THE 2008 SEASON RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER
15, 2008.
I had been looking forward to my 2008
Alaska trip for many
months. The
plan was for two weeks ending the trip at Kodiak Island. The way
things worked out, I got lots of fishing in and a lesser amount of
train riding on the beautiful Alaska Railroad. This year has been
a banner year for travelling for me, having spent half of May
traversing the rails up the west coast from Los Angeles to Seattle on
the Amtrak Coast Starlight, with an additional trip on PV's through
Donner Pass to Reno Nevada. Those endeavors clocked in at 4,000
rail miles. For this Alaska trip, I am taking the Spencer Whistle
Stop train which will
encourage
me to get off and tour a glacier for several hours as a pedestrian,
then pick me up. Overnight camping is also available.
We start this day trip at the
downtown Anchorage Depot. Phase One of the
Ship
Creek Intermodal Project is in the process of construction.
The plan calls for 2 new and 2 rehabilitated tracks outside the depot
along with a platform, train servicing facilities and drainage
improvements. Future phases include renovating the historic Ship
Creek Depot, a pedestrian bridge from E Street to the depot, and a
departure lounge over the tracks. Here is what is looks like in
June 2008.
The
Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop train., the last of the daily scheduled
passenger trains to depart during the tourist season, sports a
leisurely 10 AM departure time. She is set up for push-pull
operation with a recent SD-70 mac on the point and cab car 31 on the
rear. Don't let the nice weather in Anchorage fool you, for, the
closer you get to Whittier, the weather gets..., well you can figure
out the rest. Mother Nature would not disappoint. On the
other hand, the day before this Whistle Stop trip, it was raining in
Anchorage and I was worried that it would be raining at the Russian
River, which it wasn't. Having said that, let's begin our
wonderful Whistle Stop train trip.
Alaska Railroad has lots of managers and vice-presidents doing some
serious thinking. Acquiring the old Amtrak locomotives and
turning them into cab cars was a good idea. Developing their
Whittier train into the Glacier Discovery/Spencer Grandview train to
the roadless wilderness was another
fantastic idea. The planning of the Whistle Stop has been in
the works for several years and has several more years of construction
of trails, campgrounds and cabins.
The route almost immediately yields beautiful views. Less than a
mile from the depot, passengers get views of near and distant
mountains. Below left is Mt. Susitna, also known as Sleeping
Lady. Below right are mainland mountains which range from 7,000
to 11,000 feet in elevation.
From the train, even the
airport looks interesting. Eventually we pass thourgh south
Anchorage, where I had started my morning on public transit with a
moose running across the street in front of the People Mover
bus. Wow, I am not even on the train yet and the wild animals are
out.
Below, is the Cross Road grade crossing in south Anchorage. The
Spencer Whistle Stop train gliides through here effortlessly and
quietly. This crossing is a no whistle crossing though the bell
does ring and gates lower. I had taken my host's dog for a walk
to get these
photographs. I don't think he had a problem with the train, but
he reacted negatively to the bell. The inhabitants in this
neighborhood most likely appreciate the lack of train whistles.
Further on down the road, the rails parallel the Seward Highway for
30-40 miles. Below left, is an area which looks inviting, but is
insect infested. Below right is Potter's Marsh, a well known
bird watching location. It features wooden boardwalks from where
one may view the wildlife.
Just a few more miles down the line is the Dall Sheep habitat. I
have seen these sheep down at the road level a number of times
including the prior evening on the way back from the Russian River.
In my assigned car, I had noticed two young women a few rows
close to my seat. After speaking to them, I found out that one
was a wildlife photography fanatic. They had planned their trip
on about a month's notice and travelled to Alaska from Minneapolis
Minnesota.
Whistle Stop Page 2
