The Empire Builder operates daily between Chicago and Seattle/Portland and was named for James J. Hill, the builder of the Great Northern Railway.
There are 45 station stops on the Empire Builder — the most of any Amtrak route.
by Wesley Rediger
Upland, Indiana
On a rollicking train Cross a grassy plain
We got dizzy and light in the head In a room where the chairs became the bed Sleeping was slight Through the rough ride at night
Should we have flown instead? No! We'd have missed all the fun On the train in the sun
And the mountains where mule deer tread We gathered for lunch With a happy bunch
And enjoyed fruit salad and bread Caloric creations And liquid libations
And flatiron steak dark and red Mashed potatoes and baked And Chocolate Mud caked
In the Diner just six cars ahead We bounced side to side Up the aisle of the ride
And laughed all the way back to bed When the train turned home We rode in the dome
And ridiculous poetry read With friends from the land Of the kangaroo and Their Coffs Harbour beach homestead
It was Susan and Keith From the Great Barrier Reef G'deye and I'mite they said
To Chicago from LA They rumbled their way
On the train where the rambling tracks led Amish Sarah and Robert Who'd been led to convert From traditions they both saw as dead
They rode from Montana Well past Indiana To help their relatives wed
And Sandy and Grady And JoAnn and Wesley And Harold and sweet Mil-dred
From fun days of travel Will stories unravel But this one is fini-shed.
The Empire Builder operates daily between Chicago and Seattle/Portland and was named for James J. Hill, the builder of the Great Northern Railway.
There are 45 station stops on the Empire Builder — the most of any Amtrak route.
Family Fun on the Empire Builder
A Poem Inspired by Our Wonderful Trip
by Wesley Rediger
Upland, Indiana
On a rollicking train
Cross a grassy plain
We got dizzy and light in the head
In a room where the chairs became the bed
Sleeping was slight
Through the rough ride at night
Should we have flown instead?
No! We'd have missed all the fun
On the train in the sun
And the mountains where mule deer tread
We gathered for lunch
With a happy bunch
And enjoyed fruit salad and bread
Caloric creations
And liquid libations
And flatiron steak dark and red
Mashed potatoes and baked
And Chocolate Mud caked
In the Diner just six cars ahead
We bounced side to side
Up the aisle of the ride
And laughed all the way back to bed
When the train turned home
We rode in the dome
And ridiculous poetry read
With friends from the land
Of the kangaroo and
Their Coffs Harbour beach homestead
It was Susan and Keith
From the Great Barrier Reef
G'deye and I'mite they said
To Chicago from LA
They rumbled their way
On the train where the rambling tracks led
Amish Sarah and Robert
Who'd been led to convert
From traditions they both saw as dead
They rode from Montana
Well past Indiana
To help their relatives wed
And Sandy and Grady
And JoAnn and Wesley
And Harold and sweet Mil-dred
From fun days of travel
Will stories unravel
But this one is fini-shed.