Punching Through The Snow Punching Through The Snow

Punching Through The Snow

This gloomy day was still one of the most memorable chases I had in 10 years in Alaska. Yet another great afternoon spent out with Frank Keller!

Near the very end of March in 2017 south central Alaska got hit with its last good snow dump of the winter season. Nearly a foot fell in some places and the fresh afternoon snowfall coincided fortuitously with a southbound freight from Anchorage to Whittier. As a bonus one of the ARR's three geeps remaining in their original as delivered 1976 paint job was on the point. Naturally a chase ensued!

Here is a big 120S with GP40-2 3006 in the lead punching through a little sloppy wet snow pile at about MP 82.3 on the Alaska Railroad Kenai Sub mainline just north of Brookman Siding. The tracks are wedged between the Seward Highway and the icy waters of Turnagain Arm here as the snowy flank of the Chugach Mountains rise beyond the train.

North of Girdwood, Alaska
Wednesday March 29, 2017

Photo courtesy of Dave Blazejewski