxi fares. I cancelled that reservation on the spot and the very nice woman called the International Hotel for me and I reserved two nights there.

The shuttle buses to and from the upcoming Canadian Pacific 2816 excursions were free, as well as a free Amtrak shuttle was offered. Now I had to contact Bob, or hoped that he did not get here early otherwise he would have to take a taxi all the way across town. I next went in search of film, first at a Super Store, then across US Highway 2 to a Walmart, before ending up at Dakota Square Mall, where I found a Rainbow Photo Lab and purchased four rolls of AGFA 100 slide film. I called home and my mother tried to locate Bob's e-mail address but to no avail. I started my long walk back stopping at an Arby's for lunch.

On the move again, I walked north up the hill finding Scandinavian Heritage Park.

I made it back to Soo Tower for an eastbound BNSF freight, followed by two Burlington Northern locomotives taking a local west.

An eastbound BNSF train had a Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range SD40T-2, a nice surprise.

Minutes later, Canadian Pacific AC4400CW 9476 pulled a long double stack train east. At that point in the afternoon, I decided to find the International Hotel, which ended up being only a fifteen minute walk up the hill north of town and so much closer to Amtrak. It was a really nice hotel and they let me use the business center so I sent an e-mail to Dennis Larsen since I did not have Bob in my e-mail contacts. Thank you Dennis for trying! I went to KFC for dinner before returning down the hill to Amtrak.

On the way there I stopped at Via View Park where Great Northern caboose X-51, built by International Car in 1962, was on display. I reached the depot in time to watch the BNSF coal train that I passed coming into town now on the Canadian Pacific Railway line leaving town. Two eastbound BNSF trains came in almost side-by-side and once they changed crews, they were each replaced by a grain train and a double stack train, both also eastbound.

I talked to the Amtrak agent for a while before walking over as a Canadian Pacific Railway locomotive passed the Soo depot with a long grain train.

Next came a westbound BNSF in beautiful light with a Canadian National locomotive trailing.

At 6:50 PM, an eastbound Canadian Pacific train, led by a single red SOO Line locomotive, on another empty grain train.

I photographed one more eastbound BNSF train then returned inside the Amtrak station as BNSF and Canadian Pacific Railway trains continued to pass through. As I waited, I upgraded to a sleeper at a very good price for my trip back to the Twin Cities. After all that walking and with Milwaukee Road 261 cinders still in my hair, I needed a shower which I have once aboard.

The conductor pulled my ticket in the station so I went outside to wait in the very cool early evening air. The Builder arrived a couple minutes late due to some slow orders just west of Minot with a consist of P42DC 1 and 129, baggage 1856, transition 34039, sleepers 32030 and 32023, diner 38010, coaches 34057 and 31591 (a former smoking car), lounge 35014, coaches 31501 and 34072 and sleeper 32009 "George Pullman". My sleeping car attendant was Dorris McCarty for this overnight trip. I showered as we departed ten minutes late and noted that Dorris added special touches to the bathrooms in her car with a dish for soap and a little vase with flowers, making it by far the nicest bathroom I have ever had on Amtrak. I went to sleep outside of Minot and slept all the way to St. Anthony in the Twin Cities.

7/6/2004 I packed, grabbed a glass of orange juice and was ready to detrain once we arrived at Midway at 7:03 AM, two minutes early, ending an interesting side trip to Minot.

I took the first taxi to the University Inn, no longer a Best Western and checked in, receiving a second floor room then went to Bakers Square for breakfast before I rested this day away. I went back to bed, sleeping until 1:00 PM since all the recent early mornings finally caught up with me then awoke to heavy showers so I watched television. I always like to have a day with nothing planned during my trips. I watched the Weather Channel and when their radar showed a break in the rain, I quickly went over to Arby's to get my dinner and stayed perfectly dry. I did have to change rooms as the toilet in my room 39 would not flush, was was moved to Room 43. As I always say, "Every trip is an adventure!" I enjoyed a nice quiet evening before calling it a night.

7/7/2004 I was up early and well-refreshed as the outside world was enjoying drying conditions. I went to Bakers Square again for breakfast then checked out and the hotel called me a taxi to take me out to 2800 Central, through the gate and into Shoreham Yard, where my next train would be waiting for me.

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