ALL:
How is the switching of the two "Empire Builders" at Spokane accomplished? I assume that 28 sets out their train and 8 backs onto it and the same for 7 and 27 cars. Is the locomotive on 28 turned at Parkwater to be ready for 27? Does 28's crew have enough time to double back to Portland?
My wife and I rode the "Empire Builders" from St. Paul to Whitefish and return. We had a great time!
Ed Burns
Happily retired NP-BN-BNSF from Minneapolis.
Wow, I'm surprised no one has replied to this yet. Many years ago we rode the Builder from Chicago to either Portland or Seattle every year. At that time I can tell you that you are correct, that 7 or 8 backed down onto 27 or 28. We often had to wait quite a while for the other train to arrive.
I dont know about turning the engine or crew assignements...
I was ridng the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland several years ago. If I remember correctly, the Seattle section is on the rear behind the Portland section and the train split between the lounge and the diner. In any event, a guy was having trouble sleeping in a Seattle bound coach so he moved to the closed lounge car to stretch out on the floor between the seats and the wall. He went there so no one would step on him. Unfortunately, no one could see him either. He ended up heading to Portland on my section, while the wife or girlfriend continued, sound asleep on the Seattle section. It was great when the guy woke up and tried to walk back to his coach which was no longer there! I remember the conductor talking to someone on the phone trying to arrange to get the guy back to the Seattle section. I never knew what the final outcome was.
PAJRR:
Your comment reminds me of a story in one of John Strauss, Jr.'s book on the GN Empire Builder. John was a GN passenger traffic agent whose job was a traveling passenger traffic representative. The two Empire Builder's (east and westbound) arrived in Spokane at the same time. Two dining car stewards got off the train in the middle of the night (presumably to turn in money to the agent). Both got on the wrong train! The eastbound steward wound up back in Seattle, and the westbound steward boarded the eastbound EB. A true story. John Strauss's books are excellent and written from one who rode the trains for a living and had access to a plethera of information.
Interesting stories about people getting on wrong sections. I rode the Builder in 2003 and went to Portland. I know the diner was cut off as we only had snack bar for meals. I was traveling first class and did get my free breakfast. The Sightseer Lounge stayed with us and finally I was able to get a seat there and take pics of Columbia River Gorge without a bunch of people milling around. The bulk of the passengers must have went to Seattle. I was glad I chose Portland because it happened to be their Rose Fest weekend. I stayed overnight to catch Starlight to San Fran the following day and was able to see the parade and tour a Navy ship that was docked at the port. I did not know the east and west sections were in Spokane at same time, I was sound asleep in my bedroom and was not even aware of the switching.
I was just on the EB (and on time!) Empire Builderabout six weeks ago. Unfortunately, the did the switching while I was inside the station ordering a teriyaki chicken to go...
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