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.

Here is a page with photos at the Kalispell Division web site »

 

 

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»