1990's Amtrak train: Wisconsin to Washington

[BerkshireSteam]

Am still stuck between HO and N, and this certainly doesn't help clarify which to choose. I have decided I want to model an Amtrak train I was on as a kid (at least in part by having the correct consist). The trip was in summer of 1990 or 91, can't remember which year. We departed in Columbus WI, although the train did not originate here this is simply where we hopped on, and went all the way to Seattle to visit family for a week or so. On the way home we stopped in Montana for a few days to visit more family.

So, in 1990/91 what Amtrak trains ran between Wisconsin and Seattle? If it was a "name" train (most likely) what cars would have been on it? Does the train still exist?

[PJM20]

The Empire Builder's route is from Chicago to Seattle via Wisconsin. You can still ride the Empire Builder today. My suggestion would to be go to train picture sites or just type in Google Images "1990 Amtrak Empire Builder" and variations of that. There were a ton of people with cameras in 1990, so finding actual pictures of the train you rode wouldn't be to hard.

[wjstix]

A "model railroad size" Empire Builder c.1990 could be two F40PH diesels followed by a Baggage car, Coach, Sleeper, Dining car, Lounge/Cafe, Baggage/Coach, and Sleeper. All but the Baggage would be Superliner I cars. The reason for that arrangement - instead of a more typical arrangement with coaches up front and sleepers in the rear - is the EB was/is really two trains; going west from Chicago, the front part of the train would go to Seattle, the back part would split off in eastern Washington state and go to Portland, OR.

[ssgauge]

I've ridden the Amtrak version of the Empire Builder from Portland, OR to Whitefish, MT.  The train splits for Seattle and Portland at Spokane, WA.  The Empire Builder was originally a Great Northern train;  it competed with the Northern Pacific's North Coast Limited, which I rode a number of times throughout the 1950's from Seattle to Pasco, WA to visit my grandparents.

[angelob6660]

I exactly have the correct consist of the Empire Builder. Remember these were all painted in Phase III on Superliner I cars. You can model this N Scale thanks to Kato.

2 F40, 3 MHC, 1 Baggage, 1 Ex-ATSF Coach-Dormitory, 1 Sleeper, 1 Coach, 1 Diner, 1 Lounge-Café, 1 Coach-Baggage, 1 Coach, 1 Sleeper.

                                                                                                                      

 

                                                                                                        *F40 ditchlights came after/during the P40's.