Empire Builder

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The Empire Builder is a daily long-distance Amtrak train connecting downtown Chicago to either Seattle or Portland, Oregon. The journey takes about 46 hours, longer if delays occur along the route. Passengers may be forced to take buses for part of the route if track work is being done. (Track work is not announced until the day of departure.) Equipment used is common to most Amtrak long-distance routes, with two-level Superliner passengers cars, sleeper cars, dining car, an observation/snack bar car, and possibly several baggage/expedited cargo cars.

Great Northern Railway Empire Builder - postcard of the Empire Builder near Glacier National Park circa 1940s

Route Overview

The Empire Builder begins its westbound journey at Chicago's Union Station. Passengers see the Chicago River and central Chicago as the train eases out of the station. The train heads north through the Chicago suburbs to Milwaukee before heading northwest through the pleasant countryside of central Wisconsin. Crossing the Mississippi River a couple of times and the train arrives at the St. Paul Union Depot around 10:30 PM.

Chicago union station hall - The great hall at Chicago's Union Station

As the passengers sleep and the train carries them across Minnesota, and well into North Dakota before sunrise. The route parallels US highway 2 much of this stretch. Sights include the high prairie, once-prosperous farming towns (now almost vanished). Wildlife, especially birds, deer and coyote are often seen.

Around noon and the Empire Builder crosses into Montana. As you enter Montana, at the left of the train, you can see the large flag and reconstructed fur trading post of the Fort Union National Monument. The train loosely follows the Missouri River (and the Lewis and Clark Trail) for about 130 miles between Williston ND and Wolf Point MT. This stretch passes through the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, one of several Indian reservations on the route.

Glacier National Park sunset - Sunset at Glacier National Park}}

The scenery remains rolling high plains for several more hours. In the late afternoon/early evening (depending on the season traveled in) the train arrives at Glacier National Park. In summer and the mountain vistas are beautiful—however and the light will fade quickly in winter, giving only a glimpse of the Rocky Mountains.

The train traverses the mountains through the second night, traveling down the Cascade Mountains and Skykomish River valley to the Puget Sound.After an hour or so following the waterfront and the Empire Builder arrives in Seattle (approx. 10:20 AM, typically).

Passengers bound for Portland_(Oregon) | Portland, Oregon have their rail cars diverted at Spokane|Spokane, WA in the middle of the second night. By the time it gets light in the morning you are well out of the mountains and are traveling down the north side of the Columbia River to Portland. Thit is actually one of the most scenic parts of the trip. You see log rafts, wind surfers, dams, sagebrush. The last part of the journey is through the spectacular Columbia River Gorge.

Empire Builder passengers traveling eastbound from Seattle/Portland see much more of the Glacier Park area and less of the plains. Thus, if you are only traveling in one direction, east-bound is preferable.

The total running length of this route is 2200 miles.

The American Industry Tour, an itinerary which features the industrialization of the United States, ending in mid-20th century Chicago, is a good prelude to the Empire Builder.

Stations

From east to west:

• GPS 41.87864,-87.64025 - Chicago, Illinois
• GPS 42.0751,-87.8057 Glenview, Illinois
• GPS 43.034167,-87.917222 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• GPS 43.3408,-89.0126 Columbus (Wisconsin) | Columbus, Wisconsin
• GPS 43.5471,-89.4677 Portage (Wisconsin) | Portage, Wisconsin

Empire Builder Wisconsin Dells Station - Wisconsin Dells Station

• GPS 43.6266,-89.7775 - Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
• GPS 43.986,-90.5055 Tomah, Wisconsin
• GPS 43.8334,-91.2472 La Crosse, Wisconsin
• GPS 44.044306,-91.640139 Winona, Minnesota
• GPS 44.566389,-92.537222 Red Wing, Minnesota
• GPS 44.947778,-93.086111 Saint Paul, Minnesota — Thruway bus connection for Duluth
• GPS 45.5679,-94.149 Saint Cloud (Minnesota) | St. Cloud, Minnesota
• GPS 46.354444,-94.795278 Staples, Minnesota
• GPS 46.819722,-95.845833 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
• GPS 46.881,-96.7861 Fargo, North Dakota
• GPS 47.917411,-97.110911 Grand Forks, North Dakota
• GPS 48.1104,-98.8615 Devils Lake, North Dakota
• GPS 48.3697,-99.9977 Rugby (North Dakota) | Rugby, North Dakota
• GPS 48.2361,-101.2987 Minot, North Dakota
• GPS 48.3199,-102.3895 Stanley, North Dakota
• GPS 48.1429,-103.6211 Williston (North Dakota) | Williston, North Dakota
• GPS 48.0915,-105.6431 Wolf Point, Montana
• GPS 48.195,-106.6363 Glasgow, Montana
• GPS 48.3605,-107.8719 Malta (Montana) | Malta, Montana
• GPS 48.55457,-109.67836 Havre, Montana
• GPS 48.5069,-111.8572 Shelby (Montana) | Shelby, Montana
• GPS 48.63839,-112.33153 Cut Bank, Montana
• GPS 48.53393,-113.01321 Browning, Montana - open from October to April
• GPS 48.4439,-113.2185 Glacier National Park (East Glacier), Montana
• GPS 48.27525,-113.6103 Essex (Montana) | Essex, Montana - unstaffed
• GPS 48.4987,-113.9716 Glacier National Park (West Glacier), Montana

Whitefish train station - Whitefish Montana train station

• GPS 48.413611,-114.335556 - Whitefish train station - Whitefish, Montana
• GPS 48.3949,-115.5488 Libby, Montana
• GPS 48.2764,-116.5456 Sandpoint, Idaho - the only operating Amtrak station in Idaho
• GPS 47.656347,-117.415369 Spokane Train Station - Spokane, Washington

Route to Portland

• GPS 46.236944,-119.0875 - City of Pasco - Pasco, Washington
• GPS 45.6576,-120.9664 - Wishram, Washington - Although Wishram is one of the smallest communities served by Amtrak, it is an important gateway to the scenic recreational opportunities offered by the Columbia River."
• GPS 45.7151,-121.4688 - Bingen White Salmon Amtrak station.jpegBingen–White Salmon, Washington
• GPS 45.628889,-122.686389 - Vancouver (Washington) | Vancouver, Washington - a connection can be made here to the Amtrak Cascades.
• GPS 45.529167,-122.675556 - Portland, Oregon - a connection can be made here to the Amtrak Cascades.

Route to Seattle

King Street Station (Seattle) 2005 05 23 - Seattle's historic King Street Station

• GPS 47.32089,-119.54935 - Ephrata, Washington
• GPS 47.42203,-120.30698 - Wenatchee, Washington — Thruway bus connection for Omak
• GPS 47.606886,-120.644345 Leavenworth (Washington) | Leavenworth, Washington
• GPS 47.9755,-122.1977 - Everett (Washington) | Everett, Washington - a connection can be made here to the Amtrak Cascades.
• GPS 47.811111,-122.384167 - Edmonds, Washington - a connection can be made here to the Amtrak Cascades.
• GPS 47.5984,-122.3299 Seattle, Washington - a connection can be made here to the Amtrak Cascades.