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75th Anniversary Empire Builder Page 5

Amtrak Empire Builder 75th Anniversary

Chicago Illinois to Seattle Washington

June 11 to June 13, 2004

By Richard Elgenson, RailNews Network

The Empire Builder had a scheduled stop in Williston, North Dakota.  There was not a scheduled ceremony, but word got back to Mr. Gunn to please walk up to the station, so he did.  He met with several people including Mayor Ward Koeser.  As usual, many other people wanted to greet Mr. Gunn, which he seems to appreciatel  Also in Williston, there is an old Great Northern steam engine.  I have never seen one with paint other than drab, dark colors.  The green paint on her looked nice.

   

   

   

       

Below left, Williston Mayor Ward Koeser and Mr. Gunn;  Below right, Williston Mayor Ward Koeser

   
 
No matter what you have read about the 75th Anniversary Empire Builder and its slightly tardy schedule, a freight train had broken down west of Williston, North Dakota.  The Empire Builder had been about an hour late most of the day and the BNSF train had only contributed thrity minutes more to our delay.  I happened upon Mr. Gunn and he was speculating with others about what the problem was.  One just never knows, and soon enough, we were under way again.

I then took the opportunity to take a walk forward through the train.  In the lounge car, Michael Casler, a National Park Service Ranger, and his wife were setting up their display to give a Rails & Trails talk.  They had many interesting articles to share.  Among them were pelts, quills, a sextant for navigation, useful for determining latitude, a compass, a telescope and many other items.  Well, you can guess who else happened to show up as well.  Rails & Trails operates on a number of different Amtrak trains throughout the country.  According to Ranger Mike, Rails & Trails has 3 on board programs on the Empire Builder.  His segment runs from Williston, N.D. to Shelby, Montana on Tuesdays, Shelby to Williston on Wednesdays, and round trip from Williston to Malta, Montana on Saturdays. 

   

   

While continuing my walk through the train, I stopped to chat with this nice older couple.  I asked the man if he was an ex-railroader, but he replied that this is the way he dresses.  So be it!  The Empire Builder now paralleled the Missouri River.

   

   

Nature was threatening to rain on us again...but not too much.  At 79 miles per hour, the Empire Builder can out run thunderstorm cells.

   

Back again in the Ocean View car, I heard Craig Thorpe asking someone about the upcoming historical landmarks.  We then rolled by Fort Union.  According to the Empire Builder Magazine John Jacob Astor's American Fur Trading Company fort traded with the Indians and shipped buffalo and beaver pelts worldwide.  The for is near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers.  Lewis and Clark were here in late April 1805.  It appears that this Fort Union is a recreation.