Hi All I've just finished updating my trip report on the Empire Builder. The trip was pre-COVID (we're not allowed to travel at the moment) so describes pre-COVID service. If you're interested it's published here: https://trainreview.com/article/exp...-americas-north-aboard-amtraks-empire-builder I hope everyone is staying safe and well!!
Glad you saw King Street since the remodel. It was once grand, then went to altered, worn and weary. And thankfully, was brought back to former glory. I am a native of that vicinity. So knew the pre-mega-merger railroads there, and across the street at Union Station. Have been aboard many hundreds of ferry rides on those inland waters. Know the Bremerton run quite well, as I had family on the west end of that route. Just a quick note- They are operated by WSDOT: The Washington State Department of Transportation. You would have really loved the older ferries they operated. Quite the assortment of vessels, wit a lot of individual character. Even their horns were different. It has been some years since my last ride on the Builder. I have been thinking about making the 'circle', west through Spokane, to Seattle. Then down to Portland and back through Spokane again.
I loved King St Station - almost unexpectedly! The ferries are so great around Seattle - beautiful part of the world!
Great trip isn't it. Have been to Chicago once from the Seattle area, between Everett, WA and TheFish multiple times. I guess that it is in my blood. If ya get a chance, do the Seattle to Whitefish trip via scooter, car or truck. There are many places near the RoW for pix taking and general scenery viewing. The Kootenai River Canyon is almost as great as Glacier except that you can not get close to the RoW. You can however get to the entry by following Idaho24 in Bonners Ferry to Crossport from the West side, Yakt from the East on NF4402 just West of Troy MT, and just before the Kootenai River bridge. As a note, the Sandpoint station is not Great Northern. See www.sandpointtrainstation.com. Was build in 1916 for the Northern Pacific. Great Northern RoW went by Sandpoint on the edge of town to the West. GN pretty much followed HWY2 to Spokane. The GN station is still there at the end of Main Street abet it is now a BNSF storage facility.
