Empire Builder 1964 trip and detour

The Great Northern experienced service disruptions along the main line in northern Montana and Idaho when over 8 inches of rain fell along the continental divide on June 6, 7 and 8. The main line was washed out in several locations and was out of service until mid-July.

Traffic was detoured between Havre and Sandpoint, Idaho via Great Falls / Helena and on the Northern Pacific through Missoula.

My family took a trip on the Builder in June 1964 and my father received a letter from GN president John M. Budd apologizing for the inconvenience of the detour. (My father worked with Budd's son at Honeywell)

 

 

The photos below are courtesy of Tom Biery, who was on the detoured June 23-24 Empire builder from Chicago to Spokane, arriving 7 hours late.

Click here for more photos and a full account of Tom's trip»