Amtrak's first choice for Superliner assignments had been the financially troubled "Floridian", a Chicago–Florida long-distance train, but the two years' delay in delivery scuppered these plans. Amtrak turned next to the "Empire Builder". This long-distance train ran between Chicago and Seattle through the plains of Montana and North Dakota. Winters in that part of the United States are harsh, featuring both blizzards and cold temperatures. Traditional steam-heated equipment often broke down, causing Amtrak to cancel service. The Superliners, with their electrical head-end power, were far better suited for the conditions. The "Empire Builder" became the first long-distance train to use Superliners, and the first train permanently assigned them, on October 28, 1979. Amtrak's new national timetable depicted a Superliner coach on the front cover, and the listing for the "Empire Builder" carried a heading which read "Amtrak's Superliner is Special." At the same time, Superliners entered service on the short-haul "Pacific International" and "Mount Rainier" in the Pacific Northwest.