Amtrak EMPIRE BUILDER Sleeper Train (Seattle to Chicago)
Watch this video in order to experience the Amtrak Empire Builder train as it crosses some of the most dramatic land in the United States, passing through Washington State, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois
Thanks to a delay, we saw more than most passengers would expect, including some of the most stunning scenery we’ve ever encountered in Northern Idaho.
The entire Amtrak Empire Builder route is scheduled to take 46 hours, but our trip ended up taking a lot longer. We were supposed to leave Seattle at 4:55 in the afternoon, but didn’t get going until nearly 8:00 at night.
The Amtrak Empire Builder is certainly one of Amtrak’s most iconic routes, passing through the very heart of Glacier National Park. My first experience onboard an Amtrak overnight sleeper train was this route, but Westbound back in 2020. It felt incredible to be back onboard!
In this video, you’ll see the unmatched scenery and spectacular sights along the route, get a tour of Amtrak’s Bedroom, learn the history of this route, and we’ll even answer some of the most frequently asked questions we get asked about Amtrak Train Travel.
We’ll also showcase Amtrak’s Traditional Dining, which has (finally) returned to their long-haul western routes like the Empire Builder!
The Amtrak Empire Builder route traces its heritage back to 1929 when it was the flagship route of the vaunted “Great Northern Railway.” In the early part of the 20th century, railroad companies were the airlines of their time. Perhaps none were as storied as the Great Northern Railway.
The Amtrak Empire Builder is the latest incarnation of a route The Great Northern Railway operated. This is the northernmost transcontinental railway in the country and was also the only privately funded transcontinental railroad in the nation’s history. Unlike every other one, it was built without any federal funding.
Today, Amtrak is the only passenger operator the Empire Builder route and, as with nearly all of Amtrak’s operations, we competed with freight traffic, which always takes priority because the freight lines own the track on this route. Amtrak is just borrowing it for the Empire Builder, which means delays are very possible. But, it turns out, our delay was the best thing that could have happened on this journey…
Watch this video to see one of the most luxurious experiences available on the rails in the United States: Amtrak’s Empire Builder in an Amtrak Bedroom!
0:00 Introduction
2:04 Boarding the Amtrak Empire Builder
3:28 Wake Up Day Two
7:14 Getting Ready on Amtrak
11:44 Amtrak Bedroom Tour
16:28 Amtrak Dinner
19:37 Amtrak FAQ's
28:44 Bloopers
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MUSIC:
I Will Be Gone (Instrumental Version) - Vicki Vox
First Glimpse of You - Victor Lundberg
A Sweet Dream - Victor Lundberg
A Dance in the Sun - Erik Fernholm
The Sun Will Shine (Instrumental Version) - The Eastern Plain
Free Mind - Wildflowers
Summer Love (Instrumental Version) - Kylie Dailey
Calming Rain - Candelion
Swaying - Candelion
I Wish (Instrumental Version) - Mindme
If I Wrote You a Song (Instrumental Version) - Melanie Bell
Songs for a Mockingbird (Instrumental Version) - Gabriel Kelley
This Poor Love Song (Instrumental Version) - Sture Zetterberg
On and On (Instrumental Version) - Lars Eriksson