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Without a doubt, my favorite leg of the Alaska Railroad is Anchorage to Seward via the Coastal Classic. Every time I break out of the Anchorage suburbs and spot the mountain/coastline combo, I feel a deep sense of joy and excitement. As the Alaska Railroad website said, "Departing Anchorage, the train winds along Turnagain Arm, where the steep mountains of the Chugach Range plunge directly to the sea. Following a brief stop in Girdwood, the train continues to the end of Turnagain Arm and veers away from the road system into the backcountry wilderness – and what many consider to be the most scenic stretch of the entire Railbelt." Snow capped mountains, icy blue glaciers, alpine meadows, wildflowers, waterfalls and five hand cut tunnels provide jaw dropping scenery that will last a lifetime. Ben Lenyk's photo captured the southbound Coastal Classic, pulled by SD70MAC #4323 and my favorite locomotive GP-40 #3015, along Turnagain Arm somewhere between Bird Creek and Brookman. From his vantage point on the GoldStar's elevated outdoor platform, he's got the breeze in his hair, the thundering EMD engines in his ears, and a crystal clear viewpoint. What better way to spend a summer's day!

Picture of the Week for 7/1/25