June 23, 2014: Departing from the new St. Paul Union Depot to make its daily run down along the Mississippi, the 8+ hour late Amtrak Empire Builder goes another hour down through the sea of trains in the yard trying getting out of St. Paul due to freight traffic. Most of the delay is caused by a CP Hopper train entering the yard and finding that it doesn't fit and has to stop leaving its tail end blocking Amtrak's path.
Running a little late to the "Rail View Lounge" after being sent to the wrong sleeper car (I was told to board the 830 car at the head end, not the 2830 car at the tail where I was supposed to be), we're not able to get video from the platform itself. After a few minor adjustments to the window mount, we're ready for our run down along the river to La Crosse, WI.