Making a reservation on Empire Builder: 7 or 27?

Trains Magazine Passenger
1

They are both the same price. Can someone tell me what this difference means?

2

7 & 8 are the Chicago-Seattle cars. 27 &28 should be the cars that diverge at Spokane and run to Portland. If you book your passage on 27 &28, those cars go through(WB), or are added(EB) at Spokane. You do not have to change cars at Spokane.

Jim

3

There can be a difference in the prices as the reservation date comes closer; if the cars for one or the other West Coast terminal are closer to being sold out, it will cost more to ride in them than in the cars to theother terminal.

4

As far as service, the dining car normally stays with 7 to Seattle. The lounge car (which serves only snacks and microwaved stuff) stays with 27 to Portland. As far as scenery, assuming they’re close to on-time, you won’t see much on 7 (especially in the winter months) until you start climbing the Cascades. Some fantastic mountain peaks outside the window, just remember to look up, not simply out. The passage through Cascase Tunnel is best appreciated if you can view out the rear window. You’ll probably see more miles of scenery, enjoy fast running along a river, and see plenty of BNSF and UP trains, if you take 27 down the Columbia River.

5

Bruce, I agree with your comments about the scenery. This past spring, we rode both 28 and 27 all the way. I confess I do not remember much of what was to be seen across the river eastbound, but we saw several UP freights on our return to Portland–but the river itself was magnificent both ways.

Twenty-one years ago, we rode the Pioneer Ogden to Seattle and Portland to Ogden (sad to say, this is no longer possible), and enjoyed looking north across the river. At last, we made the trip on the north bank.

As to the meals west of Spokane, I would say that they provided necessary nourishment. I had an infinitely superior breakfast 4-15-71 as I went into Portland on the North Coast Limited; that evening, I ate dinner, on the City of Portland, in the company of a lady I had met somewhere in the vicinity of The Dalles, and we eat together every day now.