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Willbridge

Willbridge

50+ Year Amtrak Rider
AU Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
2,975
Location
Denver
Soon after his 100th birthday, my father passed away unexpectedly. Traveling from Denver to Portland for the April 2nd memorial service it seemed appropriate to go by train, as he was one of the early (1940's) railfans. Westbound, Amtrak's Yield Management system wanted four times the bus fare, so I took the bus via Billings, Spokane, and Pasco. (This corresponds with the Hill Lines' route into the early 1960's.) Returning, I took Amtrak from Portland via Sacramento to Denver, for about twice the bus fare.

Here are a few photos. As these are familiar routes, I'll keep commentary to a minimum.

Express Arrow at Buffalo, WY, waiting for the Jefferson Lines connection to Billings.

P1050874.JPG

Jefferson Lines from Buffalo to Billings. Some excitement arriving in Billings, as federal agents pounced on one of the passengers.
P1050880.JPG

Greyhound took over at Spokane to Pasco. At Pasco, we met the Boise>Portland bus and left two passengers behind due to an overload.
P1050883.JPG

In Portland, I got where I needed to go on Tri-Met.

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My father didn't like the fixed consists on the Talgos, but enjoyed the ride. A visit to Union Station found one of the two Oregon T-8's parked.
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Line of passengers snakes through station for sold out PDX>VAC train. The newsstand was once one of my father's major accounts. It survived a decline in rail travel by drawing customers from nearby businesses.
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One of the best side trips from Portland is a circle via the Lower Columbia (US30) in one direction and the Sunset Highway (US26) the other direction, all on Amtrak Thruway buses.
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Amtrak Thruway trips fill in gaps in the Willamette Valley train schedules.
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Wilf's in Union Station opens for dinner at 5:00 p.m. except Mondays. Tom Grant, a school friend, has been heard on the keyboard on jazz nights.
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It's not as messy as it was, but one block from Union Station... This is in back of the former Greyhound Station, which won architectural awards, but now is targeted for redevelopment.
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The Steel Bridge carries Amtrak trains and freight on its lower level; highway traffic and light rail on its upper level.
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A visit to the Oregon Historical Society Museum found a surprise: my toy shovel that was used in the ground-breaking for the museum building. Gov. Tom McCall, at left in the photo, got me into transportation planning.
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Racing across the Great Basin.
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At Glenwood Springs, Train 6 was sold out all the way to Chicago.
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The Colorado RIver heads towards controversies over rights to its precious water.
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Technology in the wilderness. Stilgoe called this type of situation the "Metropolitan Corridor."
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For a few hours, one might look out the window, listen to Conductor Brad, who loves this land and its railway, and forget about issues of the day.
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Willbridge said:
Soon after his 100th birthday, my father passed away unexpectedly. Traveling from Denver to Portland for the April 2nd memorial service it seemed appropriate to go by train, as he was one of the early (1940's) railfans. Westbound, Amtrak's Yield Management system wanted four times the bus fare, so I took the bus via Billings, Spokane, and Pasco. (This corresponds with the Hill Lines' route into the early 1960's.) Returning, I took Amtrak from Portland via Sacramento to Denver, for about twice the bus fare.
Click to expand...

100th birthday! And "unexpectedly!" This makes me hope that he was vigorous to the end and that your genes may endow you with many more years of travel and posting. My condolences at your father's death, and gratitude that he bequeathed you his love of trains and storytelling.
 
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Interesting photos. Also, my condolences for the loss of your father.

You mentioned Jefferson Bus lines. A number of years ago, there was a proposal for a Jefferson bus connection between Grand Forks, ND (or was it Fargo?) and Winnipeg, for a link between the Empire Builder and the Canadian. Has that proposal been abolished? It would make for a nice round trip loop (Seattle-Empire Builder-Canadian-Vancouver-Cascades-Seattle). I guess arrival times into Grand Forks for the Builder and into Winnipeg would not allow any easy transfer. Also, a 2-3 times a week run for the Canadian would be another problem.
 
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May your father's memory be a blessing!

How far out the Gorge did you go on the bus, and how did you make the connection to US26?
And what happens to the passengers left behind? Did they have a reserved seat, and were there any accommodations made, or did they just have to wait for the next day's bus?
 
Northwestern said:
Interesting photos. Also, my condolences for the loss of your father.

You mentioned Jefferson Bus lines. A number of years ago, there was a proposal for a Jefferson bus connection between Grand Forks, ND (or was it Fargo?) and Winnipeg, for a link between the Empire Builder and the Canadian. Has that proposal been abolished? It would make for a nice round trip loop (Seattle-Empire Builder-Canadian-Vancouver-Cascades-Seattle). I guess arrival times into Grand Forks for the Builder and into Winnipeg would not allow any easy transfer. Also, a 2-3 times a week run for the Canadian would be another problem.
Click to expand...
If memory serves, Jefferson Lines did serve Winnipeg in the not-so-distant past but the schedule was not timed for Amtrak and/or VIA Rail connections. Separately, a study (perhaps the Empire Builder Performance Improvement Plan) suggested a Grand Forks-Winnipeg Thruway connection but nothing came of that.
 
oregon pioneer said:
And what happens to the passengers left behind? Did they have a reserved seat, and were there any accommodations made, or did they just have to wait for the next day's bus?
Click to expand...
Back in 1980, I took a mammoth Greyhound bus trip from Boston to Seattle, via Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Hereford Texas, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Portland. I quickly learned then that when the line of passengers was long, where you wanted to be was at the end of the line. At that time, if a scheduled bus filled to capacity, they would put another bus on the route just behind it. So, most likely you'd have a seat to yourself and could stretch out and sleep. Those were the days... sadly, I would guess the overflow passengers here were told "Stinks to be you," and told to come back the next day.
 
flitcraft said:
Back in 1980, I took a mammoth Greyhound bus trip from Boston to Seattle, via Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Hereford Texas, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Portland. I quickly learned then that when the line of passengers was long, where you wanted to be was at the end of the line. At that time, if a scheduled bus filled to capacity, they would put another bus on the route just behind it. So, most likely you'd have a seat to yourself and could stretch out and sleep. Those were the days... sadly, I would guess the overflow passengers here were told "Stinks to be you," and told to come back the next day.
Click to expand...
During the '73-'75 energy crisis I was commuting between home in Portland and job in Salem. A couple of us kept an eye out for extra sections headed south in the evening, as it was not uncommon for Greyhound to run three sections on the schedule that replicated the former SP Cascade. Now you're just out of luck if they miscalculate and oversell.

As on the railroads, there were sometimes problems with extra sections. The worst Greyhound wreck that I can recall was a third section of the fastest Portland to San Francisco run. The extra board driver was late and trying to catch up with the schedule for the big swap of passengers and express at Redding.
 
oregon pioneer said:
May your father's memory be a blessing!

How far out the Gorge did you go on the bus, and how did you make the connection to US26?
And what happens to the passengers left behind? Did they have a reserved seat, and were there any accommodations made, or did they just have to wait for the next day's bus?
Click to expand...
The Gorge segment was on the last leg of the trip from Denver. The stranded passengers at Pasco had to wait for the next day.
 
Northwestern said:
Interesting photos. Also, my condolences for the loss of your father.

You mentioned Jefferson Bus lines. A number of years ago, there was a proposal for a Jefferson bus connection between Grand Forks, ND (or was it Fargo?) and Winnipeg, for a link between the Empire Builder and the Canadian. Has that proposal been abolished? It would make for a nice round trip loop (Seattle-Empire Builder-Canadian-Vancouver-Cascades-Seattle). I guess arrival times into Grand Forks for the Builder and into Winnipeg would not allow any easy transfer. Also, a 2-3 times a week run for the Canadian would be another problem.
Click to expand...
I made that loop by rail in September 1967, which is how I met my wife, standing behind me in line in the Winnipeg CN station.

The ticket was a round-trip at the regular coach rate, plus a seat reservation charge for the North Coast Limited, rather than the Empire Builder. If I recall correctly my trip was around 1500 more miles than the shortest route.
 
Eric S said:
If memory serves, Jefferson Lines did serve Winnipeg in the not-so-distant past but the schedule was not timed for Amtrak and/or VIA Rail connections. Separately, a study (perhaps the Empire Builder Performance Improvement Plan) suggested a Grand Forks-Winnipeg Thruway connection but nothing came of that.
Click to expand...
Back in '82 when I was living in Canada, I made a couple of Combo Train/ Bus trips between Vancouver and the US that involved riding the Train to Winnipeg,and then transferring to a Bus to Grand Forks( I want to say it was Greyhound Canada but my Memory isn't what it used to be??) where I would once again board the Train for Chicago.

As was said, the connection times were not ideal in Winnipeg or Grand Forks, but since I was on a Sabbatical from my Job, I wasn't in a rush to be anywhere!

I even once rode the Long Dog from Grand Forks to Dallas,(when Passes were ridiculously Cheap,) just to see the Praries in Middle America.
 
Bob Dylan said:
Back in '82 when I was living in Canada, I made a couple of Combo Train/ Bus trips between Vancouver and the US that involved riding the Train to Winnipeg,and then transferring to a Bus to Grand Forks( I want to say it was Greyhound Canada but my Memory isn't what it used to be??) where I would once again board the Train for Chicago.
Click to expand...
The routes from Winnipeg to Grand Forks were operated by Greyhound Lines (US)…former Northland Greyhound Lines division.
Greyhound Lines of Canada ran east and west from Winnipeg
 
Bob Dylan said:
even once rode the Long Dog from Grand Forks to Dallas,(when Passes were ridiculously Cheap,) just to see the Praries in Middle America.
Click to expand...
The route from Fargo south operated by Jefferson Lines, was formerly operated by Jack Rabbit Lines as far as Sioux Falls, thence
Greyhound (Overland Greyhound Lines) down thru Omaha to Kansas City, then Southern Kansas Greyhound Lines (jointly owned by Southwestern Greyhound, and Santa Fe Trailways!) to Tulsa, and finally back to Greyhound (SWG) to Dallas, if that was the route you took…
 
Willbridge said:
Soon after his 100th birthday, my father passed away unexpectedly. Traveling from Denver to Portland for the April 2nd memorial service it seemed appropriate to go by train, as he was one of the early (1940's) railfans. Westbound, Amtrak's Yield Management system wanted four times the bus fare, so I took the bus via Billings, Spokane, and Pasco. (This corresponds with the Hill Lines' route into the early 1960's.) Returning, I took Amtrak from Portland via Sacramento to Denver, for about twice the bus fare.

Here are a few photos. As these are familiar routes, I'll keep commentary to a minimum.

Express Arrow at Buffalo, WY, waiting for the Jefferson Lines connection to Billings.

View attachment 31952

Jefferson Lines from Buffalo to Billings. Some excitement arriving in Billings, as federal agents pounced on one of the passengers.
View attachment 31953

Greyhound took over at Spokane to Pasco. At Pasco, we met the Boise>Portland bus and left two passengers behind due to an overload.
View attachment 31954

In Portland, I got where I needed to go on Tri-Met.

View attachment 31955
Click to expand...
You were fortunate to have a parent who shared your enthusiasm for trains. May he Rest In Peace.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us…
 
railiner said:
The route from Fargo south operated by Jefferson Lines, was formerly operated by Jack Rabbit Lines as far as Sioux Falls, thence
Greyhound (Overland Greyhound Lines) down thru Omaha to Kansas City, then Southern Kansas Greyhound Lines (jointly owned by Southwestern Greyhound, and Santa Fe Trailways!) to Tulsa, and finally back to Greyhound (SWG) to Dallas, if that was the route you took…
Click to expand...
Thanks, that was it, and I do remember the changes, and the Loooooong trip!😉
 
Trollopian said:
Under the circumstances I bet the 1,500 extra miles went swiftly.
Click to expand...
The extra miles included riding to St. Louis and back as a side trip. Someday I'll write a trip report, but at the risk of thread drift, the tariff was from any point Vancouver, BC and Portland to any point Green Bay and St. Louis for the same round-trip fare as my intended PDX>CHI>PDX.

I met my future wife in Winnipeg and we were booked by the Air Canada reservation software in the same coach. She and a girlfriend were returning to Edmonton from the Montreal World's Fair. I arranged with the conductor to make a stopover and met her folks. Her father was a transit operator, I saw some of their trolley coach system, and then I continued to VAC. Subsequently Portland and Denver transit systems benefited from the family connection.

The whole 1967 trip was quite extensive after the 1966 trip to Paradise, MT. I'll try to finish that trip report before starting another!
 
Willbridge said:
Soon after his 100th birthday, my father passed away unexpectedly. Traveling from Denver to Portland for the April 2nd memorial service it seemed appropriate to go by train, as he was one of the early (1940's) railfans. Westbound, Amtrak's Yield Management system wanted four times the bus fare, so I took the bus via Billings, Spokane, and Pasco. (This corresponds with the Hill Lines' route into the early 1960's.) Returning, I took Amtrak from Portland via Sacramento to Denver, for about twice the bus fare.

Here are a few photos. As these are familiar routes, I'll keep commentary to a minimum.

Express Arrow at Buffalo, WY, waiting for the Jefferson Lines connection to Billings.

View attachment 31952

Jefferson Lines from Buffalo to Billings. Some excitement arriving in Billings, as federal agents pounced on one of the passengers.
View attachment 31953

Greyhound took over at Spokane to Pasco. At Pasco, we met the Boise>Portland bus and left two passengers behind due to an overload.
View attachment 31954

In Portland, I got where I needed to go on Tri-Met.

View attachment 31955
Click to expand...
I recall when Continental Trailways ran two daily trips, Denver-Cheyenne-Casper-Billings…one the route you took thru Buffalo, where it too received connections from Rapid City; and the other route via the Wind River Canyon and Deaver, where it connected to Cody and Pahaska Tepee for Yellowstone Park.
The latter route connected with Greyhound at Laurel, MT for points west, before arriving at Billings…
 

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