This is a very interesting analysis of the future of Wasilla Intermodal Facilities including a possible commuter train. - JC

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Jack Klingbeil started his tiny railroad — just 1/8 scale — way back in 1969 in Anchorage. 

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Try your luck and be featured in the Alaska Railroad annual calendar by entering the #CatchtheTrainAK photo contest! Entry into the contest is free and there are no limits in the number of entries (we recommend only submitting your best photos). First place winners will have their photos featured in the 2026 calendar, a copy of the calendar AND two round-trip tickets. If you have not submitted your photos, submit now (or before Nov. 10).

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This October, join the Alaska Railroad for some Halloween family fun -- a ride on the rails complete with costumes, crafting, tasty treats and more! The Alaska Railroad Kid's Halloween Train will travel 2.5 hours round-trip from Anchorage to Indian. Onboard the Halloween Train, passengers will enjoy monster-size fun, including entertainment from a magician, crafts, balloon animals, a raffle and coloring contest. Don't miss this ghoulish good time!

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A Regent Seven Seas Cruise vessel en route from Vancouver to Whittier reached the newly established Whittier Cruise Terminal on September 11, 2024, during a persistent rain. Ten sprinter vans were employed to transport passengers from the ship to the terminal where they were subsequently taken to Anchorage by bus. Luggage was transferred from the ship to the terminal building and loaded onto trucks destined for Anchorage. Regent Seven Seas Cruises operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

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WHITTIER, Alaska (KTUU) - A new terminal is opening up at the port in Whittier for tourists to utilize as they pull into the city. It’s a major upgrade for the port that will allow up to two cruise ships to be turned around in their double berth dock.

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2024 Alaska Railroad Open House ~ Fairbanks

DATE: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

LOCATION: Alaska Railroad Fairbanks Depot, 1031 Alaska Railroad Depot Road

The Alaska Railroad's community Open House will return for 2024 to Fairbanks. The Alaska Railroad's Open House event provide Alaskans with a unique opportunity to interact with railroaders and to learn about the state’s railroad, offering train rides, static displays of railroad locomotives, and many more family-friendly activities. Event entrance, parking and train rides are ALL FREE, as are other activities and entertainment. The Open House is a family-friendly, accessible event.

Parking is available at the Fairbanks Depot, located at 1031 Alaska Railroad Depot Road and off-site at Anne Wien Elementary School located 1501 Hampstead Avenue. Free shuttle service is provided to and from the event. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the depot supporting Anne Wien Elementary School PTA.

The depot will host a free photo booth for families to enjoy, temporary tattoos, Operation Life Saver & Engine 557 Restoration Company information, a magician, and a coloring station with special coloring page created by artist and ARRC's own Onboard Supervisor Daniel Fretwell.

Tanana Valley Model Railroad will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for railroad enthusiasts to enjoy their exhibit and display.

Free train rides will be offered every thirty minutes starting at 9:00 a.m. Final train will depart at 12:30 p.m.

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The Alaska Railroad’s Board of Directors on Thursday approved the purchase of a $137 million new cruise facility in Seward. The executed purchase agreement marks the beginning of construction for the Alaska cruise industry’s largest turn port facility opening in spring 2026.

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Locomotives were taken off the barge first followed by all the rail freight. Eventually the ex-KCS were pulled up to head of the yard.

These locomotives will be taken to Anchorage dead in tow. The shops will check them out, fix any issues and then put them in service. The existing road numbers will be kept for now. They will be renumbered in the winter. New numbers are as yet unknown.

 

In route to new home rails. ARR 3909 and 3946 being loaded on the AML Barge. July 19, 2024. Note both units carry ARR reporting marks.

 

ARR 3909 and 3946 are at Harbor Island in Seattle, WA on July 18, 2024 waiting to be loaded.

 

On June 30, 2024 a fire started near the railroad tracks just north of the Denali Depot. The fire grew to 300 acres in just two hours. Denali National Park closed and all bus and train service was halted. Multiple aircraft and smokejumpers responded including large and small scoopers and an air tanker to suppress this wildfire. Employees were forced to evacuate from park housing and stayed in the nearby town of Healy.

As of July 2 the wildfire had burned 388 acres and was 25% contained. 200 people were staffing the blaze.

On July 5th power was restored to the area. On July 6th residents of campus housing were given the OK to move back onto park grounds. Also, on July 6th the Alaska Railroad made a service announcement, "The Alaska Railroad will resume its usual service with a slight change: train arrivals and departures will now occur at the Healy Depot instead of the Denali Depot. This change will remain in effect until the evacuation order is lifted. Northbound and southbound passengers headed to Denali National Park will disembark at the Healy Depot. From there, they need to arrange shuttle transportation to their accommodations."

During the fire, all Princess facilities were closed except the Kenai Princess Lodge. Passengers were bused to various locations for lodging. The Alaska Railroad ran a train, designated AX for Anchorage Express, consisting of six coaches, from Anchorage to Whittier.

Supposedly Denali National Park will reopen Wednesday July 10 and all train traffic will use Denali Depot.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Photos below show the start of the fire and the Alaska Railroad Anchorage Express (AX).

 

The Alaska Railroad has leased three Union Pacific SD70M locomotives for the summer to alleviate a shortage of power.

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