Wednesday

Amtrak Empire Builder #8 being flagged and a stupid semi!

They just recently put in the concrete road dividers at this crossing. Some semis have tried to turn here at this intersection. Well, one was not very successful today as he drove into the gate and bent it (you can see this in the video how it is sticking way at an angle). Amtrak Empire Builder #8 had just left the Winona, MN depot and had to stop and flag this crossing. Apparently, people do not know what that means. A semi comes flying around the corner and decides to just go across the tracks even with the conductor there! So she wrote his plate down. A few other cars were going to try to go as well and she was not having it. Good on her! When she went by us, she smiled and waved to us though. Also, note the private car…the Sierra Hotel. AMTK 121 (P42DC) AMTK 92 (P42DC) Monday, July 7, 2008, 10:31am ***UPDATE*** I have since talked to the conductor and she informed me that the semi driver was prosecuted.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

On May 1, 1971, Amtrak became Wisconsin’s rail passenger carrier. Passenger service along the Burlington Northern’s Mississippi River Route ended as did all service on the Chicago & North Western. Famous train names such as the Milwaukee Road’s Hiawathas, C&NW’s Streamliners, and Burlington Northern’s North Coast Limited disappeared. When Amtrak began, only the Empire Builder and Chicago-to-Milwaukee corridor service were spared, and the Builder was rerouted from the BN onto the Milwaukee’s Twin Cities line. By November, 1971, Amtrak was ready for some new Wisconsin trains. Added were Hiawatha trains to the Twin Cities; North Coast Hiawatha trains to Seattle via Southern Montana; and St. Louis service through Chicago to Milwaukee. Things were looking up for Wisconsin’s rail passenger service! The first vestiges of Amtrak paint slowly appeared in 1972 and in 1973 there were brand new Amtrak engines. However, mismatched “Rainbow” consists were still the rule. GM&O heavyweight parlor cars often appeared as did Denver, Kansas City and California Zephyr Silver dome-observation cars. Soon the E and F locomotives would disappear forever, but in these vintage years they still dominated the trains. Early Amtrak Across Wisconsin follows Amtrak from the Twin Cities to Southern Wisconsin in the years 1971-73. Locations include such railroading hot spots as St. Croix Junction south of St. Paul, La Crosse, and Duplainville Tower west of Milwaukee. There are scenic views along the …