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The Sweet Mask of Luxury ProRailer rides the Empire Builder in a private car on train's 75th anniversary 6/15/2004 By Judy Siegfried

Gov. Doyle and David Gunn prepare to depart Milwaukee for Columbus

(Judy is ProRail’s Secretary and describes her experiences aboard the Empire Builder June 11 between Milwaukee and Columbus, Wis., as Amtrak celebrated the 75th anniversary of the train’s inaugural run. Click here for a report on the related Milwaukee station ceremonies.)

Our eyes cling to disappearing coattails as we hasten down the Milwaukee station platform, dwarfed by the awesome high-level coaches of the 75th Anniversary Westward Edition of the Empire Builder. We’ll leave on time, David Gunn had warned.

It’s a smiling event for us -- six rail advocates anxious to climb aboard the Beech Grove business car that brought Mr. Gunn briefly to our mid-western world. We glow as we embark on a single fast-moving hour in the rarified world of the Amtrak CEO and his guest, Governor Jim Doyle.

Entering through the full width meeting room, we pass by comfortable stuffed chairs, and then funnel into the side aisle past the sleeping quarters, filing singly out to the dome car -- the last one Amtrak has in use.

We climb the stairs to the upper level, and step up again from the narrow aisle to perch on a friendly cluster of well-padded seats.

We begin this golden hour gazing through mist at a green and wet Wisconsin countryside. Seemingly important folks -- people we don’t know -- sit or stand in their niches. Maybe they, too, are here for a short ride.

The dignitaries we expected to see are not evident; most likely they will appear in the dome car before we reach our destination in Columbus, an hour away. At least we certainly hope so.

At our end of the car, painter J. Craig Thorpe signs prints of his colorful poster celebrating 75 years of the Empire Builder. He will share stories of its history en route to Seattle. His son accompanies him, enjoying his first trip east of Montana.

We ProRail/WisARP folks enjoy our comfort and talk with other riders near us in this pampered ambience of super first class. Further up the car CP Rail folks cluster -- planning, we hope, how the second train to the Twin Cities will work.

Ah. A cake-bearing Amtrak attendant appears, clutching a bag of disposable plastic plates. He quietly and carefully places the cake -- a WisARP gift -- on a central table.

Is he going to cut the cake? Who will eat it? Where is the other one? We don't know. The attendant slips away.

TrainWeb reporter Richard Elgenson of Railnews.net from Fullerton, California, enjoys his free hot dog -- or is it a Wisconsin brat? He sits alone in a booth, but talks readily about his work to those nearby.

Mouths watering, others respond to the invitation to free food below, trickling cautiously down the steep stairway. Behind the bar, the lonely attendant of the lower lounge offers to prepare more than most want.

Tables sport oversized bags of M & M's, salted peanuts, giant cookies, potato and corn chips, pretzels, and many flavors of bottled drinks. See-through windows of the upright cooler reveal a display of yogurt, sandwiches, salads and more.

On one end table, a huge food and flower basket beckons, perhaps more for looking than for nibbling. At the other end, photos and articles, tastefully arranged, honor the Empire Builder, past and present.

Time and scenery pass swiftly while we ponder who we are in this moving movie where hundreds of characters play out their roles according to class, each largely in isolation.

At last! Mr. Gunn and Governor Doyle, Amtrak personnel, and government aides, enter the front end of the dome car. They begin a slow journey through it toward the exit to the Beech Grove, chatting with guests along the way.

David Gunn notices a National or Nothing (TxARP) button. He grins and says, "I like that" (idea), then turns to talk with a guest. Governor Doyle proceeds, stopping near us. Yes, he says, he likes the sound of a second train to the Twin Cities, but outstretches his arm, his hand clutching at dollars hanging from make-believe money trees. Where will we get the funds? He muses about a future train from Milwaukee to Green Bay, too.

Governor Doyle and Mr. Gunn pose among us for a photo, and then disappear down the stairs.

With ten minutes to go, our special gift bags arrive, complete with commemorative stainless steel mug, 75th Anniversary button, and a reprint of the Trains magazine article paying tribute to the Empire Builder, this “symbol of stability”.

Our watches tell us our moment of luxury is about to end. As we gather our things and prepare to descend, Mr. Thorpe obliges for a pose beside his Empire Builder poster propped up at the end of the car.

We work our way down the stairs, and retrace our steps through the business car to await our stop.

The Columbus station platform is alive with smiling faces and waving hands. Strains of "Happy Birthday" complete the scene.

Julie Hornbacher, who runs the coffee shop across the tracks, clutches a neatly folded cloth bundle as she heads toward the rear of the train. Given a signal to climb aboard, she presents David Gunn a special Columbus station quilt. They smile broadly for a photo. Julie escapes down the steps again just before the train lurches forward.

Mr. Gunn grabs for the railing. He flashes his ready grin, waves to the crowd, and disappears. Wistfully, we watch the train pull away without us.

How quickly the mask of luxury is buried as we cram our six bodies creatively into a small SUV comfortable for four. Where is that train to Madison?

I guess that’s why we’re here.

Click here for a report on the related Milwaukee station ceremonies.