Trains in Minot and Williston in September 2003

I took these pictures while riding Amtrak’s eastbound Empire Builder on September 5, 2003. The Empire Builder’s Heritage Baggage Car for this trip was Amtrak #1851, which I photographed during the train’s service stop in Havre, Montana. This car was built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1953 as U.S. Army (USAX) Hospital Ward Car #89566. It became Amtrak “Le Pub” Bar-Lounge Car #3405 in March 1974 and was used in service on the Montrealer between Washington DC and Montreal, and notably featured an electric piano. In June 1982 it was rebuilt as a baggage car with head-end power and became Amtrak 1178. In 1998 it was refurbished for service on the Adirondack between New York City and Montreal, becoming Amtrak #1851 and receiving large advertising murals for the Adirondack. It was one of several Amtrak baggage cars to be decorated for trains in the Northeast. By this time the car had been transferred into general service, but retained its special paint scheme.

I photographed Great Northern O-1 Class 2-8-2 #3059 from the train during the eastbound Empire Builder’s station stop at Williston, North Dakota. The Great Northern had a total of 145 O-1 Class 2-8-2 Mikados built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in four groups between August 1911 and February 1919, and the last of them were retired in April 1958. Built in February 1913, #3059 was one of the last 15 in operation when it was retired in December 1957, and is the only survivor. It was donated to the City of Williston and placed on display in Railroad Park on August 2, 1958.