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Under a dark, stormy sky, Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder passes Milwaukee Road’s depot at Brookfield, Wisconsin, in April 1983.
Soo Line EMD GP7 No. 376 sits in the north siding off the westbound main line at Brookfield, Wisconsin, on the afternoon of May 7, 1991, as the westbound Amtrak Empire Builder flies by the vintage depot.
Soo Line train 11, powered by EMD GP30 Nos. 716 and 703, slowly moves west toward Duplainville, Wisconsin, on the afternoon of July 26, 1987. As the train approaches the Springdale Road grade crossing, Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder pops into view and passes the freight on the eastbound main.
A pair of Amtrak GE P40DC “Genesis” locomotives leads the eastbound Empire Builder over Marias Pass just east of Summit, Montana, on October 6, 1997.
On Christmas Eve in 2007, Amtrak’s eastbound Empire Builder passes the small BNSF yard and Izaak Walton Inn at Essex, Montana. Three GE P42DCs power the holiday-swollen consist and are ready for a snowy trip over Marias Pass.
The second image ever I have taken from here and in exactly the same circumstances as the first - Amtrak has the high ground. An eastbound UP sits on the Westbound at the east end of their Western Avenue Yard, awaiting a new crew. The morning Builder comes down Shortline Hill on CPKC trackage with some matching Chargers on the point.
We have finally seen some snow in southern Wisconsin, making it look and feel a little more like winter. Here on the north side of Watertown, Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder kicks up the powder a little after just crossing over from 2 main to the single track main at Watertown West.
Amtrak 8
AMTK 130,140,133
Watertown, WI.
January 23, 2022
A late 8 rolls across the bridge in Hastings and begins its journey down the river. A couple of unique paint schemes are at the helm on today's edition of the eastbound Builder. Being down 7+ hours put them in Hastings right as the clear slot in the clouds rolled overhead.
After the passage of a storm, Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder thunders by the classic Milwaukee Road wood-framed depot at Brookfield, Wisconsin, on June 2, 1990.
The heat wave distortion doesn't diminish the fact that the Reeseville Marsh is getting full, and the mighty Canadian Pacific is at the mercy of the natural order of things, just as The Milwaukee Road was for over a century. Here, CP train 281 is down to 10 MPH on main 1, while Amtrak's Empire Builder number 7 races by on main 2, at a breakneck speed of 25 MPH in the basin of the Reeseville Marsh.
Reeseville Marsh,
Reeseville, WI.
Winter 2019
Amtrak's last F40 delivered is under 2 years old in this view of the Empire Builder at the summit of Marias Pass.
10-7-1989
At some point during my stint as an operator at Milwaukee Road's Tower A5 in the early 70's, I snagged a shot of this Burlington Northern detour, which appears to be the inbound North Coast Limited-Empire Builder-Morning Zephyr. Combining these trains at Minneapolis for the run into Chicago was common practice for the CB&Q/BN during this period.
View is looking north on the C&M towards Mayfair.
198302.2-01 (03-01) efts
Surrounded by a winter wonderland on the southern border of Glacier National Park, Amtrak’s eastbound Empire Builder has just summited Marias Pass and approaches Bison, Montana, on a snowy March 3, 1989. Merry Christmas everyone!
A late-running Amtrak No. 8, the Empire Builder, cruises through Grizzly, Montana, on December 23, 1998. The train is leaving the snow-covered Rocky Mountains of Glacier National Park behind on this extremely cold day. Leading the silvery Superliner is an all-GE consist, led by warbonnet-clad BNSF No. 761, with P40DCs (822, 808, 817) in three different paint schemes trailing.
A pair of specially painted P42s lead the Empire Builder around the curve at Browning.
While my two weeks in Montana was mainly focused on the MRL, ending with this was definitely a highlight of the trip for me.
Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder crosses the beautiful stone arch bridge over the Rock River in Watertown, on the eve of Memorial Day 2020, with a special painted locomotive honoring our veterans. In 1868, General John Logan introduced Memorial Day, to honor the fallen soldiers of the civil war. Today, we honor the fallen soldiers that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Amtrak 7
AMTK 42,36
Watertown, WI.
Spring 2020
Amtrak’s Empire Builder is about to leave the mountains of Glacier National Park behind as it cruises eastbound through Grizzly, Montana, on February 29, 1992.
A trio of Amtrak GE P40DC Genesis locomotives in their original scheme power the eastbound Empire Builder over Marias Pass at milepost 1148 just east of Summit, Montana, on October 7, 1997.
After crossing a snowy Marias Pass, Amtrak’s eastbound Empire Builder curves through Grizzly, Montana, on a cold December 22, 1998.
The regular eastbound train 8 combined with westbound train 7 at Glasgow, Montana to form an extra long Empire Builder departing Saint Paul, Minnesota. I think this is the longest Amtrak train I have photographed let alone witnessed. Out-of-the ordinary circumstances called for a photo of this monstrosity. A manifest heading to Northtown Yard from Galesburg passes in the foreground with CN power.
With the rollout of the new Siemens Chargers, I was pleasantly surprised to have a pairing of GE P42’s.
Running exactly to time, Amtrak’s 14 and 38 swing through False Summit, along the southern edge of the Glacier National Park heading to Chicago with number 8, the east-bound Empire Builder from Portland/Seattle.
Saturday 15th April 2023
Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder has just passed a BNSF freight and is crossing over the Cut Bank Creek bridge as it approaches Cut Bank, Montana on July 21, 2023.
Softly reflecting the sunset of February 28, 1992, Amtrak’s Empire Builder curves through Buelow, Montana, in a view from private car “Sierra Hotel” carrying the markers of the westbound train. Buelow is a siding at mile 1015.8 between Havre and Shelby on Burlington Northern’s Hi Line Subdivision.
The Empire Builder departs Saint Paul, Minnesota through the Hoffman Avenue interlocking under Dayton's Bluff.
The Phase-III 'Pepsi Can' and Operation Lifesaver P42s lead Amtrak's Empire Builder across the famous Two Medicine River bridge outside of East Glacier, Montana.
Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder number 7 has cleared Watertown West and is just out of sight around the bend, as the eastbound Empire Builder number 8, puts the coals to it after receiving a clear signal to proceed east towards Milwaukee and Chicago. The track closest to me is the former number 2 main (formerly the eastbound main in better times), which now is simply a yard lead into Watertown.
Amtrak Train 8
BNSF 4297, AMTK 81,11
Watertown, WI.
Summer 2020
A morning eastbound Builder heads along the Mississippi River and is less than a minute away from reaching Union Depot for stop.
I managed a well-timed intercept of this morning's builder with the 184 on the point. By the time I was in position and looking through the viewfinder he was knocking down CP 254 in the distance. An hour down, they sail past at 79 mph.
Down in the nature sanctuary, I figured I should take advantage of Warner Road's closure to get a fresher (for me) view of St. Paul. Conveniently, the eastbound Builder was at the Depot and would soon depart, so I took a casual stroll down Warner, hopped some dividers, and setup for the shot. Amtrak has just finished crossing over in the Hoffman plant, and passes what I believe was J42, which will depart soon thereafter.
A trio of Amtrak GE P40DCs lead the eastbound Empire Builder through a wintery Grizzly, Montana, after a morning clamber over Marias Pass on December 22, 1998.
The Empire Builder accelerates west after its station stop in Shelby, Montana. Railroad location is Teton, where the Sweet Grass Sub branches off the Hi Line toward the Canadian border. October 6, 2000.
Back when it was a little warmer, running about hour and fifteen minutes late, Amtrak's Empire Builder departs St. Paul Union Depot (seen in the distance) on its return trip to Chicago.
The eastbound Empire Builder is only a couple hours off schedule as it cruises along the Mississippi River and on the approach to Union Depot.
The previous day's eastbound Empire Builder rolled through about an hour ahead of this Christmas day scheduled eastbound Builder. Nothing special about this train other than it's Christmas day passengers traveling by rail, as it should be.
Amtrak Number 8
AMTK 165,19,154
Watertown, WI.
December 25, 2021
Amtrak No. 8, the eastbound Empire Builder, climbs over Marias Pass past milepost 1148 east of Summit, Montana, on September 8, 1999. Several private cars are tucked behind the locomotives this sunny morning in Big Sky Country.
The Empire Builder, Amtrak 8, rolls through Rollins Avenue in Minneapolis on the BNSF Midway Subdivision. The development has been encroaching on the railroad here at the north end of the University of Minnesota and Dinkytown to the south and the Como neighborhood to the north. This scene is much cleaner and more colorful that it has in the past. I like it.
Climbing over Marias Pass, Amtrak No. 8, the eastbound Empire Builder, passes milepost 1148 east of Summit, Montana, on June 5, 2002. Spring storms brew over the majestic mountains of Glacier National Park in the background.
Another winter snowfall and brings another late Empire Builder on its trip back to Chicago. Siemens ALC-42 Chargers 302 and 310 are about 5 hours late into the Twin Cities and should arrive at St. Paul Union Deport within the half hour.
Full Youtube video at:
With the Rock River running at it's normal springtime high, Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder races across the stone arch bridge in Watertown. It's been a while since I shot down here, so my next visit will include a pruning shear.
AMTK 156,184
Amtrak 7
Watertown, WI.
Spring 2020
BNSF once again bails out the Empire Builder with BNSF 7301 leading the charge down the Staples Subdivision between Staples and Philbrook. I brutal nine hours late made for a mid-day trip through central Minnesota.
Amtrak's Empire Builder, train 7 coasts downgrade between Baring and Index, WA on a cold and foggy February morning. In the middle of the frame is Eagle Falls, a spectacular water feature along the South Fork of the Skykomish River.
To this point, the Sky Valley had been socked in with a moderate fog layer, producing some very dramatic, moody scenes. Our group had hoped that trend would continue here, but as the train approached the morning sun crested above the tall mountain peaks, and backlit the scene.
Looking a bit tattered, Amtrak 130 leads the eastbound Empire Builder under Bobolink Road bridge at Reeseville.
Amtrak Train Number 8
AMTK 130,187
Reeseville, WI.
Autumn 2020
The Empire Builder weaves on the curves in Winona County near Lamoille between Winona and La Crosse, just across the Mississippi River from Trempeleau. The bluffs are more apparent in the wintertime - leafless and snow-covered. Wintertime also opens up angles that might otherwise be obscured by leafy plants and shrubs. I scoped out this angle and committed to it - I am really happy with the result.