And now, we get ready to go!

Seattle has been great!

A bit of the golden sunshine here and there with some rain, but generally very nice as weather goes. Plenty to see and do for all kinds of interests in and about the Emerald City. We even had a nice visit from the Seattle Center Monorail Bunny. Check out some views on their Facebook page.

Lots of work to get the train ready to go took place today. Kudos to everyone at Amtrak here in town for making everything happen.

A few views of some of the cars ahead of us so far as the train is assembled.

Seen above, is the business car Suits Me. Built By Pullman in 1928 as a office car for the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad. For 75 years, she was assigned to the president of this railroad.

The Berlin was built in 1956 was built in 1956 by Pullman for the Union Pacific as an 11 bedroom sleeping car called the Placid Lake. Recently it was part of the American European Express luxury train. In 2009 the current owners reconfigured the car and it is back in service.

The Dearing started life in 1925 as a 12 section 1 bedroom Pullman sleeping car named Thompson built for the Great Northern’s Oriental Limited train. In the early 1950’s she was sold to the Chicago Great Western Railway and was converted into a business car.

The Caritas was built in 1948 by Pullman for the St Louis San Francisco Railroad for service on trains such as the Texas Special as 4 bedroom 14 rooomette sleeping car.  In 1983, the car was converted with the addition of the open platform.

Plenty of cars still to come. Be sure to check back for more.