Empire Builders - Blackfoot Glacier
Size O Scale 2 Rail Size app 21 x 3.5 ht 2.5
Details
Material, metal, styrene acrylic, brass, glass
About The Empire Builder Train
The Great Northern Railway inaugurated the Empire Builder on June 10, 1929. It was named in honor of the company's founder, James J. Hill, who had reorganized several failing railroads into the only successful attempt at a privately funded transcontinental railroad. It reached the Pacific Northwest in the late 19th century, and for this feat, he was nicknamed "The Empire Builder".
Following World War II, Great Northern placed new streamlined and diesel-powered
trains in service that cut the scheduled 2,211-mile-trip between Chicago and
Seattle from 58.5 hours to 45 hours.
The schedule allowed riders views of the Cascade Mountains and Glacier National
Park, a park established through the lobbying efforts of the Great Northern.
Re-equipped with domes in 1955, the Empire Builder offered passengers sweeping
views of the route through three dome coaches and one full-length Great Dome car
for first class passengers.
