Part One- Riding the Empire Builder to Oregon

For several years, our bucket list of travel has included a cross-country rail trip. We were attracted to the view at ground level of the western landscape, the uncrowded and unhurried pace of travel and the ability to move around the train. Prior trips on the AMTRAK Autotrain to Florida always introduced us to interesting people in the dining car.  We were not disappointed with our three week trip this May.  The AMTRAK crews were always helpful, and we saw some beautiful country not seen from the interstate.

Our route began on a regional train from my brother's home in Kalamazoo to Chicago Union Station.  After lunch in the busy station and a short wait in the lounge, we were aboard the Empire Builder heading to Portland, Oregon for a two day journey.  Our sleeper car was a comfortable private lounge as we rolled through Wisconsin and then Minnesota. Before midnight we were in St. Paul and ready for some sleep.

It turned out that the rear of train was a good place to photograph, and early on the second day the view was of a brilliant sunrise.

As we rolled across on day two in North Dakota, we discovered that the train is a preferred way to travel to the small towns along the northern stretch of high plains.  At each stop, there were cars with family awaiting a returning traveler.

These stops were also fresh air breaks where you could step out and walk about for five or ten minutes. The train does allow the traveler to move about more freely than aircraft, and actually meet fellow travelers, but it is nice to walk without the ground moving underneath.

By the end of the second day, many of the coach seats were empty - indicating how many passengers were finding the train preferable to other routes to northern parts of the Dakotas.

There is no smoking on any AMTRAK train, so the short stops were announced by the conductor with the amount of time available for a smoke break. Breaking that rule would result in being put off at the next stop, which could be remote.

As we rolled across the plains, it struck me that often the highest point in many counties was atop the grain elevator along the rail line.  The idea of winter in North Dakota also was apparent.

Imagine a blizzard of driving snow against this solitary farm house on the rolling prairie.  Whew!

Each day on the rails offered four places to occupy - our sleeping compartment, the dining car, the fresh air platform at longer stops and the observation car.  The dining car introduced us to interesting people such as the father and daughter from England who later joined Pam in the  observation car.  If you wanted a short nap, our compartment was perfect.  Sometimes the view from the compartment was preferred. The platform at a stop was good for a chat with a conductor.  All in all, all four were good.


During the second night, the Empire Builder was split into one section going to Seattle and ours going to Portland.  We slept so well that we did not feel the cars being uncoupled.  When we awoke, the train was smoothly rolling along the upper Columbia River.

We enjoyed a nice boxed breakfast in the observation car.  (The dining car had gone to Seattle, but that was fine.) The view of the Columbia was beautiful.  And, even better, we were close to being on time.

Arriving in Vancouver, Washington, the train then backed across the Columbia River rail bridge and into the Portland station.

It was a quiet Sunday morning in Portland, and the weather was perfect. Our Uber driver was there almost immediately to swiftly take us to the next part of our adventure.  In a little over an hour we were settled in a camper van and ready to explore the Oregon coast for six days.