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I'm taking a quick trip to Montana this weekend via the Empire Builder from Seattle. I bought the ticket earlier this week at a price that seemed very low. Perhaps the months of poor OTP has depressed ridership to the point that sleeping car rooms will be available at bargain rates for the foreseeable future, despite the return of reasonably good OTP reliability. I'm hoping to see a good crowd on the train. Whitefish Mountain is still open for skiing or snowboarding and most Seattle area schools are on spring break next week.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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Have a great trip, Vincent. They say mid to late spring is the best time to take the Builder, with snow still on the mountains. Get yourself a good LL Bean goose down jacket. Also, glad you got a reduced rate for your sleeper.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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We are fortunate to live in the U.S. Reading about snowboarding while sitting on a warm beach in north FL. Could be there in short amount of time - well, 3 nites if on Amtrak. Will be good to read about your EB experience.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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It's likely to be cool in the mornings, I had to scrape my windshield yesterday but it was into the 60s by the afternoon. Spring weather in Montana is hard to predict, could be very nice or a day of sun-snow-sun-rain-sun-repeat as needed. I will say that Spring is my favorite season here.
Be sure and check out the Buffalo Cafe in Whitefish.
Posts: 6 | From: NW Montana | Registered: Mar 2015
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I'm back and happy to report that Amtrak performed wonderfully for me. The train was on-time and every Amtrak staff member was thoroughly engaged in her/his job which made for a very successful train trip. Montana was beautiful (and full of climatic surprises) which made my long weekend trip even better. I knew that Montana's beauty would be the highlight of the trip; my goal for Amtrak was to just get me there safely within 8 hours of the scheduled arrival time.
I have spent most of my life working as a manager in customer service organizations and I've always regarded Amtrak as a glaring example of an organization that doesn't "get" customer service. Too many rules, too many ways to say "no", too many people not suited for the customer service game and no incentive to provide a smile or understanding for the travelling public--that's been my past assessment of Amtrak's service culture. But on this trip, things "felt" different--and that's a very important part of customer service. I really "felt" like all the staff were engaged with trying to get me where I was going in a safe and pleasant manner. This truly was one time where my vacation began when I stepped into the station in Seattle, not when I left the station in Whitefish.
Amtrak's first shining moment came at the ticket counter in King Street Station. I had my reservation number, but I hadn't printed out the actual bar-coded ticket that the conductor would need to scan my ticket. It was my mistake, but the agent at the ticket counter was more than happy to take my reservation number and print out the ticket without a eye-roll, sigh or sneer.
Boarding was scheduled for 410pm and the train pulled up to the station right on time and boarding began almost immediately. I was in a sleeper and my attendant was Dorothy, who provided exemplary service throughout my entire trip. Before departure, Dorothy introduced herself and made sure that everyone was comfortably accommodated in their rooms. During the trip, Dorothy stayed in the car and she engaged with making our trips safe, pleasant and enjoyable. She chatted with us, she reminded us to always wear shoes when we walked about the train, she answered question, she asked questions and I felt like she cared about her customers and that she enjoyed doing her job. Another shining moment!
Dinner in the diner was also a success. There wasn't a big crowd on the train, so the diner wasn't crowded. Tomas, our server, was very attentive and didn't become flustered or condescending when my table mates incorrectly filled out their order forms (this time I had the paperwork correct). The food was pretty good (steak and salad were excellent, the veggies and baked potato were a little overdone, but I had a late seating). I finished dinner with a tasty cheesecake and went back to my room for the evening.
The next morning Dorothy woke me up in time for breakfast and my train trip ended on-time in Whitefish MT. The only glitch in the system occurred at Whitefish station. I was hoping to leave my carry-on bag at the station while I spent 8 hours in Whitefish waiting for a connecting bus to Missoula, but Amtrak rules don't allow passengers to check a carry-on bag at the arrival station. Checked luggage can stay in the baggage room for up to 24 hours, but I couldn't check my carry-on bag while I waited 8 hours for my connecting bus. The station agent was able to suggest a way to relieve me of my carry-on while I waited, but Amtrak needs to re-think the policy on storing carry-on luggage while waiting for a connecting bus.
What to do in Whitefish during an 8 hour layover? Whitefish is an old railroad town that is becoming a ski and tourist destination. It's a beautiful place, but it's very small and I've been there before. I actually would have been happy if the train had been a few hours late. The boutiques, breweries and bistros in downtown Whitefish don't interest me, but I did find a place that looked like it would provide a decent meal--The Buffalo Cafe. I didn't see realbtl's recommendation until I returned home, but I'll second the recommendation (Reuben sandwich was good).
Other things to do in Whitefish during an 8 hour layover:
take the free shuttle bus to the ski area and do some sightseeing
walk along the riverside trail system out to Whitefish Lake
railfan the BNSF railyard at Whitefish
My connecting bus to Missoula was scheduled to leave Whitefish station at 400pm and it arrived right on schedule. The bus turned out to be a 25 passenger GMC van like the ones that shuttle airline passengers between an airport terminal and a rental car facility. It was pretty uncomfortable for a 3 hour trip. I know that it's been difficult to sustain public transportation between Whitefish and Missoula and I was thankful to see this service offered, but I hope that a more comfortable vehicle can be provided in the future.
Springtime is very beautiful in Montana, but Big Sky weather is very unpredictable. I could stand in one place and look in 4 different directions and see 4 different weather patterns. Storms to the north, clear skies to the east, rain clouds in the south and light cloud cover in the west. Friday was warm, Saturday was windy and on Sunday we had snow in Missoula. But the snow was light and the wind had died down so I saw Missoulans out walking in shorts and flip-flops as the snow fell. I flew home from Missoula and I saw another interesting sight as I waited for my flight. An airplane was being de-iced on the tarmac, but most of the ground workers servicing the plane were wearing short pants. I guess the short pants come out as soon as the snow disappears from the ground.
I hope my positive experiences on this trip become more of the normal expectation at Amtrak and less of an exception. Great customer service doesn't happen without a careful plan and full management support. If Amtrak sustains the level of service I received, the Empire Builder will be full again and I'll certainly be back for more.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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Mr. Vincent, isn't Whitefish one of those rare stations that has an auto rental outlet on the premises? That would I think be the more practical alternative, as I doubt that you are part of the "don't rent" contingent around here (I'm almost part of it nowadays; haven't rented since Aug '13).
Missoula I remember with a lot of fondness from my MILW days. I remember a 'good" Best Western (they have 'em; but they have all too many of the "otherwise' to have me comfortable with the brand) there that had the slogan "the only thing we overlook is the beautiful Clark Fork River".
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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On my last trip to WFH I did rent a car because I included Glacier Park in my travel plans. The problem was that the rental contract only permitted 25 miles of free travel per day on cars rented at the WFH station. I had to find my way to the Kalispell airport to get an unlimited mileage rental. For this trip I didn't check to see if WFH rentals still have the 25 miles/day restriction. Because I wasn't planning to do much travelling once I arrived in Missoula, I decided to try the bus between WFH and Missoula. But for an 8 hour layover, a rental car would be another alternative.
The former CMStP&P r-o-w through Missoula has become a popular bike and hike trail along the Clark Fork River. The former Missoula station still stands and has been preserved. It's currently used by the University of Montana. Here's a nice video that shows the recent condition of the former Milwaukee Road station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueRlhaaVqTwPosts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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Also, there was an "interesting" incident at the airport in Missoula as I returned home. As I passed through the TSA line, I was thinking that the TSA agents in Missoula were particularly unfriendly and inhospitable. It wasn't anything that crossed a line, but I generally consider the TSA formalities to be a perfunctory ceremony that is best endured with a "let's just get this over with" attitude. I don't like getting my body scanned, but I understand the reasons and I'm willing to accept the intrusion for the greater good of everyone. Just don't treat me like I'm a prisoner or some sort of nefarious character because I want to take an airplane trip. Like I said, TSA Missoula didn't cross the line, but I felt like they were pretty close to that line.
As I was putting my shoes back on and stuffing everything back into my pockets, 3 TSA agents circled a middle-aged man who had just gone through the metal detector. They grabbed his carry-on and escorted him to a table near the chair where I was re-dressing and asked him if he had anything in his bag that they should know about. He said he didn't think so. The agents then opened his bag and pulled out an (unloaded) pistol that he apparently forgot he was carrying in the bag! I don't know if that's a common occurrence at Missoula, but I did give TSA/Missoula a pass for their heavy-handedness that day.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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Sounds like a great trip, Vincent. I'm really looking forward to Portland to Whitefish, this summer.
There is a Hertz car rental booth at the Amtrak Whitefish station. It's open 2.5 hrs. twice daily, covering the westbound and eastbound Empire Builder arrivals.
I enjoyed the video of the site of the old Missoula train depot. Another very popular bike/hike trail is the Hiawatha trail, along the former Milwaukee line. It's between Missoula and Coeur d'Alene, near I-90.
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My thoughts on the TSA: Get rid of them. Put a Buck 110 knife in the pocket of each seat. Let the terrorist fool worry about all the other passengers.
Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Mike Smith: My thoughts on the TSA: Get rid of them. Put a Buck 110 knife in the pocket of each seat. Let the terrorist fool worry about all the other passengers.
Sounds good
I regard all these "gun free" locations as being labeled the same as "criminal free fire zone"
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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Consider the "I love my cap pistol" locations these two immediate respondents come from.
How could anyone not know if he was packing heat? Really sounds like a weak one to me.
Signed; TSA Pre-Check holder, who has not touched a weapon since Service.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I love my cap pistol??? That is for ages 3 to 7. By the time Texans are 8, they are shooting .22s. By the time they are 13ish, they are shooting shotguns and deer rifles.
And forgetting a gun is in your luggage happens A LOT in Texas. Top 6 last year, in the USA Dallas/Fort Worth 14 unloaded 106 loaded Harts-Jackson Atlanta 7 102 Phoenix Sky Harbor 17 61 George Bush - Houston 5 72 Denver Denver, CO 11 59 William P. Hobby (HOU)4 46
Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Mike Smith: I love my cap pistol??? That is for ages 3 to 7. By the time Texans are 8, they are shooting .22s. By the time they are 13ish, they are shooting shotguns and deer rifles.
And forgetting a gun is in your luggage happens A LOT in Texas.
In fact, happened to my son several years ago at DFW.
Coompletely off the subject: When we went to Taiwan for me to be on the Taipei Rapid Transit my older kids were already in high school. With "home" being in Mississippi, two older brothers, one a gun nut, and a father on a construction project, my daughter had absolutely no trouble with agressive boys in the American school. Guess they were scared of us?? Sometimes having a reputation for being somewhat (somewhat?) crazy is useful. Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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I'll tell my "daughter gets beeped at to come get into the car" story one of these days. I almost killed a Honda Civic. Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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Evidently the policy for storing luggage at Amtrak stations is up to the individual station. I was just at Glenwood Springs this week and they stored all mine for free, even though I was not checking my baggage. If I had been in coach, they would have charged $4 no matter how many bags.
Car rental was $156 for 5 days with unlimited mileage from Budget, and they pick you up and drop you at Amtrak. Also very convenient at GSC that both #5 and #6 arrive at mid-day so you get the most from your car rental. Like most small towns, the car rental office is closed by noon Sat and all day Sunday.
Beautiful scenery and many scenic paved walking/biking trails, but April was bad for pollen and mayflies.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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I was able to store my luggage at Whitefish station when my train was super late, but that might be the reason why.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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