The Empire Builder is a daily long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and either Seattle or Portland via two sections west of Spokane. Introduced in 1929, it was the flagship passenger train of the Great Northern Railway and was retained by Amtrak when it took over intercity rail service in 1971.
Wolf Point station is a train station in Wolf Point, Montana. It is a stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder line. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway. Prior to the formation of Amtrak, the Great Northern Railway operated passenger service along the line.
Essex station is a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder line in Essex, Montana. Essex has a year-round population of less than 50; most passengers are visitors to the nearby historic Izaak Walton Inn located about 3⁄10 mile (0.48 km) away.
Glasgow station is a train station in Glasgow, Montana. The station is served by Amtrak's daily Empire Builder line. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway.
Malta station is a station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder in Malta, Montana. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway.
Shelby station is a station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder line in Shelby, Montana. Near U.S. Highway 2, the station is adjacent to downtown Shelby. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway.
Cut Bank station is a train station in Cut Bank, Montana. It is served by Amtrak's Empire Builder, and is an important regional railway freight yard for BNSF Railway, which operates several grain collection elevators in the yard. The station site is owned by Amtrak, while the adjacent yard, trackage and signals are owned by BNSF Railway. The station is less than a mile from Cut Bank Creek gorge, which gives the county seat, station, and yard their names.
Browning station is a train station in Browning, Montana. It is a seasonal stop for Amtrak's Empire Builder, open from October to April. It serves Browning and the rest of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, as well as the eastern side of Glacier National Park. It functions as an alternate for the East Glacier Park station at Glacier National Park, which closes during the winter.
East Glacier Park station is a train station in East Glacier Park Village, Montana. It is a seasonal stop for Amtrak's Empire Builder line, open from April to October. It serves mostly visitors to Glacier National Park. It functions as an alternate to Browning station on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, which opens from October to April.
West Glacier station is a station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder in West Glacier, Montana. The station building, constructed in 1910 and enlarged in 1935, was donated to the Glacier Natural History Association in 1991 and now houses the offices and bookstore of the Glacier National Park Conservancy. Amtrak ticketing and other passenger services are not available. The adjacent track and platform continue to be owned by BNSF Railway. The station is historically known as Belton, and that former name continues to be displayed on the station building.
Whitefish station is a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder in Whitefish, Montana. In addition to the Empire Builder, a once-daily Greyhound Lines bus service also links the station to Kalispell and Missoula. A car rental agency operates a window within the station. The station and parking lot are owned by the Stumptown Historical Society. BNSF Railway leases office space on the upper floors of the station and owns the platform and track.
Libby station is a station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder in Libby, Montana. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway.
The Northern Transcon, a route operated by the BNSF Railway, traverses the most northerly route of any railroad in the western United States. This route was originally part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Northern Pacific Railway, Great Northern Railway and Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway systems, merged into the Burlington Northern Railroad system in 1970.
Devils Lake station is a train station in Devils Lake, North Dakota. It is served by Amtrak's Empire Builder train, which stops in six other North Dakota cities.
Rugby station is a train station in Rugby, North Dakota served by Amtrak's Empire Builder line. The station was built in 1907 as the Great Northern Passenger Depot. In 1987 a local Lions Club chapter was among the groups involved in a restoration project for the station. The former Great Northern Depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 26, 1991.
Minot station is a train station in Minot, North Dakota served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The station is located at the site of the former Great Northern Railway station, adjacent to the Minot Public Library, and close to Minot's City Hall and Downtown Minot.
Stanley station is a train station in Stanley, North Dakota served by Amtrak's Empire Builder line. The platform, tracks, and wooden depot are owned by BNSF Railway. It was originally a Great Northern Railway station that was a replacement for an earlier one, which is now a private residence.
Williston station is a train station in Williston, North Dakota, served by Amtrak's Empire Builder line. The brick station was built in 1910 by the Great Northern Railway and is located at the southern end of Williston's downtown. An interior and exterior restoration, begun in 2010 and costing almost $2 million, has returned the station to its original look.
Great Northern 2584 is a 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in March 1930 for the Great Northern Railway (GN) as a member of the S-2 class.
On September 25, 2021, at 3:56 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, Amtrak passenger train 7/27, the westbound Empire Builder, carrying 149 passengers and 16 crew members, derailed west of the town of Joplin, Montana, United States. The train consisted of two locomotives and ten cars, eight of which derailed.
