Empire Builder - EB or WB in Jan/Feb

[ajcw]

So I'll be making my first ld trip with my 6 year old son on the Empire Builder. Most likely looking at a January departure...possibly early Feb.

Which would be the better choice....Eastbound or Westbound train? Does it really matter? I'm assuming we'll encounter weather delays in either direction at this time of year....but just wanted to see if the seasoned travelers have an opinion on which direction is better/worse.

Thank you.

 

[Bob Dylan]

So I'll be making my first ld trip with my 6 year old son on the Empire Builder. Most likely looking at a January departure...possibly early Feb.

Which would be the better choice....Eastbound or Westbound train? Does it really matter? I'm assuming we'll encounter weather delays in either direction at this time of year....but just wanted to see if the seasoned travelers have an opinion on which direction is better/worse.

Thank you.

Always good to follow the old saying "Go West, Youngman, Go West!" (Follow the Sun!) This way you will get into Seattle in the daytime, be able to see the Cascades and Puget Sound in Daylight and also you can use the Metro Lounge in CHI while waiting for the Train! In the winter you never know up on the High Line,Winter Weather is an Unpredictable thing, but if the Train is able to run it will be a Fantastic Journey, sort of a Winter Wonderland! :wub:

 

[TraneMan]

If you are taking round trip, as jim pointed out on the West train, and when you go east, you'll see the Glacier Park in day light.

 

[ajcw]

If you are taking round trip, as jim pointed out on the West train, and when you go east, you'll see the Glacier Park in day light.

Unfortunately not making a roundtrip. As much as my 6 year old loves trains, I'm not sure back to back 45 hour trips are in the cards just yet. I'd love it.

 

[AlanB]

I'd go east, not west. Pudget sound is nice, but that can be done via the Cascades service too.

Glacier on the other hand is IMHO the big attraction and going east is the best way to see that.

 

[Rail Freak]

Last Feb, I went East! The Eb is a Roll Of The Dice, no matter which direction that time of year. We were delayed by a broken rail & put up in Chicago on my way back to Florida. I'm retired, so it was fine with me!!! I'm sure you & your son will enjoy it & have Life Long Memories!!!

Have Fun

 

[PRR 60]

So I'll be making my first ld trip with my 6 year old son on the Empire Builder. Most likely looking at a January departure...possibly early Feb.

Which would be the better choice....Eastbound or Westbound train? Does it really matter? I'm assuming we'll encounter weather delays in either direction at this time of year....but just wanted to see if the seasoned travelers have an opinion on which direction is better/worse.

Thank you.

In winter, the Empire Builder can be seriously impacted by the extreme cold weather in Montana and North Dakota. I would not hesitate to travel on the builder in Winter, but if I would make sure I had a "Plan B" ready to go in the event the train is canceled or seriously delayed.

 

[Dennis]

If there's an advantage to the WB EB in winter, it's going through the snow. Coyotes, pronghorns and other wildlife really show up in snow. Last winter we went from CHI to SPK with the ground white all the way across. We were disappointed to pass Glacier after dark. However, the moon was full and it lit up everything like near-daylight. We could see the avalanche chutes clearly and with snow on both banks, we could see the rivers below us. Obviously we'd much rather go through such a gorgeous place in daylight, but night time isn't so bad if you have to do it then.