Thomas Brooks, March 18, 2024

I was hiking the rail-trail near Moose Creek, downstream from the highway, when I glanced upslope and saw railroad rails hanging across the top of a slide.  From my days at the ARRC, I knew this was a transfer point from the narrow gauge coal railroad to the ARR, but I was surprised to still see physical remains from the operation.  I’ll be hiking it again this Spring and capture a photo.

Recently, I was searching the Anchorage Museum of History and Art Collection, and found the attached photo.  There it is, this is how they transferred the coal.

Thought this might be of interest, thanks again for all your attention to the ARR.

 

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Thomas Brooks, May 13, 2024

Spring has finally arrived in Alaska, I was able to get into this location and found the rails I mentioned.

Pretty sure I was at the top of the slope shown in the historical photo.  The rails served the narrow gauge track at the top of the slope, which has since eroded back under the track, leaving the rail suspended.

I found readable mill marking:  "L.S. Co. Buffalo 40.0 1907”.  It fits with the time frame, ie the start of coal production in the area (circa 1919) and the Alaska railroad drawings of the Moose Creek spur line construction (1926).  So the tipple would have been active for a few years in the early to mid-1920s.