LINK to Alaska RR site:
Alaska Railroad | Alaskan Tours & Vacations | Train Packages
The passenger services is for the most part summer seasonal - - -
During the winter off season month passenger trains run 1 a week and stop just about anywhere any mile post of the track.
This is the life blood of transportation for those residing in the wilderness -
Wildness residents hail the train going to town (city) for essential supplies and make arrangements with the conductor for
the return stopping at a designated mile post.
Freight trains run year round with interchange of lower 48 cars at the port of Whittier
The PBS TV network has run several videos of the Alaska RR in all types of weather
The passenger service is from Fairbanks 350+ miles south to Anchorage - a 12 hour trip with a crew change about halfway
to the awaiting northbound trip
Any critter crossing the tracks or seen on the wayside is cause for commentary and slowing of the train
AND THEN THERE IS THE MOUNTAIN - Mount Denali - when the mountain is OUT things really slow down for the photo opt !
There are two classes of service on the summer trains - basic coach and the bi-level Gold Star with bunch of perks and a view
From Anchorage there are two sea ports -
Whittier and Seward -
Passenger rail traffic for the cruise lines and some excursions -and- rail freight traffic year around
MAP LINK:
Google Maps
Route Map | Alaska Railroad
Zoom in and pan around - you can follow the railroad tracks
At the top of the map is Anchorage follow the bright gold line (highway) to where is reverses it self (Wildlife Conservation Center)
- Whittier off to the right - at this point is the junction with the line going to Seward - the Seward line does not follow or is adjacent
to a highway - really off into the bush - a must see thrilling scenic trip - tunnels - and tight turns to see the end of the train or front
A 4+ hour trip each way with 7 hour turnaround in Seward (unless taking a cruise)
The Whittier trip is a 3+ hour trip and passes thru a very long tunnel before arriving at the cruise terminal and freight rail docks.
The Anton Anderson tunnel was constructed by the railroad and at first automobiles buses and trucks were ferried by Marine transport
ships (or on rail cars) to the port and then loaded onto flat bed car (think east coast auto-train) transported thru the tunnel where
the cars buses and trucks would be driven from that point to their Alaska destination - - - - - now the tunnel is paved over and the cars
and trucks do not have to moved by rail car
There is however this thing about waiting for your que (turn) to use the tunnel with the railroad traffic.
The tunnel is one-way for a period of time and then reverts to one-way opposite direction.
Exciting knowing how everything works and function and the history behind it.
At Wasilla there is spur going to Palmer - unknown
There are lots of other spurs and wyes - commercial - government and the Anchorage rail yard
You don't have to be on a cruise to ride the Alaska RR - you can fly into Anchorage or less often Fairbanks and ride the heck out of this
eventful fun trip !!!
Some segments of this are booked full with the cruise lines using the RR as an extension of an excursion -
non cruise wise be flexible the trips are not full all the time - but book early - the railroad does assigned seating in the bi-level dome cars.
This is enough for one posting.
Seward and Whittier are same day round trips (Coastal Classic) -
The Anchorage Fairbanks is a whole day -12 hour trip (Denali Star) -