February, 2020
Two things inspired this trip: 1) I'd not ever been on the Amtrak train "The Empire Builder" and 2) I'd not been to the Boeing Flight Museum in Seattle for a number of years and I know they've expanded since then.
I checked the weather and made adjustments to my departure time to give the best odds of dry weather in both Chicago and Seattle. Making online reservations for a roomette on the Southwest Chief to Chicago and then to Seattle was easy. There's not much else to do than to go.
a 2019 report on riding the Southwest Chief to Arizona is here.
a 2019 report on riding the California Zephyr to California is here.
Each dot on the map (above) is a station.
Kansas
I've done this many times (it's the same going east or west), but it's still an awful time for a departure: 2:20am. I'll be in Chicago by 2:30pm later this same day.
Newton, Kansas. For unclear reasons, the station--normally open and warm--was closed. A number of folks stayed in cars out front with the engine (and heater) running. Many more were on the downwind side of the building trying not to freeze.
Because I have a roomette, I'm quickly in bed to catch some sleep for what remains of the night. The car attendant had already set things up for me when I boarded.
Missouri
Kansas City is a fuel and maintenance stop, so there's time to get out and walk around a bit. The sun will soon be up.
The Kansas City Union Station is an interesting place, but it's much too early to go there and in any case, I would never risk missing the train by leaving this area.
Near Marceline, Missouri, that looks like an old coaling tower.
Near Sandhill, Missouri. There's plenty of snow on the ground, but it's warm on the train and breakfast is good. Three meals each day in the dining car come with the roomette.
Iowa
Near Fort Madison, Iowa in the dining car. The train crosses over the Mississippi, here. This would not be the only time I'll cross that river.
Illinois
Near Lomax, Illinois, still running alongside the Mississippi River.
Galesburg, Illinois.
Entering Chicago, Illinois by train gives you an idea of the importance of the railroads to this city. These tracks will soon run below street level, under Union Station.
Union Station is in the middle of things and couldn't be easier. My hotel is within an easy walk. The connection between the Southwest Chief and the Empire Builder doesn't work for a transfer on the same day, so spending a night in Chicago is the only way to do it (but, that works best for me, too).
Adams Street and the start of Route-66. If you stay on this historic route and follow the signs (it's all well marked), you'll reach Santa Monica, California and the Pacific Ocean.
Three icons of Chicago...
...and a fourth.
Riding the bus is easy with a Venture Card (I still had mine from the last visit). In any case, I don't think I'd want to drive (or find a place to park) on these streets.
The International Museum of Surgical Science. I'm here because I've not been here before, and it sounds interesting.
Some surgical tools are obvious and make sense, other tools seem pointless (so to speak).
It's a good museum; worth visiting.
Downtown Chicago as viewed from the North Avenue Beach.
Union Station was completed in 1925. It's had some hard years, but is now looking good.
The Metropolitan Lounge is available for passengers who are traveling in a sleeper car. There are snacks and drinks freely available, but more importantly, there are comfortable chairs in a quiet and relaxing environment. It's nicely done.
Walking to the Empire Builder for a departure at 2:50pm. I've got a single small shoulder-bag (that's plenty for this ten-day trip) with an attached water bottle. On the clothes-hangers are my polar-tech pullover and insulated vest. The strap for the shoulder-bag is looped over the hanger-rod, so the bag is easily available but not in the way. The two facing seats will fold down to a bed when needed.
I'll point out that the sleeper cars also have showers. It's an easy way to travel.
My indirect journey to Seattle continues...
Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
This is not an extended stop; we pick up and leave passengers in Milwaukee and are then on our way.
Ice fishing on Lake Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
Near Emmet, Wisconsin.
Near Lowell, Wisconsin.
Minnesota
Winona, Minnesota and a chance to get out for (cold) fresh air.
North Dakota
Near Norwich, North Dakota. This is the lounge car. Downstairs is a cafe (really just a snack bar) with additional tables.
Minot, North Dakota.
The train will follow US-2 for many miles across the "high-line." We're on the route of the Great Northern.
Des Lacs, North Dakota.
Near Palermo, North Dakota.
Stanley, North Dakota.
Ross, North Dakota.
Montana
Near Epping, Montana.
The train is not full; I never had a problem finding a place to sit in the lounge car.
Williston, Montana.
Near Poplar, Montana (along the Missouri River)
Near Frazer, Montana.
Glasgow, Montana.
Near Vandalia, Montana (now following the Milk River).
Lake Bowdoin, Montana.
Malta, Montana.
Near Harlem, Montana. That's still US-2 highway.
Havre, Montana.
Near Kremlin, Montana. I'm pretty sure we're looking at the Little Rocky Mountains--I've been over and around them several times on a motorcycle.
Near Lothair, Montana.
Near Dunkirk, Montana.
Shelby, Montana.
Crossing Cut Bank Creek (you can just see the US-2 highway bridge).
Near Sundance, Montana.
Near Blackfoot, Montana and it will soon be time for me to lower my two facing seats into a bed.
Idaho
It's dark and I'm asleep; I'm sure this part of Idaho is nice...
...but, the train keeps a 'rolling.
Washington
Near Berne, Washington as the train crosses the Cascade Mountains in western Washington. This would have been a difficult route to build a railroad, and we'll be going through the longest U.S. tunnel pretty soon.
South Skykomish River, Washington.
Baring, Washington and I really should remove the smudges on my windows. I wish I could clean the outside, too. Taking shots through a window along with the angled sun can make things difficult for a photographer.
Sunset Falls on the South Skykomish River with jagged Mount Index, Washington reaching into the morning sun.
Mount Persis, as viewed from the bridge over the North Fork Skykomish River at the town of Index.
Near Gold Bar, Washington.
Near Monroe, Washington in the broad river delta where the Skykomish, Snohomish and Snoqualmie rivers come together before reaching Puget Sound at Everett.
The Amtrak station at Everett, Washington.
Near Mukilteo, Washington while running along the very edge of the water.
The (seemingly floating) Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound.
Ballard Locks, Washington.
And we've arrived. This is King Street Station, Seattle, Washington, which is right downtown.
My hotel is next to the station, so couldn't be any easier. Out one window is the stadium (nothing happening today) and the other window around the corner has a view of the city and the sound. I'll be two nights, here.
Pioneer Square.
Walking to the center of the town.
The Pike Street public market.
Seattle has new, tall and interesting buildings.
This is The Seattle Public Library. In a city of remarkable buildings, this one doesn't disappoint.
When visiting a new library, I like to track down whatever book I happen to be reading (on my phone) so I can sit in the reading area and read a few chapters with real ink-on-a-page. In this case it's "Germinal" (1885), by Émile Zola. I wasn't sure they'd have it, but it's a pretty complete library. It's funny having to actually turn the pages with my hand--tapping the edge of a page doesn't do a thing...
I'm in Seattle, so there's a requirement to stop at a Starbucks. It's not hard to find one around here. You are hardly ever out of sight of yet another Starbucks (with the friendliest and chattiest baristas).
This power-pole is well-guarded.
Union Station is not the King Street Station; but, it's just across the tracks.
The Seattle bus system is every bit as easy as the Chicago system. Here you'll need an Orca card.
The Boeing Museum of Flight is one of the best in the country.
I'll make no effort to identify the planes in this museum. This is the newer part that I've not seen before. These planes are not in a building, but they are well-protected under a roof.
This gentleman (here with his wife) was a navigator on this very B-52 that's now on display as a memorial. The two of them like to come out and visit it.
Across the street at the large museum building. These airplanes, of course, are all indoors.
Engines on display.
You'll find many volunteers in the museum (many of them being ex-Boeing engineers). All of them were happy to answer any of my questions. This man was giving a talk on the Spitfire and its role in the Battle of Britain (answer: its role was huge).
In the World War 1 section are several replicas (the originals all being lost), but this very old Caproni is all original. Incidentally, I've toured the original Caproni factory in Italy, which I recommend
The "Red Barn" is where Boeing began.
The grand exhibition hall. This is just amazing.
Space vehicles with a good deal of Apollo hardware.
The control tower looking over Boeing Field is not used, but it's a good place to have a seat and watch (and listen to) the airplanes arriving and departing. You'll see all sorts.
The Seattle Space Needle seen from South Lake Union Park. I've been up to the top, before, so won't be doing that, today.
Lake Union.
Historic and restored boats that reflect the history of Seattle.
Seattle's Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI).
Seattle has such a wide history that even a building this large is hard-pressed to do much more than give a glance to it all.
The history of the region before there ever was a Seattle.
Early days of Seattle, which included a devastating fire.
Airplanes (Boeing), software (Microsoft) and shopping (Amazon). Seattle is not a one-industry town.
Seattle's Center for Wooden Boats.
The center includes education, and you'll see students down there making parts.
The Seattle Art Museum. As you'd expect, there's no shortage of benefactors in this town. It's a good museum.
That's an amazing tree in the lobby. The inset give some idea how it was made. It's a sculpture of a tree that's made of wood...
Individual details of many very large paintings by an Australian artist.
There's a wide mix of regional art and European art. You never know what will be around the corner.
I've not (yet) woken in my bed to find a large mouse standing on me. But, this poor man has.
Three days (mostly) and two nights; it's time to board the Empire Builder for the ride back to Chicago. This train leaves in late afternoon, so what was dark on the trip here will possibly be in the daylight on the return.
Near Edmunds, Washington. It's dinner time as the train glides by Puget Sound. But, the colors...
Idaho
Either way; it's dark in Idaho. I'm sleeping.
Montana
This time, it'll be morning (and daylight) when the train crosses the Rocky Mountains, just skirting south of Glacier National Park.
Near Olney, Montana.
Whitefish Lake, "morning has broken..."
Whitefish, Montana.
Near Columbia Falls, Montana (Flathead River).
Near Coram, Montana (Flathead River).
Near West Glacier, Montana (Flathead River).
Mount Stimson.
Near Essex, Montana.
Near Blacktail, Montana.
And, then, as quick as that, we're out of the Rocky Mountains.
East of Cutbank, Montana.
West Butte, seen forty miles to the north from Ethridge, Montana. Central Montana has many randomly scattered little mountain ranges.
The tracks coming south from Canada near Virden, Montana and joining the tracks we're on. This train is waiting for us to pass by.
Sunset near Calais, Montana.
North Dakota
More darkness.
Minnesota
The rising sun obscured by the Robert Street Bridge (1926) and the St. Paul Union Pacific Vertical-Lift Rail Bridge (1913) over the Mississippi River.
Near Cottage Grove, Minnesota--the Mississippi River.
Hastings Bridge over the Mississippi River at the town of Hastings. It's the largest of its type.
Sugar Loaf overlooking Winona, Minnesota--looking southwest down Mankato Avenue.
Near Dresbach, Minnesota, looking out the back of the last car of the train travelling south down the west bank of the Mississippi River.
Wisconsin
Illinois
And the Empire Builder has returned to Union Station, Chicago. I'll be spending the night at the same hotel as a few days ago.
Catching the Southwest Chief the afternoon of the next day.
Near Cameron, Illinois. It'll soon be time to make up my bed. I've become accustomed to this way of travel.
Iowa
It's night; no photographs.
Missouri
It's still night.
Kansas
And, arriving back in Newton at an equally awful time in the morning as when this all began. It's been a good trip.