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Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Up at 0430! Ai-Yo! (that's Chinese for, "That's too darn early
to get up during my frikken vacation).
Anyway, the hotel had mercifully agreed to open the breakfast
buffet at 0600 giving us a more reasonable 75 minutes before
the buses began to load.
We piled onto the buses and departed on time. It turns out
Scott and Rick and Greer and I were on the #4 or "last" bus.
A bit of excitement. We noticed the #3 bus ahead of us
spontaneously had opened a side panel door that was flapping
in the breeze narrowly missing oncoming traffic.
At a stoplight, our driver gallantly jumped out and closed the
panel door for them. #3 bus then showed its gratitude by
quickly turning left and leaving us far behind. It was OK
as we had quite a few locals onboard who knew the way.
   
It was a long drive tooling up US 2 towards the summit of
Marias Pass, our first stop. We made the turnoff near the
Continental Divide and pulled in at the John F. Stevens
memorial.
   
As if on a cue, an eastbound freight began lugging its way
past our vantage point and the railfans among us banged off
some pictures
After a short visit, we reboarded the buses and headed for
the Summit Inn Restaurant across the road. This is the old
depot which used to reside trackside on Marias Pass.
 
We were all wondering where #8 was (Amtrak's Empire Builder)
as it was due. A few of us camped out on the depots second
floor balcony with a spectacular view of the mountains
Is that cool or what? (look in the glasses' reflection) OK, here's the full
sized view.
 
All too soon, the bus honked it's horn and we had to get
back on board. Just as we passed the curve where US 2
briefly drops alongside the ex-GN mainline at the Marias
crossovers, an eastbound poked around the corner
and roared triumphantly past.
Trainspotting through a tinted bus window is a real
exercise in futility so I won't even post the sorry
pictures I took of this eastbound struggling uphill.
As if to pour salt in the wound, five minutes after
that, here comes #8 grinding uphill through the snowsheds
either right behind the freight or overtaking him on the
second main track. (Much grumbling deleted here)
The Empire Builder was a bit late and it carried quite
a collection of BNSF business cars tacked on behind
the last Superliner. "Mr. Gorbachev...turn this bus
around!...er...tear down this wall!"
On we went towards Essex. Well, we would get there
eventually. In order to accommodate four bus loads at
the Izaak Walton lunch planned for us, Bev and John
Tracy our convention organizers wisely staggered
the arrival of the buses.
Just before Essex, we pulled off at the famous "Salt Lick"
used by Mountain Goats (ROCKY!!!) to get those eight
essential vitamins and minerals. Well, the goats lick
the salt and whatnot out of the rock formations far
below near the Flathead River.
OK, kids. Back on the bus...and here we go PAST Essex
to......BELTON! (that's railroad talk for "West Glacier").
Belton depot has got to be the most difficult building
to photograph on this trip. First of all it's High Noon,
so the light is sucky (straight up and down). Second,
the building is painted a deep brown, almost black which
just ABSORBS any ambient light. Most pictures at this time
of day wind up as this dark BLOB with a perfectly-exposed sky.
 
Oh but wait. We're not done yet. Next we've gotta cross
US 2 with the help of our crossing guard Jim Chinquist
(thanks, Jim!), so's we can visit the famous Belton Chalets.
 
Yummy food smells are coming from the kitchen and a quick
glance at the time show's it's nearly 12:30 (glad I ate
a big breakfast). Time to finally head for lunch at Essex.
Trundling uphill, we pass TWO sections of a Z train (mainly
UPS, JB Hunt & Schneider trailers...hot...Hot...HOT!) going
downhill at Pinnacle and near Essex. All that fun action
just outside my window. May I be excused? ;p
 
We pull into Essex about 12:50 as the last bus for lunch
and get into the burger line. Chow is forthcoming in about
15 minutes with a delicious BBQ'ed burger, potato salad
and dessert. Mmmmmm...Mmmm...Good! Now it's play time.
We have a choice of an indoor presentation and slide show
or just poking around the Izaak Walton Inn.
   
BNSF has thoughtfully arranged to have THREE snow dozers/
flangers/ballast spreaders (whatever ya wanna call 'em)
on display for us to view with a Trainmaster or Mechanical
Department type alongside to explain how the equipment works.
Thank you, BNSF!!!
A surprise is the dozens of HUMMINGBIRDS who are battling
each other for the limited seating at the two feeders
on the deck near the the porch swings. I've never seen
so many of those little creatures in my life. Absolutely
amazing to watch them buzz around.
I chat with Scott Tanner and Kris Werner and then am recruited
to take a picture of the "Guys from Pennsylvania and New Jersey"
outside the Inn.
 
They are from left to right:
Joe Nemeth; Bob Keim; Jim Standiford; Ron Sherry; Charlie Smith and Dan
Mitchell.
Well, I think Dan's from Michigan, but you get the idea. NOTE to
the boys from PA/NJ....I lost your email address, so I'm posting
your picture here. Hope y'all don't mind...
All too soon, it's time to get back on the buses and head for home.
There just isn't a stay, "too long" at the Izaak Walton, as far as
I'm concerned. I can't WAIT to spend a couple days with Baolu there
after the convention.
It's a long drive back to Kalispell and the driver takes a few
back roads to have us back at the hotel pretty much on the dot
at 4:30. I skip the Business Meeting at 5pm as I want to
clean up a little for dinner. Scott and I hit the Reds bar
in downtown again and are back in time for the 7am "Rocky's Rails"
presentations.
    
Rocky's Rails is a chance for local GN vets to tell stories of their
time on the railroad. They each get a turn at the microphone and
regale us with GN tidbits for an hour. The vets shown are as follows:
#1 - Rocky's Rails panel discussion gets underway; #2 - Kenny
Eyre talks it over with John Tracy; #3 - Bun Dalen; #4 - Gene Ruby; #5 - Bob
Allen.
Note: Thanks to Kevin M. for identifying these folks for
me!
Time to call it an evening. There are two more presentations tonight,
but I have pictures to download and notes to write which keeps me up
to 11pm. Good night, CU tomorrow, I'm pooped.
Wednesday July 19, 2006
Marias Pass with Scott Tanner
Scott and I are playing hooky today. All those trains we saw
up on Marias Pass yesterday were just too good to pass up.
And there's my rental car sitting there gathering dust. So
let's pass up the convention tour and go have some other fun!
My plan to follow the Empire Builder from Coram bridge all
the way to East Glacier is foiled when I find out it is
running NINE hours late! It seems #8 did not leave Seattle
until 1am the previous evening. The train consist derailed
on a switch and damaged one of the cars. They wound up
replacing the injured truck on one of the Superliners
which took 8 hours.
It doesn't matter. We will take what they give us which
amounts to a fleet of westbounds coming out of the sun.
At West Glacier/Belton, a Herzog ballast train poses in the sun
and at Essex, a westbound grain train rolls past. We later catch
him near Paola.
  
When we hear a work window open from 10:30 to 2:30, however,
it is time for "Plan B". We bag the railfanning and head
straight to Glacier Park Lodge.
Lots to see and do here. First is the funky stretch Checker
Cab in the parking lot done up like a jammer bus.
Next is the relief map of Glacier Park "issued by Great Northern
Railway".
 
Just outside the entrance to the Lodge is a large carving of
Two Guns White Calf, a Blackfoot Indian. It was carved by Hans
Reiss, older brother of famous artist Winold Reiss around the
summer of 1935. Two Guns was a personal friend of both Reiss
brothers and frequently posed for tourists in East Glacier.
(Thanks for the info, Scott!).
We wander around a bit and take some interior shots of the
lodge.
 
We are still early, so we stroll down to the depot and have a look
around.
 
Scott announces he's getting peckish, so we make our way to
the nearly deserted dining room. The food is pretty good here!
For appetizer, we split sausages made from elk, Venison and buffalo!
(I liked the buffalo, but the elk was a bit gamey...)
For entree, I have southwest salad, (Been on a salad kick lately. I
don't know why...) featuring chicken & corn bread bits. Scott
has the Blackfoot Indian Tacos. Both portions are huge. For a
nice buzz, we both have huckleberry beer! Scott has two, I have one.
(no more for me, thanksss....I'm drivin'.....) We agree Scott pays
for lunch and I pay for gas at Kalispell which worked out about even.
After lunch, slowly stroll out into the "Big Tree" lobby. Suddenly
behind us, we hear a woman shriek (EEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!). We whirl
around and a small BAT is flying around the lobby! He's about the size
of a sparrow and seems to be in a rut, flying the same pattern around Scott
and myself.
The bat is getting tired and seeks refuge in the lounge. There is
a short pause, and then another SHRIEEEEEKKKK!!!!! comes from the bar. We
walk in there (always like to be where the action is) and both the
guy and gal working in there are all shook up. Finally, another guy
with a cooler head walks slowly over to the now exhausted bat
who is resting on the floor near the window. He takes a large linen tablecloth
and gently places it over him, scooping him up
safely saying, "Okay, outside with you fella..."
After all the excitement, we walk over to an art gallery Scott
wanted to check out, but it is closed.
On the way back to the car, we stop so I can take a picture of
the former Great Northern dormitory from Blackfoot, MT which was
moved here to Glacier Park. It looks remarkably similar to
the Izaak Walton Inn.
As we're walking around outside, we heard a train go through but
we can't tell which direction it was going. At 1:15pm, we start
heading back to Kalispell, so we can clean up before the banquet.
As we're coming down Marias Pass, we spot a Z train with two NS
units trailing and an older Heritage I unit on the point heading
west. Cool. A fast train to chase home. I slide in the gravel
along the side of US 2 to get the following shots.
The next stop is at the Goat Lick just outside Essex. Here is
the Sheep Creek Trestle. As we're standing there, a fellow ambles
up and says, "Hey you guys OK?" "Yeah, I saw you slide off
the side of the road back there on US 2!" We explain that
we're railfans and we're chasing a train. The chap gets that
uncomprehending, glazed expression trying to understand why
ANYONE would do such a thing and wanders off, speechless.
We can hear the Z coming downhill and so does our new friend.
"Hey, you guys weren't kidding! I gotta go get my camera..."
Soon we are back in the Dodge and rocketing off after the
westbound Z. On the scanner, I can hear the engineer complaining
that he's stopping at a red signal...probably the first one
he's seen since he left Havre.
At the west end of Essex siding, we spot another Z train stopped with a
Heritage II on the point. It is past 2:30 so the work crew
is a bit slow to clear up and close their maintenance window.
Finally they let the first Z through the work area slowly with the
other Z right behind him.
Scott had spotted a nice rock wall with signals near Red Eagle
(I think) so we set up to catch this Z with the H2. As we're
standing there a westbound appears around the corner. I opt
for shooting this uphill auto train, but consequently miss
the Z tiptoeing downhill.
We finally catch that Z at the Nyack sign at "Scott's Signals"
(he saw these signals on a shorty mast from the bus tour
yesterday).
We bomb down the highway barely ahead of the Z in Belton canyon.
We pull off to the side where a guy is taking pictures. I pull past
him to avoid getting dust in his picture, but the Z is too fast. As
we both jump out, Scott says I yelled, "S***, I missed it!!". It
turns out the guy was actually VIDEOTAPING. Uh, oh....
Scott actually got a shot. We pursued but got to Belton and
couldn't catch him.
Not wanting to be skunked at a great shot, I turned back and
reached the same wide spot in the road. The videotaper was gone.
In the afternoon heat, we waited with me in car facing the tunnel
portal and Scott sweating outside. Suddenly, Scott screamed,
"LINDSAY, THERE IT IS!!!!" At that very moment, two guys were
walking past on a road below and looked up wondering what was
wrong. I leapt out of the car and got the shot. Beautiful picture.
Good end to a fun day of train hype!!
That was it for the day's railfanning. We got back to the
Red Lion at 4pm with plenty of time for nap and shower.
Wednesday night, July 19, 2006 GNRHS convention banquet
First we had the social hour at 5pm. Thanks to Bob McCoy and Kris
Werner who both bought me a beer! (burp...)
At about six pm, the doors opened and everyone headed in
for the dinner. I was sitting next to the door with Bob McCoy,
Kris Werner, Rick Bolger and Scott Tanner (if I've left anyone
off, apologies...).
We started off table by table for the buffet line.
Ed Letain and his Mrs. strolled through the crowd selling some
last minute raffle tickets.
After dinner, the beautiful banner created by Kris Werner of Tag-up
was presented to the local convention chairman, Don McLaughlin.
I wandered around to take pictures of the "loot" that would be
raffled off or given away as door prizes:
Bob Downing was our banquet speaker and told about his time
working with GN in Whitefish.
Bob Grinde and Dave Sprau both, at one time, were dispatchers
on the GN. Bob now lives in Whitefish and Dave lives in
Warren, Oregon
Bill Plano and Ray Chappell hand out door prizes
   
We wound things up about 9:30 pm and it was time to say our goodbyes
until next year...in Why Not, Minot! See you then.
BUT...the saga continues. For more click on the following
link as I go pick up Baolu on her train ride out from Seattle.
 
 
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