I've found my reference. Lone E. Janson's book “Copper Spike” refers to a CB&Q subsidiary that started to build a railroad in Alaska – possibly from Valdez or Cordova - to the copper mines. Some track was laid and a locomotive was brought in, but then it was abandoned.
Anyone able to add to this?
Rupert
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 5:17 PM
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Re: Alaska
Gents
My wife and I flew up to Fairbanks in 2002, then took the Alaska RR down to Anchorage (in an ex-SP dome car I think), and later on to Seward for our Inland Passage cruise to Vancouver, with stops at 5 or 6 Alaskan ports. Whilst my wife went whale watching, I took the WP&Y trip and, as I say, a brilliant trip. I also found my copy of Corbin's "Steam Locos" in a book shop in Juneau. Coincidently, the model sold in the shops of the WP&Y diesels was made in NZ.
As regards the Burlington connection, I have a vague memory that the Burlington had been directly involved with a railway in Alaska (and not the Alaska RR) but can't think of the detail at the moment. There was also a query in 2002 on this List about CB&Q/NP tour packages which included Alaska.
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ