this question is for you guys in the seattle area: i am taking a bus from montana to catch the empire builder (see my previous post "who is the most dedicated rider?". only now instead of catching the train in spokane i will catch it in either everett or seattle. If i start in everett, the greyhound bus schedule fits in perfectly, arriving at the station there two hours before the train leaves. If i want to leave from seattle though, i will have to take an earlier bus and then have a layover in seattle for about 9 hours. the pros to starting in seattle are that i can choose my seat and dont have to worry much about the car being full. Of course i have to wait in seattle 9 hours to do it. What are you guys' opinions? is the train usually pretty full out of seattle? if it isnt, i will probably go with everett.
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
as a follow up question, is the king street station in seattle really worth seeing?
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
I dont live in Seattle but, I would take it from Seattle. I am oging to be taking the starlight from LA to POrtland to catch the Empire Builder, and it usually runs on time....But bottom line is if your goign coach I think you said I would start from Seattle.
A.
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
hey coast starlight, thanks for the info. keep your fingers crossed that the starlight will be on time into portland though!
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
another option i have is to take a bus to portland oregon, then take an Amtrak Cascades train to seattle. is this a nice train? is it usually on time? if i did this, i couldnt afford the train to be later than 30 minutes.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
(Shanghaiamtrak)..have a question for you. Are you going, by bus, from Montana over to pick up the Coast Starlight? Or, are you picking up the Empire Builder, in Montana, to make connections with the Coast Starlight? The reason I ask is I may sort of do the opposite this summer. I am thinking of traveling up the Coast Starlight and making the connection with the Empire Builder above Portland. I was thinking of either going to Whitefish, Mt or to the Izaak Walton Inn at Essex. Anyone ever stay at the Izaak Walton Inn..would you recommend it? If I, instead go to Whitefish..it gets in very early..around 8am. Hoping I can get a motel that will allow an early check in. Also, does anyone know how late the Empire Builder gets into north-western Montana, on an average..it's suppose to get into Whitefish at around 9:30 PM, heading west, but I would guess it would be common for it to be 1-2 hours late (??). I may scrap the whole idea and go up to Eugene, OR and take the Cascades all the way up to Vancouver, BC. It is a good train and fun to ride. I hear they may add extra trains on the run..anyone know. The trip back from Vancouver to Seattle starts around 6pm..whould be nice if they added a morning run from Vancouver to Seattle, as well. Finally, one last question. If anyone has ever made connections with the Empire Builder, above Portland, do you have to de-train and board the Empire Builder, or does the train split? Also, I heard that the Empire Builder, out of (Vancouver, WA?) to Spokane does not have regular dining car service..but did hear they may serve cold plate dinners to passengers in the sleeper units (I guess coach passenger have to go to the snack car?). RH
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
Yukon11, the Empire Builder west of Spokane splits: Diner to Seattle and back, Cafe Lounge to Portland and back. The Portland Sightseer Lounge runs right behind the locomotive, and it's just tall enough so you can stand on your tiptoes and see ahead of the train at the front door. As an added plus, you get diesel fumes and lots of whistle and engine noise.
The Columbia River Gorge is very scenic, and you get to see sunrise (WB) and sunset (EB). Be on the south side of the train if you can.
If I understood your question about de-training above Portland correctly, the answer is that you always de-train to get onto the Builder from any other train. There IS NO de-training at Spokane.
If you are thinking of renting a car in Montana, Whitefish is very convenient. Two or three companies will meet you at the depot. It is a beautiful but pricey town with lots to do. Essex is tiny and up in the mountains in a beautiful setting. It depends on what you want to do, which would make the better destination.
The Builder runs more on time than most Amtrak trains. Your chances are good it would be ontime or early, as Whitefish is a long stop with some padding in it. Out of my 4 trips into Whitefish in the last 18 months in (July/Sept) it was early 3 times and 1.5 hrs late eastbound once.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Thanks, Twinstarrocket, for the good information. I am glad the train to Whitefish is not all that late. It may be possible that 1 or 2 of the better lodges will give you a lift to or from the train station. I am looking forward to the trip up the Columbia Gorge. Also, thanks for the good info on getting on the Empire Builder. Yukon11
Posted by espeefoamer (Member # 2815) on :
I have never been to the Issac Walton Inn,but I have friends who have been there and they highly reccomend it.
------------------ Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
yukon, i going to seattle to catch the builder headed east, my final destination being DC via the cardinal (see my post, who is the most dedicated rider?). so now it looks like i will take a bus ride over a day west from my hometown of livingston mt to catch the builder at its point of origin in seattle. i guess i could say i am a dedicated rider, or maybe just a little nuts. but hey, we all need to be a little nuts sometimes dont we?
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
i wonder why there is no detraining at spokane, and why one cannot purchase a ticket on the builder from spokane to points west on the empire builder??