International (passenger train)

:"This article refers to the named passenger train operated by the Great Northern Railway.:"For the named passenger train jointly-operated by the Canadian National Railway and the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, see International Limited (passenger train). The "International" was a named passenger train originally operated by the Great Northern Railway between Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. This route began in 1950 as the "International Limited", and was restored in 1995 using a Talgo Pendular train set purchased by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as Amtrak's "Mount Baker International" service and is still in operation as part of its "Amtrak Cascades" train. The train makes stops in Seattle, Edmonds, Mount Vernon and Bellingham, Washington, before crossing the international boundary for Vancouver, British Columbia.GN INTERNATIONALSSeattle – Vancouver BC(June 18, 1950)154 miles

The Great Northern Railway inaugurated two new five car lightweight streamlined trains to passengers traveling between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia Canada and points in between on June 18, 1950. The new trains were initially assigned a single EMD E7A unit for power and each of the two consists operated a round trip and one half from either terminal to provide three daily round trips between the two largest cities in the Pacific Northwest. In this way the Great Northern was able to provide Morning, Afternoon, and Evening INTERNATIONALS to the traveling public. The five car trains were constructed by American Car & Foundry and were displayed along their intended route before entering service. Since the trains crossed an international boundary between the United States and Canada on their 158-mile trips customs agents boarded the northbound INTER-NATIONALS at Mt. Vernon clearing passengers while the train proceeded to Vancouver. Southbound the customs agents boarded the train in Vancouver and left the train at Mt. Vernon. The 158mile trip required four hours in either direction with stops after leaving Seattle at Edmonds, Everett, Mt. Vernon, Bellingham, Blaine, White Rock, New Westminster, and Vancouver. The INTERNATIONALS in the four hours they consumed between terminals traveled through some of the most beautiful scenery in North America. Along the shores of Puget Sound on a clear day one could see the Olympic Mountains on the Peninsula they were named for. The scenery around Mt. Vernon was of the lush farmland of this popular growing area. The train once again followed Puget Sound into Bellingham Bay and the city by the same name. After traversing more farmland the train eventually came to New Westminster where the train slowed for the crossing of the mighty Frazer River and then it was on to Vancouver one of the truly magnificent cities of North America.

FIRST CONSIST

510 EMD E7A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

1105 Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office Car

1115 60 Revenue seat Coach

1116 60 Revenue seat Coach

1145 28 Revenue seat Coach 24 seat Dining Car

1195 PORT OF SEATTLE Customs Office Parlor Bedroom 17 revenue seat Parlor 17 seat Lounge Observation

SECOND CONSIST

511 EMD E7A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

1106 Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office Car

1117 60 Revenue seat Coach

1118 60 Revenue seat Coach

1146 28-Revenue seat Coach 24 seat Dining Car

1196 PORT OF VANCOUVER Customs Office Parlor Bedroom 17 Revenue seat Parlor 17 seat Lounge Observation