68 minutes - available as DVD (BNSFMP) and HD AVCHD (BNSFMP-HD)

CLICK ON PICTURE BELOW FOR SAMPLE VIDEO

Here we see Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder passing Bison and then cresting False Summit on 13 May 2010.

BNSF 4707 and BNSF 4679 head a westbound grain train through Nyack tunnel beside the Flathead River on 14 May 2010. BNSF 4060 and 4759 are on the rear.

BNSF's Marias Pass was selected by Microsoft® as the one North American route for Train Simulator®. From West Glacier to Summit the railroad climbs almost 2200 feet in 65 miles and then descends across grasslands to Shelby. This video shows many of the features that make this area so unique. It was filmed in May 2010 when some snow was still on the peaks.

After leaving West Glacier (Belton) the line runs alongside the Flathead River and through several tunnels. At Essex there is the famous Izaak Walton Inn that was built in 1939 on Great Northern Railroad land. From here the track climbs for 20 miles along ledges protected by snowsheds and crosses several trestles over creeks that join the Flathead River before reaching the 5216 foot summit of Marias Pass and the Continental Divide.

The western side of the Rocky Mountains is covered with trees whereas on the eastern side there are few trees and large open grasslands crossed by winding valleys. In several places high trestles, notably at East Glacier and Cut Bank, cross these valleys.

Loaded grain trains, intermodal trains, coal trains and general freight trains, often with remote controlled locomotives on the rear, travel this route. Amtrak's Empire Builder also travels daily in each direction.

We see all these trains and also a Directors Special train, an FRA Office of Safety train and a work train. GE & GM locomotives from several railroads are seen at work.