I have a conference in Seattle in April 2016, and I'm considering taking the Empire Builder (coach) from Seattle to Chicago, changing to the Lake Shore Limited for the rest of my trip. I've seen a lot of threads online discussing the delays from increased traffic on the BNSF in Montana and North Dakota and the ability to make the connection in Chicago (~5 hour layover). Thoughts? Experiences? Thanks, Ben
I've not been on it since just before the boom really took off. (2008) It was full then. The boom has slacked off now, so might not be as full. Going all the way to Chicago, I'm not sure going coach would be my choice. But a roomette might not fit your budget.
I would think it would be a fun trip. I took Amtrak from AZ to Cali and AZ to Houston (Sugarland, TX)to the N Scale Convention. Both were a Blast. Almost as much fun as driving a VW Camper across states for vacation. It's not the speed, but the adventure of getting there. Go For it! You won't regret it.
