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Ep.08 – US Railway Travelogue

Episode 8 is part 3 of the Portland to Chicago leg of Tim Davies’ journey across the USA on the iconic Amtrak trains – for this part of the journey, continuing on the Empire Builder train.

10 1 Amtrak Western Routes — Map showing Amtrak’s western routes, the Empire Builder along the top. Credit: Amtrak.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Logo of the Empire Builder – as seen on one of the Dining Car Menus. Credit: Tim Davies.

10 3 Route of the Empire Builder — Map showing route of the Empire Builder.

The episode of his US Railway Travelogue podcast begins at Havre, Montana – a 20 minute service stop – where there is a steam locomotive on display. You’ll recognise some of these images as described in this episode.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Havre, Montana. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 5 Havre_MT_Amtrak_station by Mitchaznia — Havre Station. Credit: Mitchazenia, available through CC BY-SA 4.0

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Great Northern Locomotive 2584, a 4 8 4, type S-2, at Havre. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 7 Great Northern Loco 2584.jpg — Great Northern locomotive 2584, a 4 8 4 type S-2 at Havre, with the Empire Builder in the background. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Watching a goods train rumble through, said to be over a mile long. Credit: Tim Davies.

From here, the train follows the course of the Milk River to Glasgow.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Agriculture, as far as the eyes can see. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Prairie, big sky and hills in the far distance. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Farmstead, near Havre, Montana. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Big grain and big sky in Montana. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Big grain and big sky in Montana. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Yet more grain, more open space and a cluster of storage silos in the distance. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Changing scenery: approaching and travelling along the Milk River, with the Autumn colours starting to show in the trees. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Following the Milk River. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Following the Milk River. Credit: Tim Davies.

Next stop is Malta Station.

8 18 Malta_Train_Station by Hikki Nagasaki in the public domain — Malta Station, Montana. Credit: Hikki Nagasaki, through Public Domain.

8 19 Malta Station by Loco Steve licenced CC BY 2 0 — Malta Station, Montana. Credit: Loco Steve, through CC BY 2.0

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — View from the train, between Malta and Glasgow, Montana. Credit Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — View from the train between Malta and Glasgow, Montana. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 22 Nearing Glasgow long term parking — Long term parking, nearing Glasgow! There are abandoned vehicles across Montana wherever you see signs of life! Credit: Loco Steve, through CC BY 2.0

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Pulling into Glasgow Station, Montana. Credit: Tim Davies.

Next stop is Glasgow Station, Montana.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Glasgow Station, Montana. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 25 Glasgow_Train_Station by Hikki Nagasaki in the Public Domain — Glasglow Station, Montana. Credit: Hikki Nagasaki, under Public Domain.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Freight train at Glasgow, Montana, waiting for a clear ‘road’ westbound. Grain silo in background. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 27 Empire Builder at Glasgow by Loco Steve CC BY 2 0.jpg — The Empire Builder resting for a few minutes at Glasgow Station, Montana. Credit: Loco Steve, under CC BY 2.0.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Grain silos by the tracks. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — About 30 minutes west of Wolf Point, but we could be miles from anywhere. Credit: Tim Davies.

We next reach Wolf Point.

8 30 Wolfpoint_Train_Station by Hikki Nagasaki in the Public Domain — Wolf Point Station, Montana. Credit: Hikki Nagasaki, through Public Domain.

8 31 Wolf Pint station.jpg — Wolf Point Station, Montana. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Downtown Wolf Point. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 33 At the bottom of the garden by Loco Steve CC BY 2 0 — Everywhere you go, old cars are dumped at the bottom of the garden. Credit: Loco Steve, under CC BY 2.0

8 34 Culbertson by Kt Northington who has permitted use — Culbertson Town View. Credit: Culbertson community website, and permission given by Kt Northington (Photographer and Town Clerk).

Fort_Union_Trading_Post_NHS — Fort Union Trading Post. Credit: Xerxes2004, under CC BY-SA 3.0

8 36 Near the MT ND State Line by Loco steve CC BY SA 2 0 — Around the Montana/North Dakota state line. Credit: Loco Steve, under CC BY 2.0

8 37 Near the MT ND State Line by Loco steve CC BY SA 2 0 — Around the Montana/North Dakota state line. Credit: Loco Steve, under CC BY 2.0

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Rock faces 45 minutes west of Williston, North Dakota. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Passing a small community in North Dakota – big sky country. Credit: Tim Davies.

We next reach Williston Station, North Dakota.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Williston Station, North Dakota. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 41 Williston-Amtrak by Prasenberg licence CC BY 3 0 — Williston Station. Credit: Prasenberg, under CC BY 3.0

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Checking tickets prior to boarding at Williston Station. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 43 Another day ending.jpg — Dusk on 1st October 2017 from the Empire Builder train, across North Dakota. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Dusk on 1st October 2017 from the Empire Builder train across North Dakota. Credit: Tim Davies.

Then onto Stanley, North Dakota.

8 45 Stanley_ND_station by Mitchaznia CC BY SA 4 0 — Stanley Station, North Dakota. Credit: Mitchazenia, under CC BY-SA 4.0

8 46 Empire_Builder_Gassman_Bridge courtesy Amtrak Media Department — Empire Builder crossing the Gassman Coulee Trestle near Minot, North Dakota. Credit: Amtrak/Jason Berg, courtesy of Amtrak Media Relations.

We now reach Minot, North Dakota, where there is a service stop.

8 47 Minot Station by Loco Steve licenced CC BY SA 2 0.jpg — Minot Station, North Dakota. Credit: Loco Steve, under CC BY 2.0

8 48 Feeding time by Loco Steve licenced CC BY SA 2 0.jpg — Feeding the Empire Builder, at Minot, North Dakota. Credit: Loco Steve, under CC BY 2.0

Between Minot and St. Paul, we pass through Rugby, Devil’s Lakeand Grand Forks stations.

8 49 Rugby_Amtrak_station by Mitchaznia licenced CC BY SA 4 0.jpg — Rugby Station, North Dakota. Credit: Mitchazenia, under CC BY-SA 4.0

8 50 Devils_Lake_station by Mitchaznia licenced CC BY SA 4 0 — Devil’s Lake Station, North Dakota. Credit: Mitchazenia, under CC BY-SA 4.0

8 51 Grand_Forks_station by Mitchaznia licenced CC BY SA 4 0 — Grand Forks Station, North Dakota. Credit: Mitchazenia, under CC BY-SA 4.0

8 52 800px-Amtrak_Grand_Forks_wye by Mackenson CC BY SA 3 0 — A wintery scene with the eastbound Empire Builder in the ‘wye’ at Grand Forks, North Dakota. Credit: Mackensen, under CC BY-SA 3.0

More stations of the night… passing through Fargo, Detroit Lakes, Staples, and St. Cloud.

8 53 Fargo_Station by Adam Moss CC BY SA 2 0 — Fargo Station, North Dakota. Credit: Adam Moss, under CC BY-SA 2.0

8 54 Detroit_Lakes_Depot by McGhiever CC BY SA 3 0 — Detroit Lakes Station, North Dakota. Credit: McGhiever, under CC BY-SA 3.0

8 55 Staples_Depot by McGhiever CC BY SA 3 0 — Staples Station, North Dakota. Credit: McGhiever, under CC BY-SA 4.0

8 56 St._Cloud_station by Adam Moss CC BY SA 2 0 — St Cloud Station. Credit: Adam Moss, under CC BY-SA 2.0

We arrive in the morning at St Paul, Minnesota Station – the twin city station with Minneapolis.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — St Paul Station, Minnesota. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Early morning at St Paul Station. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — The revitalised St Paul Station, Minnesota. Credit: Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — The revitalised St Paul Station, Minnesota. Credit: Tim Davies.

8 61 Empire Builder in St Paul.jpg — The Empire Builder waiting to leave St Paul Station. Credit: Tim Davies.

The train follows the Mississippi for 140 miles.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Messing around in boats along the mighty Mississippi near Red Wing. Credit: Tim Davies

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — The mighty Mississippi in Red Wing. Credit: Tim Davies.

Next stop is Red Wing Station.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Red Wing Station. Credit. Tim Davies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Red Wing Station, Minnesota. Cars have to wait at the crossing until the train leaves. Credit: Tim Davies.

The next episode, Episode 9, takes up part 4 of the Empire Builder leg of Tim’s journey, from Red Wing to Milwaukee. Stay tuned!

Music credits:

Theme: “Steam Railway”, AK012, Composer: Kimber-McTiffen; Track Number 1, Royalty Free from “The Special Interest Video Selection“; (AKM Music);

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