It’s midnight as I write this. We woke to a glorious day in Denali with crystal blue skies. We met the train at the Denali Rail Depot and boarded for an incredible trip to Anchorage. However, there was a “broken rail” down the line that needed fixing before our train could pass. We moved slowly for a couple of hours and then sat still for another. As a result, we arrived in Anchorage an hour and a half late. The train had not only a domed car but also an outdoor platform, allowing me to capture stunning shots of Mount Denali in full splendor, shooting south to north. What a day. Come along for the ride! Definately click to full screen.
Tag Archives: #alaskarailroad
Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Denali
Today started early—so early, in fact, that the coffee shop wasn’t even open yet. We had to resort to the horror found in most hotel rooms: the dreaded Keurig machine.
These gadgets don’t even attempt to brew coffee. They just pass water through a “K” cup, turning it into water that is brown. And the hotel stocks decaf. What? Why is it so difficult to provide a small Mr. Coffee machine that makes real coffee?
We arrived at the Alaska Railroad depot at 7:30 AM, with a steady drizzle drenching everyone. Our first stop was the luggage check-in tent. The incredibly friendly staff loaded our bags into crates, which were then forklifted into the luggage car.
If you want, click on pics to enlarge.
The walk from the luggage tent to the reservation desk took us past Alaska Engine #1, complete with a wooden bumper affectionately known as the “Moose Gooser”.
We reserved “Gold Star Service” so we could ride in the dome car, and each of us received a “gold star pin.” I was hoping for a more formal pin ceremony, something akin to a medal ceremony, but alas, they were just handed across the counter.
Construction of the railroad started in 1903 when the Alaska Central Railroad built a line starting in Seward and extending 50 miles (80 km) north. The Alaska Central went bankrupt in 1907 and was reorganized as the Alaska Northern Railroad Company in 1911, which extended the line another 21 miles (34 km) northward. On March 12, 1914, the U.S. Congress agreed to fund construction and operation of an all-weather railroad from Seward to Fairbanks and purchased the rail line from the financially struggling Alaska Northern.
Isn’t this train a beauty?
The overcast and drizzle continued for most of the journey but still, there was incredible scenery.
We had a quick stop at the Talkeetna Depot.
My goals on this trip are to spot a moose and see whales. I caught this shot from the train.
One last shot of the engines while we disembarked in Denali.
Here’s the view we have from the terrace below our room for the next two nights.
