I arrived at King Street Station about 1:00 PM which allowed me to watch the setting up for today's Relaunching of the Empire Builder and the 75th anniversary of this train.
The Empire Builder, introduced in 1929, was the flagship passenger train of the Great Northern Railway and its successor, the Burlington Northern Railroad. It was named in honour of the company's founder, James J. Hill, who had reorganized several failing railroads into the only successful attempt at a privately-funded transcontinental railroad. It reached the Pacific Northwest in the late 19th century, and for this feat, he was nicknamed "The Empire Builder".
Following World War II, Great Northern placed new streamlined and diesel-powered trains in service that cut the scheduled 2,211-mile-trip between Chicago and Seattle from 58.5 hours to 45 hours. The schedule allowed riders views of the Cascade Mountains and Glacier National Park, a park established through the lobbying efforts of the Great Northern. Re-equipped with domes in 1955, the Empire Builder offered passengers sweeping views of the route through three dome coaches and one full-length Great Dome car for first class passengers.
Amtrak took the train over in 1971 and shifted the Chicago-St. Paul leg to the Milwaukee Road route through Milwaukee along the route to St Paul. Before 1971, the Chicago-St. Paul leg used the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad's mainline along the Mississippi River through Wisconsin. The service also used to operate west from the Twin Cities before turning northwest in Willmar, Minnesota, to reach Fargo. Amtrak added a Portland section in 1981, with the train splitting in Spokane. This restored service to the line previously operated by the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway. It was not the first time that the train had operated Seattle and Portland sections; Great Northern had split the Builder in Spokane for much of the 1940s and 1950s.
The invitation for the event.
The program for the event, which was distributed to everyone attending.
The first display set up was Trails and Rails, a National Park Service program, where I met Randall Anderson.
The fantastic railroad artist J. Craig Thorpe, who had a nice display of his work for sale.
Craig Thorpe and Randall Anderson.
Setting up the refreshment table.
The Purple Passion Band arrived to set up and warm up.
A Tour of the Empire Builder 8/21/2005I asked an Amtrak employee if there was going to be a tour of the Empire Builder as there was in Portland. She asked around then pointed me to someone who might help and a few minutes later, Erik Lawrence, an Amtrak Cascades Lead Service Attendant, drove me to their Seattle yard for a tour where we met David Gunn, Amtrak's President and CEO, who welcomed me to the newly-restored Empire Builder. We started with Lew, the chef and car attendant of "Beech Grove".
The lounge area of Amtrak observation-sleeping car 10001 "Beech Grove", nee Amfleet 84-seat coach 21222 built by Budd Company in 1976.
The galley for preparing meals.
The dining room. After we saw the bedrooms, we walked into the next car.
The upper level of Amtrak Great Dome 10031 "Ocean View", ex. Amtrak 10031 19999, exx. Auto Train 9300:2 "Ocean View" 1985, exxx. Amtrak 9361 "Ocean View", exxxx. Burlington Northern 1391 "Ocean View" 1970, nee Great Northern 1391 "Ocean View", built by Budd in 1955.
The Empire Builder's August 2005 upgrades are to both infrastructure and services, with the idea of increasing ridership.
The sleeping car corridors now are walled with rich cherry wood, trim tight and the upholstery smelling new. The sleeper compartments are newly-designed, with more room, bigger sinks and bunks that fit easily into the rooms. The room's lighting system has also been improved.
The showers are bigger again by half, with etched glass doors with a train replacing those ratty old curtains. Wine-and-cheese social gatherings are held for sleeping car passengers in the dining car every afternoon. There is a new menu for sleeper passengers, cookies at bedtime, board games and hot-chocolate "campfire talks" about the culture, geography and history along the route. The sightseeing lounge had been remodelled with brighter lightning and seats re-configured so passengers can talk face-to-face. Coach passengers will also have board games to play. The Empire Builder is the first of Amtrak's 15 long-distance routes to benefit from the improvements.
The sink in the bathroom.
Above the sink.
The commode is now in the corner of the bathroom.
The dining car. We walked through the coaches then out of the train and after saying "thank you" to the working crews, we drove back to King Street station.
The festivities started at 3:00 PM with an introduction by Lloyd Flem of the Washington Association of Rail Passengers. The Purple Passion Swing Band entertained and received a warm welcome from the guests and passengers waiting to board the Empire Builder later this afternoon. Cake, cookies and cider were distributed to everyone. To my surprise, Bob Alkire and Elizabeth Davidge, whom I met at last month's National Railway Historical Society convention in Portland, joined me for the celebration. Elizabeth lives in Victoria, British Columbia and Bob had moved to Lynnwood, Washington earlier in the year. Bob had earlier helped me fix my backpack. Mr. Flem then discussed the 75th anniversary artwork by Craig Thorpe, which was the cover of the Amtrak National Schedule; that was followed by a Travel channel video on the Empire Builder which was shown on a screen to all in attendance.
Mr. Ron Sims, King County Executive, spoke to the gathering, thanking David Gunn for all of his hard work to keep Amtrak alive and well. He also told of the partnership between the State of Washington and the BNSF that has enabled a growth of ridership and finished his oration with information about the new Empire Builder.
Judy Gingerburg of the Washington Department of Transportation was the next speaker who discussed the increase in ridership on the Empire Builder and the the new stations that have been built or improved in the State of Washington.
Ms. Shelia Babb, Executive Assistant to the Honorable Senator Patty Murray, who read a letter from the Senator.
David Gunn awaits his turn while listening to the speakers.
Dr. John Strauss, Great Northern Historian, conversed about this ninth edition of the Empire Builder, gave a brief history of it, including James J. Hill, the true Empire Builder.
Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn then introduced himself and presented an interesting dissertation about Amtrak and the Empire Builder.
The Purple Passion Swing Band played one last number before Lloyd Flem closed the ceremonies and informed the group of the ribbon-cutting ceremony that would commence the boarding of the eastbound Empire Builder.
The ribbon-cutting before all passengers boarded the train as the band played on. Mr. Sims is holding an Empire Builder bag.
The Empire Builder 8 8/21/2005The Seattle section of this train had P42DCs 56 and 124, baggage 1163, coaches 34136 and 31038, diner 38043, sleepers 32001 and 32005, transition 39046, 10031 "Great Dome" and 10001 "Beech Grove". I boarded transition 39046 and was assigned Room 17. The Dining Car steward give me a 5:30 PM dinner reservation and I was set for our departure, which occurred on time and I joined David Gunn in the rear of "Beech Grove" and we chatted as the Empire Builder travelled through the downtown tunnel. David and I rode the rear platform as we exited into daylight.
The Empire Builder had exited the Downtown Tunnel.
The Seattle Waterfront streetcar. We returned to the lounge of "Beech Grove" to continue our conversation.
We crossed the bascule bridge over the Ballard Locks, otherwise known as the Hiram Chittenden Locks. Chef Lew of "Beech Grove" then asked me what I would like with my dinner, to which I replied the Dining Car steward had given me a 5:30 PM dinner reservation. David Gunn then told me I was invited to dine with him in this car. I said I was honoured to be invited but now excused myself to find the Dining Car steward since I would not need the reservation. I found her and she said it would be quite the honuor to have dinner with David Gunn. I returned to "Beech Grove" a very happy train rider on cloud nine.
I popped outside on the rear platform for a few pictures along Puget Sound then we came to our first stop at Edmonds where we were joined in the lounge by Craig Thorpe and his wife Cathy, along with Janice and Joe Welsh. That started the early evening of fantastic conversation.
Another Puget Sound view en route to Everett.
Mount Baker across Everett Bay.
A Canadian National locomotive on the point of a BNSF freight.
The intermodal station in Everett, which serves Amtrak, Sounder and several bus routes, built in 2002.
Bob Alkire and Elizabeth Davidge, who bought one-way tickets to Everett, in Seattle, just to ride the eastbound re-launched Empire Builder. Joe Deeley and Bill Schulz then came into the lounge of "Beech Grove".
Seattle Sounder F59PHI 911 in Home Run Service livery on the point of an Everett-to-Seattle train for Monday. On Sundays during Seattle Mariners home games, Sounder operates a train south from Everett to Seattle, and north from Tacoma to Seattle. This service is otherwise a Monday-to-Friday commuter operation.
Scene from along the Empire Builder route into the Cascade Mountains.
Mount Index.
More Cascade mountain views. At 7:00 PM we all sat down for dinner in the dining room of "Beech Grove" and Chef Lew had prepared an excellent steak dinner for us. Joining David Gunn and myself were Bill Schulz, Joe Deeley, Joe and Janice Welsh and Craig and Cathy Thorpe.
The train stopped at Scenic behind a BNSF freight in the siding to let this one by on the mainline. After it passed, we reversed out onto the mainline to continue east into the Cascade Tunnel. More fantastic conversation was had during our dining experience and it was an incredible meal, topped off with a brownie and a choice of ice cream, along with after-dinner drinks or coffee or tea. After dinner, I went back to the lounge for the inside rear view as the Empire Builder travelled through the night towards Wenatchee. I started to fade before we arrived so said my good night to all and returned to my room then made up my bed and called it a night.
8/22/2005 I was up thirty minutes before Whitefish and rode the last twenty minutes with David in "Beech Grove", arriving at Whitefish a few minutes early.
Great Northern NW-3 181, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1942, on display.
The Empire Builder at Whitefish. After the Portland section of our train joined us last night in Spokane, the complete consist was P42DCs 56 and 124, baggage 1163, sleeper 32037, coaches 31030 and 34139, lounge 33027, coaches 34136 and 31038, diner 38043, sleepers 32001 and 32005, transition 39046, 10031 "Great Dome" and 10001 "Beech Grove.
The exterior of the former Great Northern Whitefish station built in 1927.
David Gunn talking with our invited guests from Whitefish.
Empire Builder memorabilia.
David chatting with the guests before walking out to board the train; they were given a tour of "Beech Grove" before settling into "Great Dome" for their journey to East Glacier.
Once on board, David held court, discussing important information and views on Amtrak. We departed Whitefish on time and proceeded east towards Columbia Falls and as I sat in "Great Dome", it occurred to me that I would be riding over Marias Pass in a former Great Northern dome over the former Great Northern route along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park. Later we crossed the Flathead River and rolled into Belton, also known as West Glacier.
Flathead River Canyon east of West Glacier.
Backlit peaks of Glacier National Park.
Parklands.
More peaks.
The Three Suns looking back west.
Peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Later the Empire Builder rolled by the Izaak Walton Inn with guests waving from on the porch, after which we pulled into the Essex flag stop.
Larry and Linda Vielleux, owners of the Izaak Walton Inn, who just boarded and told me that they were in the process of selling the Inn.
Shed 12.
Shed 11.
Inside Shed 10a.
Shed 10.
Shed 9.
Shed 8.
Shed 7.
Shed 6.
Shed 5.
The former location of Shed 3.
Shed 4.
The author enjoying Great Dome".
Our passengers from Whitefish also enjoying this dome car experience.
Looking back at Blacktail.
Our Empire Builder reached Marias.
The John Stevens monument at Summit. When construction reached the Rocky Mountains, James J. Hill made it his goal to find the best pass through the mountains. Native American stories alluded to a low pass in northern Montana, but no one could find it. This did not stop Hill, who hired John F. Stevens, a renowned engineer, to search for it. Stevens found Marias Pass on December 11, 1889, giving Hill's railroad one of the easiest paths through the Rockies.
David Gunn returned to the Great Dome to hear Rob Quist perform.
Montana singing legend Rob Quist played his "Roll On Forever" from the Rob Quist and Jack Gladstone CD "Odyssey West". The CD was received by all in the Great Dome.
Scenes from the descent to East Glacier. After most of the Whitefish passengers detrained at East Glacier, I returned to the rear of "Beech Grove".
East Glacier.
Rounding a curve after East Glacier.
A BNSF freight in the siding.
The Two Medicine Bridge.
Scenes as we left the Rocky Mountains behind and made our way onto the Great Plains.
The "Great Dome" after East Glacier. I walked forward to the refurbished, and crowded, lounge car.
The middle of the lounge car.
An Empire Builder display board. Returning to the Dome, we were joined by the Kenabec County Master Gardeners of Minnesota, an Educational Program of the University of Minnesota extension services. David spoke to this group who had boarded at East Glacier, mentioning the rebuilding of the passenger cars and the goal of doing the same to all the other long-distance trains that use Superliner equipment. He also stated what an excellent job the BNSF dispatchers do to run the Empire Builder and not have delays, after which he took questions from the group. We stopped at Cut Bank then continued to run east to Shelby, our next crew change point, where we waited on time, and new guests joined us in the "Great Dome".
The plains of Montana as we sped east towards Havre.
Minnesota State Representatives Judy Soderstrom and Kathy Tingelstad, along with Minnesota State Senator Linda Berglin, joined us in the "Great Dome" for more questions and discussion.
M. Kerley, our wonderful Dome attendant, at the lower level bar. I gathered my belongings as we arrived early in Havre.
David getting rid of the garbage from "Beech Grove" during our station stop; he does all the work when he rides this car.
The "Beech Grove".
The author on the open platform.
The rear of the Empire Builder.
The "Great Dome".
Some people wanted photos with Amtrak's President.
David Gunn and I in Havre. This brings us to my coverage of the re-launching of the Empire Builder since I was returning to California to cover another event for Trainweb.
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