Industries: Unique
Machine, LLC -
12/29/10Industries: The APU
Spur -
12/28/10News: Double
stack testing? - 12/27/10Picture
of the Week: WES RDCs -
12/27/10News: Alaska
coal creates demand, opposition - 12/26/10Stories: Here
is a special holiday present for all you Alaska Railroad fans! After
five months of work I finally finished my 2010
trip journal. Check it out when you get a free minute or two! LOL
- 12/25/10For
Sale: The Nenana
Depot by Pat Durand cir 1948-1967, $1000.00 and the Seward
Depot by Pat Durand cir 1920-1945, $500.00 - 12/21/10Picture
of the Week: Not your everyday shipment -
12/20/10News: GP49s
in St. Louis - 12/18/10News: Double
stacks - 12/18/10News: EPA,
others balk at Tanana rail bridge - 12/16/10Film: I
contacted Production Designer Stephen Marsh for a few words on the movie Runaway
Train - 12/14/10Special
Features: A Ten
Locomotive Run. -
12/13/10Picture
of the Week: A line of F7s at Oliver -
12/13/10News: Double
stacks - 12/12/10News: Alaska
Railroad sets weekend open house to debut 2011 poster - 12/6/10Picture
of the Week: Hunting rig -
12/6/10Picture
of the Week: Geep still
in original colors
- 11/29/10Picture
of the Week: DRGW comes to Alaska
- 11/22/10News: Challenges
abound for new rail bridge over Tanana River - 11/16/10Picture
of the Week: GP7L #1826
- 11/15/10Creations:
Pat Durand's wonderfully kit bashed Seward
Depot - 11/13/10Rosters:
Alaska Northern Railroad's trolley style passenger car #2
- 11/13/10News: Double
stack testing - 11/13/10Picture
of the Week: North of Denali Park
- 11/8/10News: GP40
nos. 3007 and 3008 status - 11/4/10Picture
of the Week: Four from R.J. McKay
- 11/1/10News: GP40
nos. 3007 and 3008 status - 11/1/10Mileposts: Many
thanks to Sherman Stebbins for providing us with historical newspaper articles
that document the death of Edward Spencer (i.e. Spencer milepost along the
ARR) . - 10/27/10News: Ski
Train to Curry sold out - 10/26/10Picture
of the Week: The Spooky Train
- 10/25/10Industries:
Many thanks to Pat Durand for sending us a report on the Curry
Rock Quarry
- 10/19/10Stories:
Fall colors, Blue and Gold
by Pat Durand - 1018/10Picture
of the Week: 1975 passenger
train - 10/18/10News: Locomotive
repainting - 10/1/10Historical:
Excerpts from Extra
2200 South - 10/12/10Rosters:
Steam locomotive #239 - 10/12/10Picture
of the Week: Mile
long freight heads to Whittier
- 10/11/10Picture
of the Week: McCrea's
Models - 10/4/10News: Alyeska
Mystery Train - 10/1/10Historical:
Many thanks to Jorge Mejias for sending us a current photo of former #1804
- 9/29/10News: Alaska
Railroad realignment might go through North Pole - 9/29/10Picture
of the Week: Anchorage
yard aerial - 9/27/10Picture
of the Week: Denali
Park - 9/20/10Creations:
Victor Kondratenko has now added a GP-9
to his HO scale collection - 9/17/10Video:
Check out Blake Moore's video of passing a MoW train (bottom of page) -
9/17/10News: Train
runs over man on tracks near Ship Creek - 9/17/10Creations:
Durand's Colorado Rail Car Holland America Kenai
and Knik- 9/17/10Picture
of the Week: Coal
train on the arm - 9/13/10News: Alaska
Railroad hires CEO with international rail experience - 9/12/10Picture
of the Week: Curry
display - 9/6/10Historical:
I've always tried to keep track of our former ladies so big kudos to Allen
Miller for sending photos of our GP49s
located in Chile - 9/4/10Historical
Features: A
special thanks goes to Don Glickstein for sharing his article entitled "Penalty
Reply Card" that he wrote for the Alaska Philatelist - 9/4/10Picture
of the Week: Jordon
Freeman sent us a detailed correction regarding GenSet instead of hybrid.
Many thanks! - 9/4/10Route
Map: Many
thanks to Bob Brooks who sent us some information on the Indian
section house - 9/4/10News: Blues
Train set for departure - 9/4/10News: Ski
Train to Curry will return in March after a year's hiatus
- 8/31/10News: Fairbanks
borough, Alaska Railroad stall on Ice Park lease
- 8/31/10Picture
of the Week: Australia comes to Whittier
- 8/30/10Freight/Passenger:
Started a new section on intermodal flat
cars - 8/24/10Picture
of the Week: Cruise train at Girdwood
- 8/23/10Creations:
Victor Kondratenko's book shelf
layout - 8/20/10News: Alaska
Railroad hires contractor to begin work on Delta Junction extension
- 8/20/10Historical:
It is the end of an era - the Whittier
barge slip towers were removed and replaced with an hydraulic system
- 817/10Picture
of the Week: Glacier Discovery at Spencer
- 8/16/10Historical:
Many thanks to Travis Gordon for sending us current photos of former #1829
- 8/14/10Creations:
Harold Emerick's amazing garden
layout - 8/14/10Picture
of the Week: A string of Halliburton railcars
in Whittier - 8/9/10News: Arctic
Thunder to continue after 4 died Fallen guardsmen
- 8/6/10News: MP15
status - 8/6/10Admin:
I have been at the National Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia for the past
two weeks. Time to play "catch up" on my website! LOL
- 8/6/10Picture
of the Week: The next two PotWs; a Happy
Denali Star and an erial shot of a southbound freight
- 7/26/10News: Court:
Railroad can use herbicide
- 7/24/10News: Anchorage
Daily News Herbicide vital to Alaska Railroad safety
- 7/20/10News: Judge
extends order barring Alaska Railroad herbicide
- 7/20/10Admin:
I just got back from a nine day Alaska Railroad trip. I had an awesome time!
I should have a trip journal online in a couple of weeks.
- 7/20/10News: Alaska
Railroad to take steps to reduce coal dust in Seward
- 7/10/10In
Memory of: It is with a heavy heart that
I must share the sad news of the passing of a great man. Don
Prince passed away on July 4th. He was a great friend and I will miss
him very, very much. Thankfully, his spirit lives on in so many of the pages
here in this website. If you have any memories or photos you would like
to share then make sure and send them to me for posting on his memorial
page. - 7/6/10Rosters:
Sherman Stebbins sent us two photos of #303
(see bottom of page) and Terry Douglas provided a shot of #1205
- 7/5/10Historical:
Many thanks to Sherman Stebbins who loaned me three sets of photos: Honolulu
Washout 1944, Seward
Roundhouse 1943 and Windy
Train Wreck 1943. There were only a few words on the backs of each of
the photos. If anyone has some additional commentary to add then feel free
to send it my way for inclusion. - 7/5/10Picture
of the Week: The next three PotWs; airport
rail spur, Charlie Rainwater and the Denali/Aurora combo
- 7/5/10Rosters:
Steam locomotive #504 - 7/3/10News: Patrick
Gamble takes charge of University of Alaska
- 7/2/10Picture
of the Week: An
unusual load - 6/28/10Creations:
John Rosa sent us some additional photos of his modeling
from the movie Runaway Train - 6/26/10News: Rent
fight chills relations between Fairbanks ice park, railroad
- 6/26/10News: Rent
dispute chills relationship between Ice Park, Alaska Railroad
- 6/26/10News: Usibelli
tests coal export possibilities from Port MacKenzie
- 6/23/10Picture
of the Week: Riding
off into the beautiful Alaskan sunset - 6/21/10Creations:
John Rosa's GP40 from the
movie Runaway Train - 6/18/10Historical:
After 13 years of searching for the golden spike
presented to Col. Mears for the completion of the Alaska Railroad, I finally
know where it is. Ben Nysewander informed me he is now the current owner.
- 6/18/10Film:
John Rosa added some additional Runaway
Train information
- 6/15/10News: Former
mayor hypes railroad line to Port MacKenzie
- 6/15/10Picture
of the Week: Whittier
work - 6/14/10Picture
of the Week: Before
her extreme makeover - 6/7/10News: Governor
axes over $300 million in state spending
- 6/6/10News: State
allows railroad to use herbicides; objections raised - 6/6/10News: State
approves herbicides along Alaska Railroad - 6/6/10Links: Added
a link from Trains magazine, Sharing
the Rails the Hard Way - 6/2/10Picture
of the Week: Tanana
Valley Railroad #1 - 5/31/10Rosters:
Here are some recent eBay purchases - 7112,
1502, 2001
at Dixmor, IL, and yes, a couple of my favorite locomotive, 3015 (1,
2) - 5/28/10
News: Japanese
firm shows interest in Wishbone Hill coal
- 5/28/10News: Quick
economic recovery leads to jet fuel shortage for cargo planes
- 5/28/10Picture
of the Week: Southbound
Coastal Classic - 5/24/10Rosters:
Added over 15 equipment drawings
- 5/19/10Bibliography:
Added scanned pages from the 1921 periodical
The Susitna River Bridge: Alaska Government Railway - 12/4/09News: Alaska
Railroad seeks president, CEO
- 5/18/10Picture
of the Week: Aurora
2000 - 5/17/10Picture
of the Week: Alaska
Rail Link - 5/10/10Questions:
Many thanks to ARR employee Bruce Gough for answering the question, "What
is a moose proof switch?" (see bottom of page) - 5/5/10Creations:
Make some corrections to Chris Holder's Grandfather's
clock page - 5/5/10Industries:
Many thanks to Pat Durand for sending us info on Central
Recycling Service.
- 5/5/10Historical:
I started a new section called The
Roadmaster's Corner. This is an area where retired Roadmaster Steve
Love can share his experiences from his 50 years on the Alaska Railroad.
- 5/5/10News: Mat-Su
rail link construction could start next year
- 5/5/10News: Alaska
Railroad world-renown for comfort, scenery
- 5/5/10Picture
of the Week: Two
train meet - 5/3/10Admin: Sorry
there has not been many updates these past two weeks. I got a lot going
on at the moment. The best I can do is just answer the mail. Thanks for
your patience! - 5/2/10Picture
of the Week: Train
Depot on Nenana River, Healy, Alaska September 19,1923 - 4/26/10News: House
adds millions to already bulging capital budget
- 4/25/10Picture
of the Week: GP38-2's
at work - 4/19/10News: Deal
could extend lease for Ice Alaska
- 4/17/10News: Alaska
lawmakers push engineering funding
- 4/17/10News: State
considers shifting Ice Alaska $1.79 million grant to borough for lease payments
- 4/16/10News: Funding
for Tanana River bridge moves ahead in Alaska Legislature
- 4/16/10Historical:
Many thanks to these guys for sending us photos of our former ladies - Don
Janes for F7s 1508 and
1510/1512, Tom
Smith for RDCs 702/711
and Steven Welch for GP7u 1800
- 4/16/10Picture
of the Week: F7
ABA lash-up in Eklutna - 4/12/10News: Railroad
route - 4/9/10News: Alaska
Railroad reports higher profits despite lay-offs
- 4/9/10News: Alaska
legislators toss $40 million to Tanana River bridge project - 4/8/10News: MoW
equipment on the move - 4/6/10Creations:
Chris Holder's Grandfather's
clock - 4/6/10Picture
of the Week: Passenger
train in Fairbanks, 1940s - 4/5/10News: Alaska
Railroad reports nearly $14M profit in 2009 - 4/2/10News: Alaska
Railroad earns nearly $14 million - 4/2/10News: Alaska
Railroad foresees more belt-tightening
- 4/2/10Creations:
Pat Durand's GP38u #2003 -
4/2/10Picture
of the Week: Riley Creek again!
Plus a bonus picture. - 3/29/10News: Prominent
Alaskans support bill to task railroad with in-state line
- 3/27/10News: Fairbanks
model train layout is theater on an HO scale
- 3/27/10News: O'Leary
to be interim chief at railroad
- 3/27/10News: Railroad
may take on in-state gas pipeline construction
- 3/23/10Rosters:
I found another photo of steam locomotive #21
and RF1A #1050 - 3/22/10Creations:
Pat Durand's 2-8-2 #701 - 3/22/10Picture
of the Week: Riley Creek -
3/22/10News: In-state
gas line gets a boost
- 3/19/10In
remembrance: Rick
Singsaas - 3/18/10News: Alaska
Railroad chief Pat Gamble to head University of Alaska
- 3/17/10News: Anchorage
Daily News New UA president's track record sealed deal for regents
- 3/17/10Picture
of the Week: No. 701 under steam -
3/15/10Modeling:
Shirley Powell contacted me and said she is closing Charlie's
Alaska Trains in Anchorage. She said she would keep some stock at Lazy Dog
Antiques at 1036 E. 7th Ave. -
3/10/10Freight/Passenger:
Benoit Lachaine, Supervisor for CTSC Montreal, sent us information regarding
their current tank train operation -
3/9/10News: New
route approved for railroad tracks
- 3/9/10Picture
of the Week: Southbound coal on an amazingly clear
day - 3/8/10News: Alaska
legislators: Railroad aid must wait
- 3/4/10News: Anchorage
airport train depot echoes silence
- 3/3/10News: MP15
status - 3/3/10News: UA
regents announce finalists for president
- 3/2/10Rosters:
Last month Guillermo
Bas Ordóñez provided us with information on those
14 steam locomotives the Alaska Railroad sold to Spain in 1958. Well this
month he provided six
photos and even more
information. - 3/2/10Picture
of the Week: High-wide move -
3/1/10News: Railroad
plans include new restroom, dredging and undisclosed coal facility improvements
- 3/1/10Creations:
Jeff McCrea's Big Blow Turbine
- 2/25/10Rosters:
Added a 1919 photo of a type
22 railcar - 2/3/10News: Latest
equipment info
- 2/25/10News: Senator
proposes Alaska Railroad oversee pipeline
- 2/25/10News: Dueling
bills would 'railroad' a gas line
- 2/25/10Links:
Added a very interesting link, Old
Budds Never Die - 2/25/10Picture
of the Week: Avalanche! -
2/22/10News: Rerouting
of Alaska Railroad in Fairbanks is on track
- 2/21/10Picture
of the Week: A pair from Portage -
2/15/10News: Alaska
construction spending expected to keep dropping
- 2/14/10News: Officials
jump-start railroad project
- 2/14/10News: GP49
alumni spotted
- 2/13/10News: Port
MacKenzie rail extension could benefit Fairbanks industry
- 2/13/10News: McKinley
Explorer railcars - 2/13/10Freight/passenger:
Thanks
to some purchases on eBay I have added five more retired
passenger cars to my roster (numbers 43,
89, 6308,
5428 and 4836)
- 2/13/10
News: HO
scale McKinley Explorer train set -
2/11/10News: Open
house offers preview of new railroad projects
- 2/11/10News: 'Tubular
goods' flow through port -
2/11/10Picture
of the Week: Passenger car derailment at Berg,
1944 - 2/8/10News: Status
of ex-ARR 7249 -
2/7/10Stories:
Here's a long overdue update
to the continuing saga of Virginia Horsey working for the Alaska Railroad.
- 2/3/10Rosters:
I always wondered whatever happened to those 14 steam locomotives the Alaska
Railroad sold to Spain in 1958. Well thanks to Guillermo Bas Ordóñez
we now know. Check out his information here.
If anyone has questions for him I would be glad to forward them on. - 2/3/10News: Alaska
Railroad revamps its engines for more efficient transportation
- 2/1/10Picture
of the Week: Three PotWs to ID -
2/1/10News:
Delta Junction applauds railroad extension - 1/24/10News:
Seward residents recall day quake and waves destroyed city - 1/24/10Picture
of the Week: Macs, tanks and mountains -
1/25/10Freight/Passenger:
Randy Thompson at Roundhouse
Hobbies sent us scans of the ARR's
ex-British Columbia Railway pressure flow covered hoppers (1.2 MB) for
my hoppers section. These hauled cement
and other materials from Washington to Alaska. With Intermountain coming
out with these this summer, you might want to use these photos as reference.
- 1/20/10My
layout: I just got around to updating my online model train inventory.
I now have 175 HO scale and 54
N scale items. One of the reasons I initially started this website was
to locate more HO scale items for my train layout. In the spring of 1997,
only two manufacturers carried Alaska Railroad items and I had a total of
9 items in my collection. Today there are hundreds of offerings in all major
scales from a dozen or so manufacturers. Awesome! Now if I could just get
my layout rebuilt! LOL - 1/20/10Creations:
Dominique Ney has added a baggage car to his garden
layout plus provided us with some great winter snow shots - 1/20/10Historical:
Thanks to Gale Weatherell for sharing his photo
album plus his 1974 train
wreck photos - 1/19/10Picture
of the Week: Frozen tanks -
1/18/10News:
Alaska Railroad running smoothly after 25 years of state ownership
- 1/17/10Picture
of the Week: Four GoldStars at the depot -
1/11/10News:
Nenana artist is dreaming about spring - 1/7/10News:
Alaska Railroad seeking submissions for annual art program - 1/9/10News:
Progressive Era big government gave Alaska a railroad - 1/7/10News:
Locomotive 557 purchased by Lynden President - 1/7/10News:
Alaska Railroad gets federal OK to extend tracks to Delta
- 1/6/10News:
Lawsuit filed over Seward coal dust problem
- 1/6/10News:
No serious injuries as train hits SUV in Spenard
- 1/5/10News:
Alaska Railroad marks 25 years of ownership by the state
- 1/4/10Picture
of the Week: Reflections from 2009 -
1/4/10Hall
of Fame: The 2010 inductees to John's Alaska Railroad
Web Page Hall of Fame
are Jim Blasingame, Dave Blazejewski and Jim Somerville. Congrats to all!
- 1/1/10Webmaster's
note:
Happy New Year! - 1/1/10© 1997-2010 John Combs unless otherwise noted