(BNSF issued the following news release on May 31.)
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) will begin the second half of its one-of-a-kind train trip paralleling the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition through the Pacific Northwest starting Saturday, June 4 in Great Falls, MT. The 16-day, 4,000 mile trip will make stops in Montana, Idaho, and Washington and will conclude June 18 in Everett, WA.
Designed to recognize BNSF employees, their families, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local communities, the annual BNSF Railway Special operates each year on a different part of BNSF’s system. Last year’s BNSF Railway Special paralleled many portions of the expedition’s journey on the lower Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, operating from Kansas City, Mo. to Billings, Mont.
The train features 13 restored vintage passenger railcars from the 1950s and 1960s, powered by two of the latest model BNSF locomotives. Passengers will include more than 5,000 BNSF employees and their families, as well as an estimated 1,800 Boys & Girls Club participants in five cities, BNSF customers, and state and local officials. The train is provided for employees and special guests only.
“This is the tenth year that we have operated the BNSF Railway Special — a tradition that honors our employees and the communities where they live and work. It’s always our privilege to share the excitement of the railroad and this trip provides a glimpse of the Lewis and Clark expedition with those aboard,” said Richard A. Russack, vice president, Corporate Relations.
Benefiting the Boys & Girls Club
For the fourth consecutive year, as part of the BNSF Railway Special, BNSF is partnering with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America — providing free, round-trip train rides to children while raising funds for the local organizations. This year the BNSF Special will host Club members and guests from five different Boys & Girls Clubs along the three-state route, including: Whitefish, Mont. (for the Kalispell Club), Spokane, Vancouver, Seattle and Everett, Wash.
In addition, The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation has pledged donations totaling up to $75,000 this year to the participating Boys & Girls Club organizations. The BNSF Foundation has also pledged to match local contributions to the BNSF Railway Special of up to $10,000 for local Boys & Girls Clubs in each of the five cities. $25,000 will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America national organization.
Boys & Girls Club Event Schedule
June 6 Whitefish, Mont.
June 7 Spokane, Wash.
June 13 Vancouver, Wash.
June 16 Seattle
June 17 Everett, Wash.
BNSF Employee Event Schedule
June 4 Great Falls, Mont.
June 5 & 6 Whitefish, Mont.
June 7, 8 & 10 Spokane, Wash.
June 11 Pasco, Wash.
June 12 & 13 Vancouver, Wash.
June 14 Tacoma, Wash.
June 17 & 18 Everett, Wash.
Learn about Lewis and Clark On Board
While on-board, passengers on the 2005 BNSF Railway Special will have the opportunity to hear the Lewis and Clark story as recounted by historians and National Park Service (NPS) docents Doc and Earline Darrow.
The Darrows share replica artifacts from the early 1800s, such as beaver and otter pelts, commemorative medals and pictorial placards allowing the passengers to get a “feel” for the way of life at that time. Doc Darrow retired in 2000 after 41 years as a chiropractic physician, and his wife, Earline, retired as Doc’s receptionist at the same time. Married 49 years, they have been NPS master volunteers for three years, acting as docents for the Rails & Trails program with a focus on the Lewis & Clark expedition.
Known throughout America and the world for his historic Lewis and Clark paintings, artist Gary Lucy also will participate in a special event in Vancouver, Wash., on Sunday, June 12.
“Many of the details of the odyssey begun 200 years ago by Lewis and Clark have been shrouded over time. It’s my goal to help the guests on the train relive the excitement, the challenge and the anticipation that Lewis and Clark faced daily on their three-year journey,” said Lucy.
About BNSF
BNSF’s (NYSE: BNI – News) subsidiary BNSF Railway Company operates one of the largest railroad networks in North America, with about 32,000 route miles in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. The railway is among the world’s top transporters of intermodal traffic, moves more grain than any other American railroad, transports the components of many of the products we depend on daily, and hauls enough low-sulphur coal to generate about ten percent of the electricity produced in the United States. BNSF is an industry leader in Web-enabling a variety of customer transactions at http://www.bnsf.com .