I've never ridden or caught the Empire Builder. I haven't even seen it in except in photos. I'd like to (time, fiance and kids permitting) see if I could catch it for some early morning photos heading out this weekend, but I don't know where it goes!

I am under the impression it heads down the river through the Dayton's Bluff area, right? Then where? Does it go through Hastings? Does it cross the lift bridge down there?

What about around the station in Minneaoplis? Are there any good area to shoot there?

Thanks!
Chris

It's scheduled to leave the station in St. Paul around 7:00AM. It goes through the MNN yard and down the short line hill to Daytons Bluff and Pigseye. It does cross the River at Hastings and goes through Red Wing, Winona etc.
There are some spots you can get a PIC at the station but there marginal at best. You can get a good view at Pigseye and coming across the River at Hastings. Good locations at several spots along 61 towards Red Wing and points south.

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You used to have to get up pretty early in the morning to catch it. But lately, it has been passing closer to noon. That may be weather or derailment related and a passing thing this spring.

It takes the Staples sub from NoDak and passes Northtown. Here you can catch it from Interstate to Uni. It then takes the Midway sub. Van Buren would be an option. Or Minneapolis Jct and assorted spots all the way to Raymond Ave. It then stops in St. Paul as Xrayguy wrote. It takes the tracks that pass Ayd Mill Road and then cross over 35E. It comes down the hill and passes behind the Science Museum into Pig's Eye.

Going through Hastings it takes the CP into La Crosse. There are many a spots on 61 to pull over and see the tracks.

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The Empire Builder runs on CP all the way from Saint Paul to Chicago. Station stops I know of are Minot, Fargo, Staples, Saint Paul, Red Wing, Winona, La Crosse, Portage, Watertown, Milwaukee, and Chicago. It goes through Hastings northbound at approx. 9:30PM to 10:30PM.

Amtrak goes up the steep grade at Pigs Eye, and into the MNNR transfer yard.

You might want to check Amtrak's website for schedules and pricing.

The CP tracks are like 20 miles shorter then the BN tracks from Chicago to St.Paul thats why they run on the CP.

I checked last year and I think round trip from St.Paul to Washington was in the $250 range. I want to take it out there and see montana and Northern Idaho.

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When I lived in MT we took Amtrak 3 or 4 times to here for vacation. The first 2 times we left from Missoula (hometown). The next times we went up to Whitefish since Amtrak cut their routes.

I was younger than 14 all times (and my mom paid). But it took 24 hours. I couldn't sleep even though as we crossed NoDak in the dark, I watched farm house lights.

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Milwaukee Road Matt

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