John's Alaska Railroad Guestbook

Submitted by
Name: Stan Bissonette
From: Anchorage, Alaska
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
John, This is a fine web site of our Alaska Railroad, I have been a fan & observer of the Alaska Railroad since 1949 when I lived on Government hill & would set there & watch the Engines come & go on the old turntable roundhouse.
I have been a member of the Military Society of Model Railroad Engineers for 29 years now.
I have been given the task of researching the 3 paint scheme's of the Alaska Railroad. How they came about & the dates of each. I find no where else on how to get in touch with you except here. I work with Pat Durrand on the 557, but he is usually too busy to just set & talk. can you help me in this project. If you can give me your phone number, I will call & talk to you.
Thank you for your time & I hope to hear back from you soon.
Stan Bissonette
Anchorage, Alaska
907-344-8168

Added: July 10, 2014

Submitted by
Name: JoAnn Gronskei
From: AZ
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Thank you!! Anxious to meander around your website. Haven't checked the history part yet, but was married to Robert W Davison ... He worked for ARR for over 30 years.

Added: June 20, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Peter Vrakking
From: Amsterdam area The Netherlands
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Great site and of grand benefit to us modeling Alasaka half way round the globe. Thanks all contributors for pics and major thanks to John for offering this site.

Added: May 13, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Barry Ritchie
From: I was a ARR brat. Dad retired in 1979.
Website: http://www.childrenslighthouse.blogspot.com
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I worked a summer in Mt Mc Kinley as a baggage man and my dad was the ticket agent. Great memories from the ARR. Remember hopping the rails,not allowed from Healy to the park and catching another back a few times. Not sure wh, because we could ride free on the Pass train. Lived in Whittier Healy, Park, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Been in the boxcars, engines, remember the 3015 when she was new. even got to drive her one as a kid. Still remember a coal heated pass car out of whittier and riding the gascars from Whittier to Anchorage... Lots of stories. Catching a fish without getting the hook wet of the ARR dock in Whittier. ect Now I live in Honduras. Not sure what sin this old alaskan polar bear did to be banished to the tropics of Honduras. But now we plant churches and care for 20+ abused orphans in our home. Long way from Alaska but ever close in my heart. Considering building another ride on train for the kids around the orphanage Think the theme should be ARR... What do you think?

Added: March 11, 2014

Submitted by
Name: john genovese
From: florida
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I would like to know where I can obtain an HO exact replica of the #557 in DCC if possible.None of the 2-8-0 I have seen are exact copies.Can you help?I have four 4x8' Alaska HO layout table tables for the steam era .I do have #73 at this time.Thank you for any help.John Genovese

Admin reply: Pat Durand would like your email address to answer your question about a 557 DCC model.
John Combs
www.alaskarails.org

Added: February 27, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Doug Howard
From: Flora, Indiana; Salem, Oregon
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Just finished my first perusal of John's wonderful site. WOW! Always wondered about the ARR. Now have an HO scale F-7 and caboose in Modern Scheme, plus GP-35 in older colors. Wonder where this will end up. Thanks, John, for your efforts and those who are now departed. Could not have a finer memorial than this...

Added: December 23, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Jim Norton
From: Huntsville, Alabama
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
John: Enjoy greatly seeing the industries and freight cars of ARR in lieu of the typical trackside shots of only locomotives. How about a Morning Sun Book......Trackside along The Alaska Railroad! So much great information I'd like to have in my library!

Added: December 4, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Ferg. Chalmers
From: Dunedin, New Zealand
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
A great web site ,I have Alaska McKinley and A.R coaching stock models (Ho scale,)and to be able to see pictures of the real thing and create consists with the locos is really good, and draws a lot of interest at shows, Keep up the good work.F.C.

Added: November 22, 2013

Submitted by
Name: David Thurston
From: Philadelphia, PA
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Great to hear your feeling better after your operation. Great job on the web site, it was a great help when I got up to Alaska two summers ago. I still check in once and a while.

Thanks

Added: November 15, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Gary
From: Europe
Website: http://stayaway2.blogspot.com/
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Want to visit Alaska soon. What is the nicest Time to ?

Regards to All

Added: November 9, 2013