Whittier in the 1940s
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| This summer scene shows two Military Transport ships at the dock. Notice
there are two tracks running the length of the pier. Also notice the large
stock of barrels next to the warehouse. Were these full of fuel, lube
oil or empty? What would the fire marshal think? |
These photos are winter scenes taken
from shore accross the basin that later became the original small boat
harbor. Notice the warehouse is built on pile and the stiffleg crane
at the end of the pier is positioned to transfer material from the deck
of an ocean going ship to rail cars on the dock or across the dock to
barges or smaller craft on the lee side.
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An ocean side view of the dock while still under
construction. The stiffleg crane has yet to be erected. You can see,
suspended in the pile below the dock, some of the large concrete cassions
that formed the foundation for the support legs of the stiffleg crane.
The two locomotive cranes on the dock were probably still laying the
tracks on the deck. |
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This is the original and very substantial Railroad Dock
in Whittier. Construction was completed in 1943. The first passenger
boat landing at Whittier was June 8, 1943 (page 660 ARR by Prince).
The original dock was destroyed by fire one June 17,
1953 and the following account is found on page 832 of The Alaska
Railroad by Prince. "On June 17, fire destroyed the port installation
at Whittier. Starting shortly after 5 p.m., in less than four hours
there was nothing left to burn. Loss was set at $20,000,000. At least
19 firefighters were injured, among them Andy Hedge, Alaska Railroad
Yardmaster. Andy and his crew succeeded in getting 35 cars from the
dock area - many of the cars contained valuable military cargo. Andy
was finally forced to jump from the dock as two walls of fire closed
in on him. He was injured when he landed on the fireboat 35 feet below.
Other casualties were military personnel. The depot was saved, but
the dock and three warehouses were destroyed, along with the Railroads
stiffleg crane, the largest in Alaska.
"All traffic was shifted to Seward immediately,
placing a heavy burden on that port. To add to the burden, weather
was unseasonably warm. Snow from the high country melted and broght
lakes and rivers to flood level. Water was over the tracks at Moose
Pass and Crown Point. Diesels were pulled off and the steamers took
over through areas where as much as nine inches of water covered the
rails."
"Because of his heroic actions in saving the railroad
cars and military freight from the fire that destoyed the Whittier
terminal facilities on June 17, Alaska Railroad Yardmaster Andrew
J. Hedge received the Interior Distinguished Service Award, the highest
honor the Department of the Interior can bestoe. Still under treatment
for injuries received when he had to jump from the dock during the
fire, he was unabgle to attend the special convocation in Washington,
D.C, on December 8, 1953."
There is a photo on page 833 showing the aftermath of
the fire.
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Photographs courtesy of the Terry Bender Collection
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| Brill number 114 ran three times a week to Whittier. |
Interior of Brill number 114. Passengers are traveling
to the tunneling through ceremony. |
Rail yard in Whittier. |
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| Left to right, jack Felte, General Electrical and Mechanical
Superintendent; A. C. Swalling, West Construction Company Superintendent;
Lt. Col J. M. McGreevy, Command Officer of the 42nd Engineers; Major C,
B, Burgoyne, Resident Engineer; Robert W. Craig, Chief Draftsman; and Anton
A. Anderson, Chief Engineer, Whittier, Alaska - June 11, 1943. |
Dock |
Freight train being loaded at Whittier Dock on June
8, 1943. |
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| The old Dodge rail bus No. 111, affectionately known as the
"Galloping Goose," the "gray goose," or the "gray
ghost," became a traveling Post Exchange for the 714th. |
1944
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A few from Bernadine Prince's book, the Alaska Railroad
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| Laying track in Whittier Railroad Yards. Note
snowbanks of dozed snow. Accumulative snowfall was 8 feet - February 2,
1943. |
Laying track on Whittier Cut-off. Note heavy
snow - January 10, 1943. |
Crew of the new diesel, front row, Engineer
George Moore and Conductor W. P. Burgan; center, Maurice Scott; top row,
a member of the 714th, and Wayne Ware. Photograph was taken at Whittier
on June 15, 1944, day of the initial run. |
No. 1001 and Fireman C. M. Osborne oat Whittier
on day of initial run. |
And here is one photo from 1954
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| 1500 Man barracks, Whittier, Alaska. Photographer Gene
Adoline was an enlisted man in the Army at Ft. Richardson in 1954.
Of his photograph, he recalls, "Port Whittier Barracks had connecting tunnels
which were used during the months that snow was bountiful. At the
time this picture was taken (1954) the army would not let photographs be
taken of this area as it was a very strategic area and the mountains behind
these barracks were loaded with gun emplacements. Almost like Gibraltar." |
Pat Durand provided us with some excerpts regarding Whittier from Bernadine
Prince's book, The Alaska Railroad:
Page 658: "The first passenger was run through the Whittier tunnels on
March 10 when the Alaska Railroad Brill Car No. 114 and trailer, with Engineer
Frank O'Donnel at the controls, and Conductor John N. Rothy in charge of the
train."
Pages 675-677: There are photos of Locos 1001 and 1000 with dignitaries and
train crews in Anchorage and Whittier. The first run by these locomotives was
on June 15, 1944. The Whittier Depot was complete and operational on their arrival.
Engineer George Moore, Conductor W.P. Burgan, Maurice Scott, Wayne Ware and
a member of the 714th made up the crew and they are pictured on page 676. The
locomotives arrived in Whittier on June 9th and were towed to Anchorage to be
prepared for service.
Page 692: (comment: This reference is to the operations of the 714th Railway
Operating Bn and only relates to transportation functions and assets. The Alaskan
Command continued with its combined force mission in Whittier, with Navy, MSTS,
and Army personnel). "Under and agreement with the Army, The Alaska Railroad
took over all operations at Whittier on December 17,1945, replacing soldier
forces there. All mechanized equipment, supplies and buildings not already owned
by the Railroad were either transferred or loaned to the Railroad. The Army
also released 85 enlisted men for employment by the Railroad as longshoremen".
Page 696: Early in March 1946, the Port of Whittier was closed because of the
decrease in military traffic, and such traffic was handled through Seward.
Page 697: The Seward Army Dock was closed on September 11 and the Railroad
took over its operation. Army personnel moved to Whittier and opened that port
again on September 12. Task Force "Frigid", experimental group of
1400 troops, arrived on September 12 at Whittier.
These photographs are from Ken Reuben's 1944-45 tour of duty in Alaska.
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