Page 288 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

286  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

The Alaska Railroad summer, guides on the trains
interpret the history and wildlife
The Alaska Railroad may not be that far off the mark when seen along the route.
it claims to offer the best rail trips in the world. Few journeys Between mid-May and
in the country cross such beautiful and wild terrain as this mid-September, the daily
ribbon of steel that stretches across the landscape between Coastal Classic runs between
Anchorage and Seward. During
Seward and Fairbanks. The trains allow passengers the best the same period, the regularly
views possible, with all seats facing forward in the 1950s scheduled Glacier Discovery
rail cars. Travelers on the Denali Star can book seats in the connects Anchorage to
domed view ing cars and access out door viewing areas from Whittier, fol lowed by an
where the best photographs can be taken. Some trains also optional trip to Spencer Glacier.
From the glacier, passengers
carry viewing cars owned by cruise companies and can either take a raft trip or
reserved exclusively for their clients. continue to Grandview
Pass for spectacular
glacier viewing. The
History of the Railroad
railroad began most popular
The Alaska Railroad had its making a profit route, however, is
beginnings in 1903 when the by trans porting the Denali Star, which
Alaska Central Railway was built military and does the incredibly
northward from Seward. In civilian supplies. Baggage tickets issued by sce nic run between
1907, after 50 miles (80 km) of In addi tion to the the Alaska Railroad Anchorage and
track were laid, the com pany $30 mil lion damage Fairbanks, stopping
went bankrupt. After the firm caused by the 1964 Good Friday en route at Denali National
was reorganized as the Alaska earthquake, the railroad has Park. The summer Hurricane
Northern Railway, another overcome landslides, heavy Turn has Thursday to Sunday
21 miles (34 km) of track were snowfalls, derailments, and services, with extra runs on
laid. In 1914, the US Congress even chemi cal spills. The rolling certain holidays, to serve bush
sanctioned $35 million for the stock was upgraded between pas sengers between Talkeetna
construction of a complete 1999 and 2005, and today the and Hurricane. This 60-mile
line between Seward and scenic lines of the Alaska Rail- (97-km) local route has no
Fairbanks, and the tent city of road rank among the state’s food services.
Anchorage was designated as most popular tourist attractions. In the winter, the Aurora
a railroad construction camp. does a weekend run between
The entire 470-mile (756-km) Regular Services Anchorage and Fairbanks,
Alaska Railroad line was finally with flag-stop services. From
completed in 1917, and was While some regular commuter October to May, on the first
inaugurated by President services on the railroad dou ble Thursday of each month, the
Warren G. Harding in Nenana as tourist services, other trains winter Hurricane Turn does
in 1923 (see p173). cater specially to tour ists while the return day trip between
A branch line to Whittier also accommodating local Anchorage and Hurricane,
was laid during World War II passengers. Most of the visitor- offering wonderful views of
by blasting tunnels through oriented trains carry a dining car the Susitna Valley and the
the Chugach Range, and the and railway gift shop, and each Alaska Range.

The Hurricane Turn rolling across Hurricane Gulch, between Talkeetna and Denali National Park

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