(The following story by Sonja Lee appeared on the Great Falls Tribune website on June 13.)
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Montanans held banners and lined up to wave at the Empire Builder passenger train Saturday as it chugged across the state’s northern tier celebrating 75 years of service.
“People have been turning out all along the line, even at spots where we don’t stop,” Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said. “It’s very gratifying to us and our employees who work 12 months a year to deliver this service.”
The train made stops in Havre and Shelby, and Amtrak President David Gunn spoke at a stop in Havre.
“It’s an honor to carry on this legacy,” Magliari said.
About 100 people took part in the Havre celebration, he said.
Lt. Gov. Karl Ohs greeted the train in Havre. Mark Simonich, the state commerce director, and Betsy Baumgart, administrator for the state tourism office, also made appearances.
The celebration continued at Havre’s Railroad Museum. Nine model trains moved through the museum, said Frank DeRosa, president of the Havre Railroad Museum. Live music played in the background, as train enthusiasts checked out the displays.
But the Empire Builder, known for its timely stops, celebrated its 75th a smidgen late.
Two disabled freight cars on the tracks in North Dakota set the train close to two hours behind schedule. But the setback didn’t dampen the celebration.
“Burlington Northern Santa Fe owns the tracks,” Magliari said. “They were trying very hard to help us make up time.”
Jerry Smith of Galata said about 50 people were at the depot in Shelby. Smith is chairman of a grassroots group called “Save Amtrak,” which helped restart daily passenger train service on the Hi-Line in 1995. He said throughout the various communities, people worked hard to organize this weekend’s celebrations.
“We had a great time,” Smith said. “It was a community effort in each town.”
The Empire Builder made its first run June 11, 1929, as part of the Great Northern Railway. It later became part of the Burlington Northern system, and in 1971, Amtrak took over.
For more information about the Empire Builder, visit www.gnrhs.org.