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About a week ago, just decided that I HAD TO GO railroading. So on Monday, 5/24, I booked a round trip on the Empire Builder from Chicago to Minneapolis and back. Round trip $156. But, this would give me the maximum time on a train with a dining car and decent equipment for the time available to me on Memorial day weekend.

Sunday, May 30, departed Chicago on time on #7. The consist was as follows:

2 engines,

1 baggage car

1 transition sleeper

2 superliner sleepers

1 diner

2 coaches

1 sighseer lounge

2 coahes

1 sleeper

Several freight cars

Sorry, no car numbers. I was seated in the second coach behind the diner. Rather than have the attendant assign seats, the car was divided. From the stairs forward, signs noted that these seats were received for people traveling together. The singles were relegated to the back half of the car. Not a bad system if you manage to beat the other singles out of the station in order to get a window seat. The train was full. The lady sittting next to me barely said two words the whole trip, but communicated with scowls when I tried to use scanner w/out headphones. Oops, Im used to my own room.

The train made good time out of Chicago and up to Milwaukee. There were visible signs of the heavy rains from the past week. Creeks had overflowed banks, and in some places water stretched on both sides of the bridges beyond the banks. However, the train kept a steady 79 MPH.

I took the first call to dinner at 5 P.M., shortly before Columbus, WI. There had been one slower order for several miles through a flooded area. Fields had turned into lakes, and water actually touched the edges of the roadbed. I began to have hopes of an all-BNSF detour back to Chicago on Monday. I placed my order for the steak as we eased out of the slow order zone.

The steak was served at milepost 152. It was ok, nothing great. However, I enjoyed the mashed potatoes, and the company of my table mates. The apple pie ala mode was delicious.

Shortaly after Wisconsin Dells, we passed through a torrential downpour. A half hour later, the sun was peaking out between the clouds. The rolling hills and trees of Wisconsin provided an every changing view. After LaCrosse, another rain deluge as we followed the Mississippi river. Then fog added to the mystique of the trip. The entire time, I had my head phones on listening to 70's funk music. What great way to spend a day.

Arrived ontime into Minneaplis. A 11 dollar cab right took me to the Minneapolis center Marriott where I had a travel agent rate of $49,

At 6:30 the next morning, I returned to the Amtrak station for my return to Chicago. I decided to look into upgrading to a sleeper because of the crowed of people waiting in the station.

Since I had paid full fare coach ticket, I only had to pay an additional $45 dollars for the sleeper. By the time I had breakfast and lunch, the additional cost of the slleepr was actually about 20 dollars. A pretty good deal!

The Minneapolis station has a nice first class lounge that has picture windows overlooking the tracks. It has the comfortable seating of other first class lounges and a large TV. No free drinks, or at least I didn't see them. 8 was scheduled to arrive on time, so I only had about 15 minutes to wait. I called my girlfriend on my cell, and surveyed the private cars parked several cars over. I saw Caritas and Sierra Hotel, plus a few others.

I was in room 12 of 2830 car, the Portland to Chicago sleeper. The attendant gave me a choice of several rooms on the upper level. I chose 6 on the left side so that I could view the Missippi River. The attendant then encouraged me to hurry to the Diner before the coach passenger boarded. Good advice. Moments after I was seated, a waiting list was started before we had left the station. If I had been in coach . . . :blink: :angry:

I had the french toast with bacon. Enjoyable but not spectacular. One of the table mates was a train traveler too, and the other two people were interested in learning more about train travel. So breakfast conversation was enjoyable.

After breakfast, returned to my room and napped. After Red Wing, I put on my headphones and had a railfan's Motown Monday as 8 follwed the Missippi river south. Diana Ross & the Supremes followed by Marvin Gaye, followed by the Spinners and the Temptations. By now, we were easing across the Missippi into Lacrosse, WI. No detour today.

A brief nap, and then to the diner for first call to lunch. Sat with two parents and their young daughter. I had the angus burger and a Pepsi. Again, food was good but not spectaculary. At least the portion of chips was better than in past trips. The Brownie a la mode was the highlight.

Stayed ontime across Wisconsin. I napped, read, and listened to my scanner for hot box detectors. Very relaxing. As we entered Milwaukee, I finally go a signal on my cell phone, so I called one of my best friends from work and discussed worked place politics. Her detailed description of a disliked coworker looking bad in front of the principal enhanced the arrival of 8 into Milwaukee.

Milwaukee to Chicago passed in a flash. A nap, a few chapters read, and suddenly we were pulling into Glenview. 10 minutes later, passed through the junction at Western and then pulled into Union Station on time. Overall, a great trip.
 
I'm going to make this forum active again.

Good trip report. I've done the CHI to Grand Forks via MSP about a dozen times now. My favorite is leaving MSP going down the Mississippi to La Crosse. Lots of bald eagles can be seen from there.

CHris
 
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