Willy, if you folks are taking the train, better make reservations quickly! We’ll want to be kept apprised of the plans, of course!
Geared Steam,
We’re actually going in late June, so the road closure shouldn’t be a problem. Thanks for the heads up, though. Also, very nice pictures.
Mudchicken,
When you say the trip there should be interesting, do you mean interesting in a good way or a bad way?
Carl,
We’re going to book those tickets ASAP. I’ll keep you posted.
In a good way Willy…a lot of the people, customs, little things, odd things encountered and seen along the way to and from where you are going.
The Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, Montana is simply the quintessentially perfect location for those who are interested in railroads. While being located adjacent to a busy main line in a mountain setting with its own Amtrak stop with oodles of railroadiana throughout might be enough to support this claim, the nearby railroad attractions clearly put it on top.
The Izaak Walton is located near the Southern Boundary of Glacier National Park, often one of the nation’s ten most-visited national parks in spite of its isolation relative to major population centers. Of all the national parks, the creation of Glacier (100 years ago next year) is probably most attributable to a railroad. So while references to the Great Northern Railroad are understandably abundant at the Izaak Walton, you don’t have to go very far to see the railroad’s influence elsewhere in the park. Glacier has the greatest concentration of railroad-built hotels and chalets still in use in any U.S. National Park. Adjacent Waterton Lakes National Park features the Prince of Wales Hotel, the only major hotel built in Canada by an American railroad. But the hotels and chalets aren’t all. Whether you visit the still-functioning rail passenger stations at Glacier Park (East Glacier) or Belton (West Glacier) or ride the Great Northern-built-and-still-in-use M.V. International (boat) on a tour of Upper Waterton Lake to Goathaunt, Montana, the references to how the railroad made this park are everywhere. The Izaak Walton is the perfect spot to start such a venture.
The really amazing thing about Glacier National Park and the railroad is that it’s a step back in time. While the passenger trains look different now than nearly 100 years ago, the view alighting from the Empire Builder at Glacier Park Station is not a lot different than
The Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, Montana is simply the quintessentially perfect location for those who are interested in railroads. While being located adjacent to a busy main line in a mountain setting with its own Amtrak stop with oodles of railroadiana throughout might be enough to support this claim, the nearby railroad attractions clearly put it on top.
The Izaak Walton is located near the Southern Boundary of Glacier National Park, often one of the nation’s ten most-visited national parks in spite of its isolation relative to major population centers. Of all the national parks, the creation of Glacier (100 years ago next year) is probably most attributable to a railroad. So while references to the Great Northern Railroad are understandably abundant at the Izaak Walton, you don’t have to go very far to see the railroad’s influence elsewhere in the park. Glacier has the greatest concentration of railroad-built hotels and chalets still in use in any U.S. National Park. Adjacent Waterton Lakes National Park features the Prince of Wales Hotel, the only major hotel built in Canada by an American railroad. But the hotels and chalets aren’t all. Whether you visit the still-functioning rail passenger stations at Glacier Park (East Glacier) or Belton (West Glacier) or ride the Great Northern-built-and-still-in-use M.V. International (boat) on a tour of Upper Waterton Lake to Goathaunt, Montana, the references to how the railroad made this park are everywhere. The Izaak Walton is the perfect spot to start such a venture.
The really amazing thing about Glacier National Park and the railroad is that it’s a step back in time. While the passenger trains look different now than nearly 100 years ago, the view alighting from the Empire Builder at Glacier Park Station is not a lot different&nbs
The Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, Montana is simply the quintessentially perfect location for those who are interested in railroads. While being located adjacent to a busy main line in a mountain setting with its own Amtrak stop with oodles of railroadiana throughout might be enough to support this claim, the nearby railroad attractions clearly put it on top.
The Izaak Walton is located near the Southern Boundary of Glacier National Park, often one of the nation’s ten most-visited national parks in spite of its isolation relative to major population centers. Of all the national parks, the creation of Glacier (100 years ago next year) is probably most attributable to a railroad. So while references to the Great Northern Railroad are understandably abundant at the Izaak Walton, you don’t have to go very far to see the railroad’s influence elsewhere in the park. Glacier has the greatest concentration of railroad-built hotels and chalets still in use in any U.S. National Park. Adjacent Waterton Lakes National Park features the Prince of Wales Hotel, the only major hotel built in Canada by an American railroad. But the hotels and chalets aren’t all. Whether you visit the still-functioning rail passenger stations at Glacier Park (East Glacier) or Belton (West Glacier) or ride the Great Northern-built-and-still-in-use M.V. International (boat) on a tour of Upper Waterton Lake to Goathaunt, Montana, the references to how the railroad made this park are everywhere. The Izaak Walton is the perfect spot to start such a venture.
The really amazing thing about Glacier National Park and the railroad is that it’s a step back in time. While the passenger trains look different now than nearly 100 years ago, the view alighting from the Empire Builder at Glacier Park Station is not a lot different&nbs
The Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, Montana is simply the quintessentially perfect location for those who are interested in railroads. While being located adjacent to a busy main line in a mountain setting with its own Amtrak stop with oodles of railroadiana throughout might be enough to support this claim, the nearby railroad attractions clearly put it on top.
The Izaak Walton is located near the Southern Boundary of Glacier National Park, often one of the nation’s ten most-visited national parks in spite of its isolation relative to major population centers. Of all the national parks, the creation of Glacier (100 years ago next year) is probably most attributable to a railroad. So while references to the Great Northern Railroad are understandably abundant at the Izaak Walton, you don’t have to go very far to see the railroad’s influence elsewhere in the park. Glacier has the greatest concentration of railroad-built hotels and chalets still in use in any U.S. National Park. Adjacent Waterton Lakes National Park features the Prince of Wales Hotel, the only major hotel built in Canada by an American railroad. But the hotels and chalets aren’t all. Whether you visit the still-functioning rail passenger stations at Glacier Park (East Glacier) or Belton (West Glacier) or ride the Great Northern-built-and-still-in-use M.V. International (boat) on a tour of Upper Waterton Lake to Goathaunt, Montana, the references to how the railroad made this park are everywhere. The Izaak Walton is the perfect spot to start such a venture.
The really amazing thing about Glacier National Park and the railroad is that it’s a step back in time. While the passenger trains look different now than nearly 100 years ago, the view alighting from the Empire Builder at Glacier P
I think that the shortest / easiest drive is to St Paul (358 miles according to the good people at Google.) Closer to Omaha than Chicago or Fargo. Jump the Empire Builder there and arrive in Essex the way God intended - on the train. 
Lots of RR action passing through Essex. Lots of wildlife to see in Glacier Park.
I had a chance to de-train in Whitefish a few years ago. Nice town, your wife and kids would like it. BN yard there and old GN Depot as well. I think that there is a pedestrian overpass over the yard.
If you have to fly, Kalispel is nice enough place to come in to.
Happy travels.
You’ll remember to tell them about it, right, Willy?
When the day comes that I get to see them, I most certainly will!
Doublestack,
I really appreciate the good information. However, I’m 18 years old, so no wife and kids yet.