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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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
After crossing a snowy Marias Pass, Amtrak’s eastbound Empire Builder curves through Grizzly, Montana, on a cold December 22, 1998.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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, 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.
Not what it used to be. Waterloo IN This town like most in the area have no busineses. Gas stations and a bar. The main street has no busineses. As part of economic development they are going to demolish the old buildings and turn it into a park. The commerce of the town is gone because they can't compete with Walmart 10 miles away in Auburn. Auburn has very tight zoning resrictions on multi-family housing so people are forced to live in this satelite of towns, This hides the poverty from the populace and the tourists.
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
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
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.
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:
Back in March, the then three-times-a-week Builder arrives at St. Anthony and the conductor has stepped off to line themselves through the Commercial Yard.
Normally arriving at Sandpoint, Idaho, at 2:20 a.m., Amtrak’s eastbound Empire Builder scurries through Algoma approaching Sandpoint a bit off the advertised at 10:10 a.m. on February 2, 2023. Amtrak ALC-42 Charger Nos. 308 and 300, along with GE P42DC No. 127, power the eastbound train along the frozen and snow-covered shore of Lake Pend Oreille.
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.
With an unusual visitor in the lead, Amtrak's Empire Builder cleans the rails in Harwood after a fresh 6 inches of overnight snow.
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.
The Empire Builder descends the grade down Milwaukee Road's Short Line shortcut across Saint Paul. Amtrak 311 was leading the way in its Phase VII paint, which does look good on the new Siemens long-distance units.
The Friends of 261 have recently added the classy business car, Caritas to their roster of fine passenger cars. Here, the former Milwaukee Road Super Dome and recently repainted into a Milwaukee Road inspired scheme, with original Caritas scheme lines being retained, the fine pair bring up the marker of Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder at Watertown.
AMTK 301,321
Amtrak 8
Watertown, WI.
June 7, 2023
Expecting silver and blue to be leading the Empire Builder into Union Depot, instead, BNSF orange appeared into view making for an awkward-looking train. Anyone that knows me knows I am no fan of freight power on Amtrak. Oh well.
The Empire Builder with Phase VI, P42DC Heritage unit 184 leading at Minnesota City on a very cold morning.
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.