Back on the Rails Again 9/29

We were due to leave Whitefish, MT on Thursday the 29th coupling onto the Empire Builder which has a scheduled 7:41 a.m. departure. It was fortunate the train was some 45 minutes late. John had overslept and needed to return his rental car. John has been crewing out with Lovett helping with the cooking and maintenance of the car. John is one of those people who fly by the seat of their pants with their lives always in upheaval. He was explaining to us his latest endeavor brokering road salt to communities and the pitfalls he has endured in that venture. He was just able to get the rental back before we departed. That kind of stuff drives me to distraction.

Empire Builder pulling into the station at Whitefish, MT.

On the way down the mainline:

Off the mainline to our siding:

Getting closer, looking close you can just make out the conductor in the upper doorway:

Almost there. There are the air lines to be connected as well as four electric cables which pretty much ensure a “fail safe” electric connection:

Getting ready to throw the switch from the siding to the main line:

Underway:

For the next half hour or so we were next to the highway Steve drove us yesterday.
We knew where to look for the sights!

Rock fence, you can see the shadow of the car along the wall:

View off the back:

Giving some folks at the Izaak Walton Inn a wave after tooting the whistle!:

Travelling through a “snow shed” which protects the tracks from bad snows:

Passing the westbound Empire Builder:

Sunset in North Dakota:

Spent pretty much the entire day on the platform. Not in a UItilikilt, but long johns, heavy camp pants, ragg wool sweater, cammo shirt to block the wind, watchmans cop, and a scarf around my neck. It got chilly outside!