- Hunkering down in Chicago
- Chicago to Spokane
- Spokane to Seattle
- Seattle to 150 Mile House
Love train rides! We boarded the Empire Builder in Chicago on Boxing Day – destination Seattle. 2200 miles/3500 kms of fascinating, diverse scenery. The train crosses Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Washington State. Many, many miles of wide flat prairie land before heading into Glacier National Park and eventually the Cascade Mountains. We’d booked a roomette – a small room with two seats, a bit of storage, and a glass sliding door – our own little world. The seats reconfigure into the bottom bed, a top bunk folds down from the wall. Perfect for two. There’s some extra strong netting that stretches across from the top bunk to the opposite wall – very much needed when the train rocks and rolls at night. Hate to have Reg on the floor! The cabin steward makes up the beds in the evening and puts things back to normal in the morning. All our meals are taken in the dining car – excellent menu. Also some very nice Californian wine. Lovely to have a chat with people over a meal. Train life suits us – great food and wine, meeting new people, beautiful scenery passing by – couldn’t ask for more.
Yesterday was a lovely day. Woke up to the flat countryside of North Dakota, quickly moved into Montana. Had the odd stop to pick up or drop off passengers. Lots of little towns dotted along the track. Occasionally the “train travellers” were allowed off the train – most used this time for a quick cigarette! Reg got off a couple of times – I stayed snuggled up inside. My cold is much better but taking no chances – it’s been around minus 28C outside. As evening fell we moved closer to Glacier National Park. The terrain started to change – more hills, increase in snow. One of the disadvantages of travelling in winter is that you miss some amazing scenery – shorter days, longer nights. Never mind! Can’t have it all. As we were settling in for the night there was a PA announcement; a severe storm was predicted overnight in Glacier National Park. Huge snow falls. Apparently the Empire Builder was the only thing moving in the area! All highways and roads had been closed. Freight trains were stranded in the park – relief crews couldn’t get to them and train drivers can only legally work for so many hours. They were stuck! The Empire Builder was the only way fresh crews could get to the freight trains and tired crews could get home for a rest. Lots of extra stopping and starting. There were also snow ploughs on the track removing the heavy snow – not a quick process! More delays. It was going to be an interesting night!
Arrived in Spokane this morning – 7 hours behind schedule!
Love to all
Di and Reg
[ This entry was posted in Canada, USA
Reading that there were huge snowfalls in Glacier National Park and that your Empire Builder train was the only thing running, I was waiting to find that you’d eventually got stuck, one of the passengers had been murdered and that a dapper Belgian detective had appeared from his cabin to solve the crime. Slightly let down to find the only drama was a seven hour delay. Ho-hum! Guess I’ll just have to go and see the Kenneth Brannagh – Judi Dench version!
Sorry to disappoint!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip! Despite heavy delays and the cold. I have to say the scenery looks magical under all that snow. Different season, different positives and negatives I suppose. I enjoyed seeing the train again through your photos. It’s really a fantastic trip isn’t it?
It was amazing! Would love to do it in different seasons. Glad you enjoyed the photos!