F
frank
Guest
I did a few round trips on the Empire Builder of late. Went from MSP to Washington state fishing on two different occasions. Had two deluxe bedrooms with the wall removed....the only way to travel.
On the first trip out....the engine crew went dead. For the squeamish in the group, that means they went over their hours allowed to operate. We had to await a fresh crew's arrival in the Cascades for three hours. No big deal.
On the return to MSP, we were delayed for several hours by a derail ahead. Heavy winds blew over some 15 or so empty containerized dealies on a tressle in East Glacier. Only to be further delayed in Williston N.D. for 20 some hours by yet another derailment which took out both tracks. Got some nice digital photos.
We were well fed and well informed, don't get me wrong. But.... to get sidetracked for a day and a night....on a Sunday.....in Williston N.D......I think that goes beyond the Geneva Convention!
For those of you who aren't familiar with North Dakota customs, I'll explain. N.D. has some severe blue laws...from what I've been told. You can't sell cars....you can't sell furniture....you can't sell nearly anything on a Sunday because of the state's blue laws. You can't even open a grocery store, so I've been told, unless you employ less than 4 people. I'm going on heresay on that last one...but I'll tell you that Williston on a Sunday is like sitting in the middle of the Mohave. Roll up the sidewalk.
A family of four finally lost it late Sunday afternoon....and purchased a beater car for $250 from a nearby corner....(was this illegal what with the blue laws?) They spent the afternoon cramming their many luggages and kids into this smoking vehicle while signing the title.
All the while, a local entrepreneur was cooking elk meat over a charcoal fire behind a boxcar, with quite a large following obviously fed up with snack car fare. He sold out. It reminded me of Steinbeck.....seeing people squatting behind a boxcar chewing meat all the while looking over their shoulder for the yard dogs.
Another family fled on the news that another car was available for $150 on another nearby corner. I wonder if they were ever seen again?
Great trips all in all. Anytime there are derailments that don't injure anyone, well that's just life. Time delays become meaningless when you're stranded in the absolute middle of nowhere...Williston comes to mind.
The Amtrak staff was great. I'd do it again tonight if I could. All in good time.
Frank
On the first trip out....the engine crew went dead. For the squeamish in the group, that means they went over their hours allowed to operate. We had to await a fresh crew's arrival in the Cascades for three hours. No big deal.
On the return to MSP, we were delayed for several hours by a derail ahead. Heavy winds blew over some 15 or so empty containerized dealies on a tressle in East Glacier. Only to be further delayed in Williston N.D. for 20 some hours by yet another derailment which took out both tracks. Got some nice digital photos.
We were well fed and well informed, don't get me wrong. But.... to get sidetracked for a day and a night....on a Sunday.....in Williston N.D......I think that goes beyond the Geneva Convention!
For those of you who aren't familiar with North Dakota customs, I'll explain. N.D. has some severe blue laws...from what I've been told. You can't sell cars....you can't sell furniture....you can't sell nearly anything on a Sunday because of the state's blue laws. You can't even open a grocery store, so I've been told, unless you employ less than 4 people. I'm going on heresay on that last one...but I'll tell you that Williston on a Sunday is like sitting in the middle of the Mohave. Roll up the sidewalk.
A family of four finally lost it late Sunday afternoon....and purchased a beater car for $250 from a nearby corner....(was this illegal what with the blue laws?) They spent the afternoon cramming their many luggages and kids into this smoking vehicle while signing the title.
All the while, a local entrepreneur was cooking elk meat over a charcoal fire behind a boxcar, with quite a large following obviously fed up with snack car fare. He sold out. It reminded me of Steinbeck.....seeing people squatting behind a boxcar chewing meat all the while looking over their shoulder for the yard dogs.
Another family fled on the news that another car was available for $150 on another nearby corner. I wonder if they were ever seen again?
Great trips all in all. Anytime there are derailments that don't injure anyone, well that's just life. Time delays become meaningless when you're stranded in the absolute middle of nowhere...Williston comes to mind.
The Amtrak staff was great. I'd do it again tonight if I could. All in good time.
Frank