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Great Northern Empire Builder (SA-11)

James J. Hill built the northernmost railroad across America from St. Paul to Seattle, and because of his determination he was called "Empire Builder." In 1929 his Great Northern Railway inaugurated its Empire Builder on a 63-hour schedule between Chicago and Seattle through seven states with little population.

In 1947 it upgraded the train with new diesels and streamlined cars on a 45-hour schedule. Only 55 miles of Mr. Hill's Great Northern were above 4,000-ft. in elevation.

Here is westbound No. 1 descending the railway's easy passage over the 5,213-foot Continental Divide summit in the southern edge of Glacier Park in the Montana Rockies. At that time the country was just coming out of uniform from WW II, and everyone was tired of drab olive painted trains. The railway thought it was time for some gaiety and beauty, and believed its new Empire Builder had those same qualities.

One of those Great Northern Blizzards (P-17)