Episode 6 is part 1 of the Portland to Chicago leg of Tim Davies’ journey across the USA on the iconic Amtrak trains – for this part of the journey using the Empire Builder train.
This episode of the USA Railway Travelogue begins with Tim arriving at Portland station by taxi.
Tim waits for the portion of Empire Builder train to be ready, before boarding to find his luxury ‘roomette’.
The first stage of the this leg is between Portland and Vancouver (Washington), and a fairly industrial area.
The first stop of this leg of the journey is Vancouver, in Washington State.
The train passes along the Columbia River for much of this stage of the trip, and through the Columbia Gorge.
As with other stages of the trip, Tim talks to fellow passengers to find out why they are taking the train, rather than other forms of transport.
En route, the train passes a number of water falls, and the Bonneville Dam.
The mountains en route are stunning.
The next stop on the line is a non-staffed station – Bingen White Salmon Station – 60 miles East of Portland.
Continuing on, the train passes a cargo vessel on the Columbia River with a difference – one with a stern paddle wheel.
The train stops at Wishram Station.
Next stop is Pasco Railway Station, opened in 1998.
The rain has gone, as the sun sets – from the Empire Builder over the Columbia River – at the end of part one of the Portland to Chicago leg of Tim’s journey.
Music credits:
Theme: “Steam Railway”, AK012, Composer: Kimber-McTiffen; Track Number 1, Royalty Free from “The Special Interest Video Selection“; (AKM Music);
“The Chrysanthemum”, composed by Scott Joplin, performed by Gerluz, from MusOpen, (available via Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 )