At our April 5th meeting we talked about the famous USA Amtrak train – “The Empire Builder”. As was established at the March meeting – this train was named after the famous Railroad builder – James J Hill – also known as “The Empire Builder”.
This train runs from Chicago to Seattle, with a section leaving Spokane for Portland. It runs through sparsely populated plains country not far south of the Canadian border. It is generally rated as Amtrak’s most popular long distance train!
Time was spent talking about one of its most popular stops – the small location of Essex, Montana – where the Izaak Walton Inn is situated. This is on the edge of Glacier Park and on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. The scenery here and its isolation makes it possibly Bill’s favourite location visited! Unless you have your own car – the train is the only way in.
The DVD shown was one of Bill’s favourites – “Donner Pass”. This shows the climb up the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range from 200ft at Roseville to Donner Summit of 6000ft, over 200 miles.
May 3rd Meeting
Important notice
There will not be a course day on Tuesday 5th July. Bill will be on holiday in North Queensland. One place visited will be “The Gulflander Railway”.
This train runs from Chicago to Seattle, with a section leaving Spokane for Portland. It runs through sparsely populated plains country not far south of the Canadian border. It is generally rated as Amtrak’s most popular long distance train!
Time was spent talking about one of its most popular stops – the small location of Essex, Montana – where the Izaak Walton Inn is situated. This is on the edge of Glacier Park and on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. The scenery here and its isolation makes it possibly Bill’s favourite location visited! Unless you have your own car – the train is the only way in.
The DVD shown was one of Bill’s favourites – “Donner Pass”. This shows the climb up the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range from 200ft at Roseville to Donner Summit of 6000ft, over 200 miles.
May 3rd Meeting
- The story of the Former Kettle Valley Railway in South Canada – just over the USA border. Bill had a detailed visit to this area in 1999.
- The story of Union Pacific’s Railroad through the Blue Mountains in the La Grande area of Eastern Oregon. La Grande has a population of 9000 and Bill thinks it is very much like Benalla.
- Bill will speak on a favourite place – Mt St Helen’s Volcano – He spent a full day there on his last day in USA.
Important notice
There will not be a course day on Tuesday 5th July. Bill will be on holiday in North Queensland. One place visited will be “The Gulflander Railway”.
