What's New - 2024 Archive

yellow diamondVideo: Steve Katkus spots the northbound freight complete with two SD70MACs (DPU) in the middle. - 7/30/24
yellow diamondRosters: Maintenance of Way (MoW) tie replacement crew. - 7/29/24
yellow diamondNews: The ex-KCS SD70MACs have arrived in Whittier. - 7/29/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Heading to Curry to load rip rap. - 7/29/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The July Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 7/28/24
yellow diamondRoute Map: Thanks to Robert Krol for a current photo of the ramp connecting the floating dock to land at the Norwegian Cruise Line dock and terminal being built in Whittier. - 7/25/24
yellow diamondVideo: Robert Krol catches the DEX and MEX waiting to leave Whittier. The 9 car Dex is the biggest of the summer. - 7/25/24
yellow diamondModeling: Rick replaces a section of track south of TwentyMile and squashes yet another SD70MAC bug on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 7/25/24
yellow diamondNews: Added Deane Motis's photos of the ex-KCS SD70MACs arriving in Seattle. - 7/24/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: GP40 #3001 suspended. - 7/22/24
yellow diamondRosters: Rusty Wendlandt with a Healy bound coal train at the Ferry bridge. - 7/21/24
yellow diamondRosters: With bony cold white fingers grasping his camera, Dave Blazejewski declares. "Now THAT Is Cold!" - 7/19/24
yellow diamondNews: KCS SD70MACs arrive in Seattle. - 7/19/24
yellow diamondRosters: Joey Boerner spies with his little eye, a Union Pacific SD70M #4479 in Seward. Frank Keller spies with his little drone, a Union Pacific SD70M #4479 along Turnagain Arm. And some kind (and anonymous) individual sent me a photo of UP #4193. Oh, she's looking a little rough! - 7/18/24
yellow diamondModeling: Indiana grandsons again serve as guest engineers, each running their own fantasy train. Jackie finishes her Flower Field while Rick continues to tweak the SD70MACs on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 7/18/24
yellow diamondRosters: Someone told me they wanted to see more freight trains. Frank Keller and his magical drone capture a freight along Turnagain Arm at Indian. - 7/17/24
yellow diamondRosters: Dylan Robert captures #4328 leading the Coastal Classic passenger train as it races North along the shores of Turnagain Arm. - 7/17/24
yellow diamondRosters: UP SD70M #4479 in Seward as part of a freight consist. - 7/16/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Fresh photo of southbound Denali Star at Happy. - 7/15/24
yellow diamondRosters: Boxcar #10808, Seattle, 1970. - 7/14/24
yellow diamondVideo: Mike Ferguson sent us two videos from Happy - the southbound Denali Star and a freight train. - 7/14/24
yellow diamondRosters: Spirit of Fairbanks, leaving Fairbanks on July 13, 2024. - 7/14/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Locomotive crane #23 from the 1950s. - 7/11/24
yellow diamondRosters: Former ARR locomotive engineer Steve Drassler got this photo of MRS-1 #1714. When the locomotive arrived, it still had US Navy numbering. The railroad changed it to 570 and eventually 1714. This is the first time I've seen it numbered 70. - 7/11/24
yellow diamondRosters: Dylan Robert catches 110S on the newly replaced Upper Trail Lake Bridge. - 7/11/24
yellow diamondVideo: Robert Krol catches the southbound Glacier Discovery lead by GP40 #3015 at Anton Anderson Tunnel. - 7/11/24
yellow diamondModeling: Work continues on Jackie's Flower Field while Rick concentrates on tweaking SD70MACs on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 7/11/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Golden hour light casts a glow over the Alaska Railroad depot and the railroad’s Aurora Car. - 7/8/24
yellow diamondAdmin: Just to let you know the Whittier nest cam is back up. Click on the box in the lower right corner to get a super size view. - 7/7/24
yellow diamondRosters: David Smith has photos of GP40-2 3014 ready to depart Fairbanks and S-2 #7123. - 7/7/24
yellow diamondNews: Fires disrupt Alaska Railroad Service - 7/7/24
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer has more, more, more historical photos: 1072 at Curry (ARRC COO Clark Hopp loves this paint scheme; see how it resembles the 100th anniversary paint scheme on SD70MAC #4328), SW-1 #1204 in Birchwood and #1204 in Anchorage, and a Maintenance of Way train at Hurricane in 2008. - 7/6/24
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer dug deep into his photo vault and came up with shots of RF1B #1055 and RF1A #1072. It is interesting that the railroad had #1055 for 15 years yet it wasn't spotted out on the rails. Why? - 7/5/24
yellow diamondVideo: Robert Nelson does the Alaska live steamers 1/8th scale fun train ride. - 7/5/24
yellow diamondNews: Three Union Pacific SD70M locomotives arrive in Whittier - 7/4/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The June Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 7/4/24
yellow diamondAdmin: I just returned from a four day trip to Nebraska with my wife, daughter Laura and Tazzy. We accompanied Laura in visiting her 50th state. Wow! Did you ever notice Nebraska kinda sounds like Alaska? - 7/4/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Frank Keller catches a southbound freight during the longest day of the year. - 7/1/24
yellow diamondNews: Wildfire prompts response near Denali National Park entrance along Parks Highway - 6/30/24
yellow diamondNews: Denali National Park closes, wildfire erupts across river from Nenana River Canyon - 6/30/24
yellow diamondVideo: Here we see a short clip of an Alaska Railroad Excavator mounted on a "High Tracker", spreading ballast on the new MOW siding near the 557 Engine house. We also see the new track connecting us to the rest of the Alaska Railroad. - 6/30/24
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess captures a baptism ceremony in Wasilla just as the northbound Princess Cruises/Holland American tour train passes. - 6/30/24
yellow diamondNews: Three Union Pacific SD70M locomotives headed to Alaska. - 6/29/24
yellow diamondVideo: Robert Nelson and Sarah Corey take us on a trip on the Hurricane Turn. - 6/29/24
yellow diamondAdmin: We have returned from nine days in Alaska. Flag down the train and stay tuned for photos and stories. - 6/28/24
yellow diamondRosters: From the vaults of the John Combs collection comes F7 1516 at Wasilla. - 6/18/24
yellow diamondRosters: LORAM Rail Vac at the MP 345.1. Crossing with caboose 1069. - 6/18/24
yellow diamondRosters: Phillip Faudi captures FP7-A #1530 in Anchorage in 1971. - 6/17/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Here are the next two Pictures of the Week - Fairbanks Yard Job heads Railroad North over Moose Creek on the ARRC’s Eielson Branch and southbound manifest near the Healy yard. - 6/17/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: I am about two years late posting this one. Oops! Anyway, Pete Mejia catches an agricultural hopper outside of Alaska in the Boeing Yard. - 6/16/24
yellow diamondRosters: Marty Bernard catches caboose #1043 on June 13, 2009 at Talkeetna. - 6/16/24
yellow diamondVideo: Two videos from Robert Krol: SD70MAC numbers 4015, 4003 and 4011 in Whittier 6/7/24 and Southbound Glacier Discovery at Anton Anderson tunnel 6/14/24. - 6/15/24
yellow diamondModeling: The final placement of Jackie's Flower Field, an Athearn SD70M fix plus lots of visiting guests on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 6/14/24
yellow diamondVideo: Terry Douglas shares his excellent video of the Coastal Classic Ride, June 4, 2024. - 6/12/24
yellow diamondRosters: Chris Crunkle gets a sunroof style ride on the Whittier Shuttle. - 6/12/24
yellow diamondRosters: I've always been fascinated by train drone photos and Bill Hess does not disappoint with his elevated view of the northbound Denali Star passing through a forested area of Wasilla. - 6/12/24
yellow diamondRosters: Rusty Wendlandt grabbed a delicious photo of a freight train emerging from the tunnel at Bear Valley. - 6/12/24
yellow diamondRosters: Do you love freight train photos? Do you love the heritage paint scheme? Do you love seeing rare siding pix? Of course, you do! Check out Dylan Robert's photo of a freight train entering the Chapados siding with a lead heritage paint scheme locomotive #3006. - 6/12/24
yellow diamondVideo: Robert Krol caught the front end of a Whittier freight train on May 25, 2024. - 6/12/24
yellow diamondRosters: Todd Shechter captures a passenger train in the Anchorage yard. - 6/11/24
yellow diamondRosters: Brice Douglas grabs a unique photo of the Coastal Classic at Moose Pass. - 6/10/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The Coastal Classic rolls through Brookman. - 6/10/24
yellow diamondNews: Roadtrippin’ 2024: the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is one of a kind - 6/9/24
yellow diamondNews: Roadtrippin’ 2024: Riding the Alaska Railroad to historic Curry town site - 6/8/24
yellow diamondNews: Roadtrippin’ 2024: Riding the Alaska Railroad’s Hurricane Turn flagstop train - 6/8/24
yellow diamondModeling: The "Flowers at Eppley's Curve" and Boy Scout camp diorama is now complete. Also, Rick runs the first Distributed Power Unit (DPU) train on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 6/6/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The May Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 6/6/24
yellow diamondRosters: Brice Douglas captures an usual viewpoint of the Glacier Discovery train on Turnagain Arm. - 6/5/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Two (1, 2) photos of the recently leased Greenbriar gondolas. - 6/5/24
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Jon Porter captured a crisp clear photo of Troop Sleeper 8300 at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum.. - 6/5/24
yellow diamondRosters: Thanks so much to Jon Porter for helping us to beef up our rosters with photos of F7s 1507, 1508, 1512 and P-4. - 6/5/24
yellow diamondRosters: Locomotives in the Anchorage diesel shop. - 6/4/24
yellow diamondRosters: John Henderson with a black and white photo of Power Car P-30. - 6/4/24
yellow diamondRosters: Numbers 1839 and 1826 on the Whittier Shuttle at Portage. - 6/4/24
yellow diamondRosters: Jon Porter captures a superb photo of Power Car P-7. - 6/4/24
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad's Request for Proposal: Intermodal Business (TOFC/COFC) Services Assessment - 6/4/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: SD70MAC #4008 with a load of empty hoppers at Matanuska. - 6/3/24
yellow diamondRosters: Adding a David "Diesel Dave" Smith photo of GP7 #1826. - 6/2/24
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: Rusty Wendlandt kit bashes a True Line Trains PSC Caboose 1091. - 6/1/24
yellow diamondRoute Map: Thanks to Robert Krol for a current photo of the new Norwegian Cruise Line dock and terminal being built in Whittier. - 6/1/24
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad purchases SD70MACs - 6/1/24
yellow diamondRosters: Someone asked for more freight train photos so here is an eye popping pipe train heading through Turnagain Arm. - 6/1/24
yellow diamondRosters: Here is an interesting group of photos. Dylan Robert spotted several imploded tank cars in Fairbanks. Does anybody know some additional history on this? I would also love to know the dates behind this occurrence. - 6/1/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: 557 Boiler Hydrostatic Test Completed! The boiler work on ARR #557 that started in the fall of 2012 reached a major milestone on May 21, 2024. An inspector from the Federal Railroad Administration, our boiler consultant, and the volunteers from the Engine 557 restoration crew conducted the formal hydro test of 557's boiler. Work on the boiler has included installation of a new fire box, installation of new stays, and new tubes and flues. From the report, “No Exceptions taken during observation of satisfactory hydrostatic test of steam locomotive boiler. MWAP 225psi, tested at 281psi, water temperature 90 degrees.” Per FRA inspector Milo Voigt,  "On a report all you want to see is No Exceptions Taken."  That says it all.  It can't get any better than that. We encourage your financial support of Engine 557 via credit or debit card or Paypal. - 5/25/24
yellow diamondModeling: Work begins on the "Flowers at Eppley's Curve" and Rick runs a 40-car consist on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 5/30/24
yellow diamondRosters: I got a request for more freight photos so here is Frank Keller's ten photo series on the winter run of an export coal train. - 5/29/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: 5 SD70MACs hauling a freight train across Hurricane Bridge. - 5/27/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: 557 Boiler Hydrostatic Test Completed! The boiler work on ARR #557 that started in the fall of 2012 reached a major milestone on May 21, 2024. An inspector from the Federal Railroad Administration, our boiler consultant, and the volunteers from the Engine 557 restoration crew conducted the formal hydro test of 557's boiler. Work on the boiler has included installation of a new fire box, installation of new stays, and new tubes and flues. From the report, “No Exceptions taken during observation of satisfactory hydrostatic test of steam locomotive boiler. MWAP 225psi, tested at 281psi, water temperature 90 degrees.” Per FRA inspector Milo Voigt,  "On a report all you want to see is No Exceptions Taken."  That says it all.  It can't get any better than that. We encourage your financial support of Engine 557 via credit or debit card or Paypal. - 5/25/24
yellow diamondModeling: Work continues on Boy Scout Camp Gorsuch and Rick eliminates more ankle biters on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 5/25/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Added Fred Wing's photos of the 40 leased gondolas from Greenbriar. - 5/22/24
yellow diamondNews: The Fair Train returns to the Alaska State Fair Grounds in 2024 - 5/22/24
yellow diamondNews: Seward dock bond approved - 5/22/24
yellow diamondNews: Seward dock funding moves ahead but Port MacKenzie rail extension is stripped by Senate Finance - 5/22/24
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: Jeff McCrea adds his amazing customized and weathered GP40s. - 2/21/24
yellow diamondIndex: I spent three hours doing some updates on the website's index page. - 5/21/24
yellow diamondRosters: And here is another photo of my favorite locomotive #3015. Many thanks to Terry Douglas for sending this one to me! Incidentally, what happened to the logo on the nose? - 5/20/24
yellow diamondRosters: Yesterday, I posted some Whittier yard photos from Robert Krol. I have updated the gondola photos to indicate the ARRC received 30 of them on lease from the Greenbriar Companies. - 5/20/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Passengers on the northbound ARR Denali Star get some friendly waves from the 557 crew. - 5/20/24
yellow diamondRosters: A few odds and ends in the Whittier yard. - 5/19/24
yellow diamondRosters: I can't help adding yet another photo of my favorite locomotive #3015. Here she is in Whittier amidst a host of Princess rail cars. - 5/19/24
yellow diamondRoute Map: Thanks to Robert Krol we have some new photos of the new Norwegian Cruise Line dock and terminal being built in Whittier. - 5/19/24
yellow diamondVideo: Robert Krol snags two videos (1, 2) of Maintenance of Way (MoW) equipment at Bear Valley. - 5/19/24
yellow diamondNews: The ARRC looks into upgrading passenger cars to Wi-Fi. - 5/19/24
yellow diamondVideo: Terry Douglas captures video of three GP40-2's picking up a side dump car, May 13, 2024. - 5/18/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: 1987 leaking tank train car photos added to the TankTrain car section. - 5/17/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Three Charles Drum photographs from the 1986 derailment at Fort Richardson. Does anyone have more information regarding this incident? - 5/17/24
yellow diamondRosters: On April 17, 2021 the last CN barge docked in Whittier and Frank Keller was there to capture the last run. - 5/17/24
yellow diamondModeling: The invasion of the Indiana grandsons plus The Eppley Shops fix all the ankle biters on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 5/16/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Robert Krol catches a pair of Difco dump cars in Portage. - 5/14/24
yellow diamondRosters: GP40 #3011, with nice shiny freshly repainted silver trucks, heads up the Whittier daily train in Whittier. - 5/14/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Thomas Brooks shares his narrow gauge rails discovery along Moose Creek. - 5/14/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Winter Aurora at Broad Pass. - 5/13/24
yellow diamondRosters: Filed under, "Interesting items you'll find in the Anchorage yard" are an electric loader and a fire truck. - 5/12/24
yellow diamondRosters: Dylan Robert catches a tie drop on the Eielson Branch. - 5/12/24
yellow diamondVideo: RaeEllen Kurzendoerfer shares a video of three SD70MACs and the geometry car in Anchorage. - 5/12/24
yellow diamondIndustries: Added a demolition section to the Seward Coal Terminal. - 5/12/24
yellow diamondHistorical: I am so grateful to the great grandson of Charlie Drum for sending me the Alaska-Yukon Chapter National Railway Historical Society Calendars for the years 1974, 1975 and 1976. He's sent me a lot of other items as well and I will eventually get them online. - 5/11/24
yellow diamondModeling: Operations session with cousin Eric as well as train repairs on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 5/9/24
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to David Smith for the photo of GP40 #3019 and RF1A #1078. - 5/7/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: David Smith shares photos of a roof hatch equipped 3 bay Hopper 14551, gondola 13811. - 5/7/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The last winter Aurora at the Mears Memorial Bridge. - 5/6/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Adding Alaska-Yukon Chapter National Railway Historical Society Calendar 1974. I will be adding 1975 and 1976 soon. - 5/3/24
yellow diamondRoute Map: Robert Krol adds some 2003 photos and video of the Norwegian Cruise Line dock and terminal being built in Whittier. - 5/3/24
yellow diamondModeling: Lots of cab ride videos on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 5/2/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The April Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 5/1/24
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Andrew Packee for a pair of caboose 1092 photos in Fairbanks. - 4/29/24
yellow diamondRoute Map: Created a page for the new Norwegian Cruise Line dock and terminal being built in Whittier. - 4/29/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Seward Coal Terminal demolition - 4/29/24
yellow diamondModeling: A pine forest at Rudd Spur and Rick creates onboard train videos using his GoPro on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 4/26/24
yellow diamondRosters: A freight train running late benefited photographer Frank Keller as he caught it at MP 206 with Denali in the background. - 4/24/24
yellow diamondRosters: David Smith captures of photo of a tunnel icicle breaker. - 4/24/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Alaska Railroad Corporation Fairbanks Yard Job heads Railroad South over the Spur Court crossing and past K&K Recycling - 4/22/24
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Martin E. Hansen for this drop dead awesome photo of #557 in Whittier. An additional thanks to Patrick Durand for a nice commentary accompanying the photo. - 4/18/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Adding a document: Conductors seniority list 1/1/1966 and Hazardous Materials Check List. - 4/18/24
yellow diamondModeling: We spent most of the evening running daring trains on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 4/18/24
yellow diamondFilm: Here is a copy of the letter for the Runaway Train Employee Only movie night at the Fireweed Theater - 4/16/15
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Aurora in Wasilla - 4/15/24
yellow diamondModeling: Grandsons invade my Alaska Railroad layout while the Eppley Shops work on squealing locomotives. - 4/11/24
yellow diamondNews: Federal grant awarded for Whistle Hill solar project - 4/9/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Freight at Nenana - 4/8/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Goodbye to Old Healy - 4/7/24
yellow diamondRosters: David "Diesel Dave" Smith provides three views of Rotary #3 - 4/7/24
yellow diamondRosters: Robert Krol spotted the snowfleet resting at Portage - 4/6/24
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad 2-8-0 Restoration Enters Home Stretch - 4/6/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The March Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 4/6/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Dave Wallingford shares his story about walking the Meadow Lake Trail to Regalvista in 2007. "Back in the day" guests at the old Curry Hotel could walk across the foot bridge and hike to Regalvista which gave them views of Mount McKinley (now Denali). - 4/5/24
yellow diamondModeling: Train night on my Alaska Railroad layout got back underway after taking a three week break. - 4/5/24
yellow diamondLinks: Chat with Railroad Mike's Alaska at The Curmudge Inn - 4/1/24
yellow diamondLinks: Alaska Railroad Conductor/Engineer Realistic Job Preview - 4/1/24
yellow diamondNews: Failure Of Resolution May Benefit Whistle Hill In The Future - 4/1/24
yellow diamondNews: Bill seeks privatization of Alaska Railroad - 4/1/24
yellow diamondNews: ARR Solicitation for New 110 Ton 64’ General Service Flat Cars - 4/1/24
yellow diamondNews: Coal loading equipment in Seward is set to be demolished, likely a permanent end to Alaska coal exports - 4/1/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The February Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 4/1/24
yellow diamondAdmin: My wife and I just returned from a 26-day trip to New Zealand and Australia. Did you miss me? - 4/1/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Next five Pictures of the Week - 3/4/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: "Cool" snowstorm photo - 2/26/24
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's 120N At Potter Marsh, Digging Out and Frank Keller's southbound coal at Brookman. - 2/25/24
yellow diamondModeling: Rudd Spur is now complete and the devil in the double crossover was found on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 2/22/24
yellow diamondRosters: Them's not railroad tracks. Them's bear tracks! Check out Frank Keller's snapshot of a bear in the Anchorage Yard. - 2/21/24
yellow diamondRosters: Brian Reed spotted ballast regulator #23 on Fort Richardson. - 2/21/24
yellow diamondRosters: David Smith shares photos of F7 #1530, Denali Express ready to depart Anchorage and GP49 #2809 - 2/21/24
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: John Gray submits another video of his N Scale ARR equipment on his friend's Canadian Pacific Railroad - 2/21/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Fairbanks Yard Job plowing railroad North towards Eielson AFB with 30 cars of black diamonds in tow - 2/19/24
yellow diamondRosters: Josh Crump provides us with some great drone photos of the Knik River Bridge. See more of his excellent photographic work on Facebook at JTC Media. - 2/18/24
yellow diamondLinks: Seward - The Port of Tomorrow - 2/15/24
yellow diamondNews: Whittier meets to discuss Whittier Terminal Master Plan - 2/15/24
yellow diamondModeling: RDC operations and double crossover devils on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 2/15/24
yellow diamondNews: DOT & Alaska Railroad Advance Development Of Drone-Led Avalanche Mitigation Effort. - 2/14/24
yellow diamondLinks: Many thanks to David Duffy for the link to the North Slope Railroad Company. - 2/14/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: This Ain't Right! - 2/12/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Duane Lohman shares a few photos of Tunnel and The Loop from 1943. - 2/11/24
yellow diamondVideo: RaeEllen Kurzendoerfer catches video of Maintenance of Way trains (1, 2) from the passenger car winter. - 2/11/24
yellow diamondHistorical: From Ken Cringan, here are the Alaska-Yukon Chapter National Railway Historical Society Calendars: 1971, 1972 and 1973. - 2/11/24
yellow diamondHistorical: From Ken Cringan, here are the Alaska-Yukon Chapter National Railway Historical Society Calendars: 1969 and 1970. - 2/8/24
yellow diamondBibliography: Congratulations to Frank Keller for his Mount Alyeska/SD70MAC photo on page 55 of the March 2024 issue of Trains magazine! - 2/8/24
yellow diamondModeling: Scenery and ballasting work continues on Rudd Spur while Rick chases power drops on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 2/8/24
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Don Marenzi for the additional commentary on ARR. A, Wanigans and Workers homes and water tower. - 2/6/24
yellow diamondHistorical: MOOSE GOOSER issue 26. I am still missing issues 17, 22, 23 and 102-119. If you got them then please send me the scans! - 2/5/24
yellow diamondRosters: From the Alaska Historical Museum Association - ARR. A, Wanigans, Workers homes and water tower and three coaches with X numbers. - 2/5/24
yellow diamondHistorical: From Ken Cringan, here are MOOSE GOOSER issues 28, 30, 31, 32, 62, 63, 64, 69, 73, 90, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99 and 100 plus the Alaska Yukon Area Railfans Guide. - 2/5/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Fairbanks yard at -50F. - 2/5/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Here is MOOSE GOOSER issue 27 from Ken Cringan. - 2/4/24
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer's photos at Healy in 1986. - 2/3/24
yellow diamondRosters: Bringing in the last of the high resolution photos from Levi Ballard with the Alaska Military Historical Association: Brill #304, Pittman Section House and outfit cars used as worker homes, - 2/3/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Here is MOOSE GOOSER issue 25 from Ken Cringan. - 2/3/24
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer shares photos of Denali Depot 1986 and the northbound freight just before arrival. - 2/2/24
yellow diamondHistorical: The MOOSE GOOSER was the monthly newsletter of the Alaska Yukon Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Inc. Ken Cringan has pledged to send me the remaining issues I need to get a complete set! Here is his first submission, issue 21. This is very exciting as I haven't updated this section in over six years. - 2/2/24
yellow diamondRosters: Do you need some RDC manuals? Here is the General Manual as well as the Operator's Manual. Enjoy! - 2/2/24
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: The Alaska Railroad is alive and well in Switzerland as Thierry shares with us his wonderful N scale shelf layout. - 2/2/24
yellow diamondModeling: Prairie Shadows Model Railway Company is taking orders for N scale Pointe St. Charles Cabooses 1091, 1092 and 1093. They talked about this back in 2013 and are finally producing them. - 2/2/24
yellow diamondNews: Railroad solicits 2025 official art print - 2/2/24
yellow diamondModeling: Running trains and working on Rudd Spur scenery on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 2/1/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The January Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 2/1/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The January Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 1/30/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Stunning winter photo taken from the UAF overlook. - 1/29/24
yellow diamondLinks: Check out this great website The Alaska Frontier. There is lots of good information and cool photos! - 1/26/24
yellow diamondModeling: Running colorful trains and working on Rudd Spur on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 1/25/24
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer catches freight trains at Healy and Broad Pass. - 1/23/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Northbound freight at Broad Pass - 1/22/24
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller catches the snowfleet at Healy at -36 degrees. - 1/21/24
yellow diamondModeling: A hobo camp and Rudd Spur is added to my Alaska Railroad layout. - 1/18/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: David Smith shares photos of the Tour Alaska railcars, cabooses 1025E, 1075 , 1023, 1072, 1079, 1086, 1087 and 1776. And let's throw in a few random ones just for fun - LC #58, LC #103, GP35u 3051 (don't name a locomotive or you will curse it forever), RDCs #702 and #721, spreader #6 and GE 45 ton #7249. - 1/16/24
yellow diamondRosters: Here are a few night time photos of a sleepy work train at Potter. This is part of the effort to replace the Snow River Bridge. - 1/15/24
yellow diamondBibliography: Don't forget to check out this Trains magazine article telling of their Alaska adventure, Travel with Trains: Alaska 2023. - 1/15/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The contours of Turnagain Arm - 1/15/24
yellow diamondRosters: Added RSD-1 #1026, SW1 #1203 and FP7-A #1512. - 1/14/24
yellow diamondRosters: Bryan Saul adds photos of MRS-1 1606 , GP7 #1803, F7-A #1500, S-12 1841, summer gravel train business, a freight passes a gravel train at Alagco, RDCs in Fairbanks and Switching out the UP barge. - 1/13/24
yellow diamondModeling: A new spur is added to my Alaska Railroad layout as work continues around the Whittier Depot. - 1/12/24
yellow diamondRosters: Adding some high resolution photos from Levi Ballard with the Alaska Military Historical Association: Potter section house and McKinley Park Depot. - 1/9/24
yellow diamondHistorical: The first and only head on collision on the Alaska Railroad occurred on October 19, 1943 when northbound freight Extra 901 collided head on with southbound train #553. Both locomotives were badly damaged, two freight cars were completely wrecked and many other cars received minor damage. One passenger and three employees were slightly injured. (Bernadine Prince). Many thanks to Levi Ballard with the Alaska Military Historical Association for photos from this Head-On Collision. - 1/8/24
yellow diamondHistorical:Many thanks to Levi Ballard with the Alaska Military Historical Association for supplying Alaska Railroad photos from WWII. If you would like to add to the commentary of any of these photos please send it to me and cite the image number. - 1/8/24
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Levi Ballard with the Alaska Military Historical Association for supplying photos (1, 2) of steam locomotive 752. I did not have a photo of 752 on my complete roster section and therefore fulfilled one of my website needs. - 1/8/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Wasilla’s old Alaska Railroad Depot is once again a real, genuine, depot. - 1/8/24
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's Next stop Colorado. - 1/7/24
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: David Smith shares photos of outfit cars 1504E and 1571E plus hoppers 14333 and 14432, 14744, 14761 and 14770 and 16009 and 16027.- 1/6/24
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Casey Durand for sharing this postcard of the old McKinley Park Depot. - 1/6/24
yellow diamondRosters: David Blazejewski freezing his socks off capturing Spreader 9 as it blasts toward MP 345 inside Denali National Park and the longest passenger train at Montana. - 1/6/24
yellow diamondVideo: A video taken yesterday of SD70MAC #4319 in front of the Anchorage Depot. This was part of Thursday's Hurricane Turn. SD70MAC #4320 was on the other end. - 1/6/24
yellow diamondAdmin: We are in search of photos or drawings of the Track Geometry box car. If you have any, please send to john@alaskarails.org. - 1/5/24
yellow diamondModeling: Woodland Scenics paint markers and power problem investigations on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 1/5/24
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad makes first stop at new Wasilla depot location - 1/4/24
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad Passenger Stop in Wasilla is Moving, Rail passenger stop relocating on January 4, 2024 - 1/3/24
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer grabs surplussed locomotive photos in Seattle on December 9, 2000. - 1/3/24
yellow diamondHistorical: Many thanks to retired ARRC employee Thomas Brooks for providing important historical information on the AACX grain cars.- 1/2/24
yellow diamondModeling: Trying to track down "The Ghost of RailPro" as well as designing a new spur on my Alaska Railroad layout. - 1/1/24
yellow diamondHall of Fame: The 2023 inductee to John's Alaska Railroad Web Page Hall of Fame is David Smith. Congratulations! - 1/1/24
yellow diamondVideo: Railroad Mike's Alaska captures Snow Fleet in Action - 1/1/24
yellow diamondAdmin: Happy New Year! - 1/1/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The December Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 1/1/24
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: 557 Annual Fund Raiser – Have your Contribution Matched! Today marks the beginning of the Engine 557 Restoration Company's annual fund raising campaign. This is the main fund raising request to individual donors and is a primary source of restoration funds for the year. The goal is $85,000. Pledges have been made to match the first $20,000 received, dollar-for-dollar. Be a part of returning Engine 557 to the rails! Donations may be made by credit or debit card, PayPal, or check here. They may also be during a visit to the 557 Engine House in Wasilla. - 1/1/24
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The Battle For Winter - 1/1/24
yellow diamondBibliography: There are lots of new Alaska Railroad articles! Check out Inside Alaska: A Century of Frontier Railroading by ARR Conductor Brice Douglas in the January 2024 edition of Railroad & Railfan, Alaska Railroad's Whittier Shuttle by Bill Anderson in the 2023-3 edition of Passenger Train Journal, Alaska 2023: Positive outlook as ARR marks the centennial of its completion by Frank Keller in the 2023-3 edition of Passenger Train Journal and Serving Uncle Sam in Alaska in the 1960s by David Lustig in the Fall 2023 edition of Classic Trains. - 1/1/24