Empire Builder discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

[AmtrakBlue]

I’m on 7 starting today in Chicago. This printout was waiting for me in my room. I haven’t seen one of these in years … not one provided for me anyway.

I had the schedule on 7(28) last week, but not on 8(01).

 

[Rasputin]

I understand from another list that 7(3) was in a collision with a truck west of Malta, Montana and that the locomotive #334(?) is reported to have sustained heavy damage. It is proceeding west with a BNSF locomotive in the lead.

 

[jazzharris]

In other news, I’m looking forward to my upcoming round trip, end-to-end, on the Empire Builder. To each his own.

I just found this today. Did you already take the trip, and was it to Portland or Seattle?

Very curious because I'm on the planning stages of end-to-end from FTW to CHI to PDX (or VAN) and back the same way. I'd very much like to read about your trip. I'm planning mine for Sept 2025.

And thank you for what you said!!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I just found this today. Did you already take the trip, and was it to Portland or Seattle?

Very curious because I'm on the planning stages of end-to-end from FTW to CHI to PDX (or VAN) and back the same way. I'd very much like to read about your trip. I'm planning mine for Sept 2025.

And thank you for what you said!!

Yes, I took my trip. CHI-SEA and back. It was enjoyable. Had no complaints.

 

[zephyr17]

Very curious because I'm on the planning stages of end-to-end from FTW to CHI to PDX (or VAN) and back the same way. I'd very much like to read about your trip. I'm planning mine for Sept 2025.

I am a pretty regular rider on the Builder, it is one of my "home" trains since I catch it at Everett, 20 minutes from my house.

In fact, I will be connecting to 7 tomorrow off today's 49.

 

[jazzharris]

Yes, I took my trip. CHI-SEA and back. It was enjoyable. Had no complaints.

Thank you! Did you stay overnight in Seattle? I'm seriously thinking of turning around the same day from PDX or VAN - which means I'm going to have to shell out for a bedroom (I would've anyway, it's a long trip).

How many days from SEA to CHI?

I am a pretty regular rider on the Builder, it is one of my "home" trains since I catch it at Everett, 20 minutes from my house.

In fact, I will be connecting to 7 tomorrow off today's 49.

Thank you! Please tell us about it. How far are your going? Are you in coach or sleeper?

 

[zephyr17]

Thank you! Please tell us about it. How far are your going? Are you in coach or sleeper?

Chicago to Everett, WA, 2 stops short of Seattle. In a roomette.

It is a two night trip, leaves Chicago 3:05 pm, arrives Seattle 11:29 am/Portland 11:17 am second day.

 

[jazzharris]

Chicago to Everett, WA, 2 stops short of Seattle. In a roomette.

It is a two night trip, leaves Chicago 3:05 pm, arrives Seattle 11:29 am/Portland 11:17 am second day.

Chicago to Everett, WA, 2 stops short of Seattle. In a roomette.

It is a two night trip, leaves Chicago 3:05 pm, arrives Seattle 11:29 am/Portland 11:17 am second day.

Merci Beaucoup!!

 

[Rasputin]

Amtrak has posted some cancellations due to a storm:

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/modified-service-due-to-winter-storm-forecasted-impact-washingto.html

 

[PaTrainFan]

Amtrak has posted some cancellations due to a storm:

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/modified-service-due-to-winter-storm-forecasted-impact-washingto.html

Good job identifying Cascades as Empire Service, Amtrak.
Interesting now they are putting disclaimers about efforts to find alternative transportation.

 

[PRR 60]

Amtrak has posted some cancellations due to a storm:

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/modified-service-due-to-winter-storm-forecasted-impact-washingto.html

Amusing that Amtrak's alert refers to the Empire Builder as "Empire Service" throughout the alert and it got posted without anyone at Amtrak spotting the error.

 

[WWW]

Amusing that Amtrak's alert refers to the Empire Builder as "Empire Service" throughout the alert and it got posted without anyone at Amtrak spotting the error.

A simple addition of one word "BUILDER" would have left no doubt in this case - - - !
Now getting back to that weather - gee what's wrong with the New York weather ?

 

[west point]

No buses? That is becoming an indication of the loosing state of bus companies. Bus companies do not want the liability of possible problems in snow. It may come to the point sometime in the future that there will have to be a part Amtrak bus thruway system.

Greyhound LD around here is fast disappearing with no alternates. The only item is a few companies running expensive shuttle service to ATL airport.

 

[zephyr17]

Amtrak has posted some cancellations due to a storm:

https://www.amtrak.com/alert/modified-service-due-to-winter-storm-forecasted-impact-washingto.html

I am was on 7(17).
They truncated it in Spokane tonight and the alert I got is they are providing alternative transportation for 7(17). The next trains, 7(18) and later will truncate in Spokane with no alternative transportation.

They apparently let 8(18) out of Seattle go tonight.

What I do not get is the really heavy weather is not due in until tomorrow. I do not see a reason to truncate this train. Yes, there will be some snow in the passes overnight, but not the huge dumps expected to start tomorrow afternoon.

They did bustitute 7(17) from Spokane to Seattle/Portland. 7 arrived in Spokane at 2 am, we had been running early the whole trip and this was no exception. The Seattle bus finally showed up at Spokane station at about 4:45 am, the Portland one about 25 minutes earlier. We were not allowed to stay on the train until close to the time the buses showed. Everyone had to sit in the station and the agent did not know exactly when the buses would show up. Amtrak internal communications problems strike again.

As accurately predicted, there was no bad weather this morning over Stevens Pass. It was actually sunny going over the the summit. Most of US 2 over Stevens was bare and wet, slushy approaching the summit from the east side, and compact snow coming down the big grade on the west side. Bare and wet again by the bottom of the big hill (Scenic).

There was absolutely no reason to terminate the train in Spokane. That is not 20/20 hindsight. The weather was as predicted, and in no way "severe". Somebody at CNOC is a moron or got their dates confused reading the forecast