Public Transportation and Smart Growth

Passenger Trains > On Board the Snow Drift Train "Empire Builder"

Date: 03/09/17 09:10
On Board the Snow Drift Train "Empire Builder"
Author: sagehen

I picked a great time to take Amtrak 28, "The Empire Builder" from Portland, OR to Portage, WI. After waiting for hours at Minot because of frozen switches all over North Dakota, we were set free. At about 6:30 am, we were going track speed (79 mph) 5 miles west of Rugby when the engineer saw a big snowdrift and brought the train to a quick stop. But not quite quick enough. We hit the drift and packed snow so tightly underneath and around the train that we couldn't get free. BNSF sent locomotives to help and tried to pull us back, but we were packed in too well. Then BNSF got serious. They sent bulldozers, bobcats, and about 50 workers with shovels. They also sent four freight units to couple on to the front of the train. They tried several times to jerk us out without success. Finally after more hand digging we were set free, more than 12 hours after getting stuck. Most people were bored but happy. Since I'm a train nerd, I was fascinated over the big show Amtrak and BNSF put on and considered myself lucky to witness it. The Amtrak car attendant Deb Vann is a real treasure! She retires at the end of the year and she'll be missed.

Stan Praisewater