The Empire Builder was the Great Northern's flagship luxury train from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest. The following description of the train is from a booklet the railroad published in 1935 to promote the train and its accommodations.
All Aboard The Empire Builder - March 30, 1935
A completely air-conditioned transcontinental train serving the Empire of the Great Northwest.
The Empire Builder follows the low altitude route by the shortest distance between Chicago and Puget Sound.
You will notice from the map above that after leaving the Twin Cities the Great Northern goes due west in almost a straight line. Even though it crosses the Great Divide and the Cascades, in all that distance there are only twelve miles with an elevation of more than 4,800 feet.(continued)
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The Empire Builder