Long before the days of Amtrak, I enjoyed traveling along railroad tracks aboard the Empire Builder passenger train. In 1971 Amtrak assumed operations of the Empire Builder which dates back to 1929.

In the years following World War II, passengers would board the Empire Builder at Breckenridge. Later, the closest boarding places became Fargo and Detroit Lakes. Passengers head west, toward Seattle, or east to the Twin Cities and Chicago.

Until 1971, rail passengers in Fergus Falls could take the Western Star or Red River eastward to the Twin Cities and Chicago or westward to Fargo and Grand Forks.

On Saturday, May 30, for the first time in 16 years, I boarded Amtrak’s Empire Builder in the Twin Cities with my son, Mark. The train left for Red Wing, and points beyond, about 8:30 a.m., slightly behind schedule. We arrived in Milwaukee about 3 p.m., well in advance of attending a Brewers baseball game that evening.

Traveling by train allows a person to enjoy the beauty of the Mississippi River, have lunch in a dining car while passing over bridges and seeing deer and other wildlife — something you don’t see when flying on a plane. Amtrak also makes a stop at the Wisconsin Dells, with a good view of the river and its high bluffs.

Heading home, after spending lots of time along Lake Michigan, we boarded Amtrak in Milwaukee about 4 p.m. on Monday, June 1. We arrived in the Twin Cities about an hour before midnight. Before our arrival at the station the sunset along the rail route, a stone’s throw from the Mississippi River, was fabulous. Many people snapped photos from the observation deck.

You can take the option to board Amtrak at Fargo or Detroit Lakes. The down side is that you leave and arrive in the middle of the night. That’s why we opted to depart (8:30 a.m. after spending the previous night in the Twin Cities) and arrive (11 p.m.) at the Amtrak station in Minneapolis-St. Paul. We then made the drive home.

By the way, parking is free for your vehicle at Amtrak stations.

The original Empire Builder made its first journey along the Great Northern Railway on June 11, 1929. The train was named in honor of railroad tycoon James J. Hill, who reorganized several failing railroads. He extended the Great Northern line to the Pacific Northwest in the late 19th century.

Hill's nickname was "The Empire Builder.”

In prior years, I’ve also taken the Empire Builder westward, to Seattle. When the train gets past the prairies of North Dakota and eastern Montana, it’s very special to find yourself in the Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park. Depending on the time of year and weather, mountain vistas can be seen from the train as it skirts the southern edge of the park.

In fiscal year 2007, the Empire Builder carried over a half million passengers, maintaining its status as the most popular long-distance train in Amtrak's national system.

Over the years Amtrak has relied, in part, on government subsidies. This has resulted in many debates on the viability of the Amtrak system. This year the rail system is taking advantage of federal stimulus dollars. A main supporter is Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime Amtrak rider.

It’s good to know that the Empire Builder is one of the better used trains in the Amtrak system. For me, riding the rails has been something special, off and on, for over half a century.



source : http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com