GREAT NORTHERN RR started out in 1857 as the Minnesota & Pacific. Eventually the line extended through the rich farmlands of North Dakota, through Glacier Park to the evergreen shores of the Pacific Northwest. The name Great Northern was taken in 1890 as appropriate for rails that crossed the great territory and in 1912 the sure-footed mountain goat was adopted as its symbol. Its original passenger flagship was the "Oriental Limited" and its "Empire Builder" still operates as an AMTRAK train.
