I'm surprised they are refueled again so quickly. Doesn't the Starlight and Sunset only have one fuel stop altogether?
Travels with Trackwalker- Empire Builder 4/26/2021
- Thread starter TrackWalker
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5:10 First snow fencer of many yet to come.
I'm pretty sure the eastbound Sunset takes on fuel at Tucson, El Paso and San Antonio at least. It's been awhile since I did that route so different locomotives involved, but I've seen them fuelling at Tucson on railcam and have a picture of it at El Paso. I do only remember one on the CS during daylight hours, but there may have been another while everyone was sound asleep.
5:45 OK, quick quiz for both of you reading this thread while stuck here in Shelby for some unknown reason.
Why does this locomotive have a letter “F” on it?
Why does this locomotive have a letter “F” on it?
It used to mean Front on the front of an "A" unit. Perhaps BNSF still uses this method?
Great report btw; keep it coming.
6:10pm- The windmills of my mind.
6:16- ‘Yar! There be mountains dead ahead! And they look mighty rocky!
Did I ever mention that the cafe/lounge attendant said I’m the only one drinking the rum this trip?
This is from the bridge west of Cutbank, MT. I always broke my couplers here playing Microsoft Train Simulator.
6:16- ‘Yar! There be mountains dead ahead! And they look mighty rocky!
Did I ever mention that the cafe/lounge attendant said I’m the only one drinking the rum this trip?
This is from the bridge west of Cutbank, MT. I always broke my couplers here playing Microsoft Train Simulator.
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A "Thomas Crown" reference. Everyone under 50 will have to Google that.
Hugemungas BNSF snow fence as tall as the train and made from steel I-beams.
Uplifted sandstone, mudstone, sand and silts west of Browning, MT. We ain’t in that flatlands no more.
Original abandoned Great Northern mainline. I always keep my eye out for these. Drives DW crazy.
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7:55pm- So since 7pm (or was it 6? Time is different out here) we’ve been doing walking speed (4mph) behind a westbound freight with mechanical issues.
Disabled westbound finally limped into a siding and we followed him in. Can you see where this is going? I knew you would. (For those in the dark see the “on the ground” thread , somewhere in Texas post.)
We just had an eastbound freight go by us and we are going to make a reverse move out of the siding to get around the disabled wb freight. Our horn just tooted three times and we are backing up now.
8:04- Two short toots and we are moving west to East Glacier Park again... at restricted speed. Sigh.
8:15 Moving track speed! That calls for a drink!
Disabled westbound finally limped into a siding and we followed him in. Can you see where this is going? I knew you would. (For those in the dark see the “on the ground” thread , somewhere in Texas post.)
We just had an eastbound freight go by us and we are going to make a reverse move out of the siding to get around the disabled wb freight. Our horn just tooted three times and we are backing up now.
8:04- Two short toots and we are moving west to East Glacier Park again... at restricted speed. Sigh.
8:15 Moving track speed! That calls for a drink!
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Didn't see any fuel trucks in El Paso a few weeks back.
8:20pm- East Glacier Park! Thank gawd. Back to an hour and a half late and the sun is gone and my phone is just about dead.
Darn! Sucks that you can't see Glacier. Hopefully you will be able to see the Cascades tomorrow!
You made it through the Big Nowhere!
The one stop I was referencing is Tuscan. When I was on the Eagle early this month I didn't see any refueling done at El Paso.
Definitely not!
10:20pm- Almost to Whitefish. Lots of eastbound freights on each other’s signal going up the hill. I stopped counting after seven. We just kept moving. Luckily a lot of the west side hill is multiple main 2MT.
Next refueling I was told will be in Spokane, WA.
10:25- Arrive Whitefish.
Next refueling I was told will be in Spokane, WA.
10:25- Arrive Whitefish.
4/28/2021
2:45am PDT- I am awakened by a bright light shining through my window. Depot platform light in Spokane. HEP disconnected. We pull away from the Portland section of the Empire Builder and leave them to their fate as we exit Spokane and enter the eastern Washington scablands at 3:06.
2:45am PDT- I am awakened by a bright light shining through my window. Depot platform light in Spokane. HEP disconnected. We pull away from the Portland section of the Empire Builder and leave them to their fate as we exit Spokane and enter the eastern Washington scablands at 3:06.
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5:15am- Ephrata, WA Woke up at 5am as announcement last night said breakfast will be from 5 to 7. Went to diner at 5:15 only to be told we don’t open until 5:30.
Running only one hour late at this point.
Running only one hour late at this point.
5:49- Heading down the Trinidad Hill to greet the Columbia River.
6:00- Rock Island dam
6:18 Wenatchee Amshak.
6:00- Rock Island dam
6:18 Wenatchee Amshak.
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Enjoyed your report very much. I believe the tall fences along the track around Browning and East Glacier are actually wind deflection fences and not snow fences.
Good to know. Thanks.
6:30- Departed WEN and now following the Wenatchee River up to Stevens Pass and the 7.79 mile long Cascade Tunnel.
Apple and cherry country.
Apple and cherry country.
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