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Bill et al
Indeed the Cruise ships keep the WP&Y in business. The day we were there there were 5 Cruse Ships docked. Every WP&Y train I saw was full to capacity...My daughter who planned our entire trip arranged for us to ride behind steam which doesn't operate every day IIRC.
I asked the trainman in our car how long the season lasted..He said after Sept 1 it's pretty much over.
As to Rupert's question re the Q's involvement in SOME railroad in Alaska and my response I guess I should have prefaced my remark with the discaimer that "the only involvment with ANY railroad in Alaska was the Q TM I mentioned". For what it's worth it seems that the ALASKA RR drew it's management from the railroads of the USA. R.H. Anderson of the RI was GM of the ALASKA RR at one time in the 1960's.
Pete
-----Original Message----- From: William Barber <clipperw@gmail.com> To: CBQ <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tue, Jun 26, 2012 8:19 am Subject: [CBQ] Re: Alaska Pete,
For Rupert's benefit, the Alaska RR, today, is a main line standard gauge railroad and is not located anywhere near the 3' narrow gauge White Pass and Yukon which operates out of Skagway, AS in the southern peninsula of the state. The Alaska RR operates SD70MAC locomotives among others and is based out of Anchorage, AS. At one time, the Alaska RR was also 3' narrow gauge, but was converted to standard gauge in the late 1920's or '30s. An Alaska RR narrow gauge 10 wheeler steam locomotive operates on the Huckleberry tourist RR in Flint, MI
Both RRs in Alaska are totally isolated from any other railroad. Their only connections to the outside world are seaports and highways. The Alaska RR operates within the state while the WP&Y operates into Canada. The WP&Y operates with a fleet of diesels and two steam locomotives. They haul freight and, in the summer, large loads of tourists that mostly arrive via cruise ship s sometimes with 3 or 4 in the very small port at one time. The Alaska RR hauls freight and some cruise ship and individual tourists and has a fleet of modern diesels. They have recently received a WWII vintage steam locomotive that once ran on the RR and plan to return it to service. Both RRs have good websites that are worth a visit if you are interested. I agree with others concerning the spectacular scenery on the WP&Y. It easily rivals anything in the U.S. lower 48 states. It would be a more popular railfan destination if it weren't for the great difficulty in getting there. The only ways in are a really long car trip, cruise ship or other boats and small planes. Most of the towns along the southern peninsula are the same way. In fact, you can't get to the state capital, Juneau, by car even from the main part of the state!
Bill Barber
Gravois Mills, MO
On Jun 26, 2012, at 6:05 AM, CBQ@yahoogroups.com wrote:
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