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I'm not sure what forum this goes in. Feel free to move it. We visited Alaska last week and had the pleasure of a couple of trips on Alaska Railroad.
Its not a tourist railroad, as they haul freight also. Their equipment is often fairly old, but really well kept up; it almost looks like they wash the units each night. Most of their routing is single track, so often we had to get on a siding while another train passed.
Our first trip was from Anchorage to Denali park on the Anchorage Fairbanks route. While they are a real railroad, they often seemed to slow or stop everytime there was a picture taking opportunity, such as a moose. Their passenger service is limited to the summer months, and they have tour guides, who are students who make announcements, including when the dining car is open and when wildlife is spotted, or a good picture taking spot approaches, and run a gift shop.
They have added first class service with two new cars at the front of the train, substantially higher than the second class cars, and with a full dome and an outside observation platform. We were in second class, and I suspect our cars were from a german line, as some of the signs were still in german and english. These have a partial dome in the center of the car, with no outside observation platform, unless you are nervy enough to lean out the doorway between the cars (it often got crowded there when we were in some scenic areas.) They have a snack car at the back of the train, and a dining car in front, behind the first class. The snacks seemed expensive; the dining car was fairly reasonable, and the food was limited, but not bad.
The tour companies often add private cars to the back of the train, but we never got onto those. The view from both the dining and snack car was better than from the passenger cars, at least from the lower level. Part way through our trip (at the midpoint between Anchorage and Fairbanks) the north and southbound trains stop beside each other and the tour guides switch trains, so they never have to overnight away from home. After a couple of days in Denali, we returned to Anchorage, with the same good service.
Our next trip was from Anchorage to Seward, an ice-free port on Resurrection Bay on the south coast of Alaska. This trip was pretty much the same, but they don't have the first class service on this route. Again, they slow for scenery, and a trip of about 125 miles took almost four hours. On the day of our trip, they were oversubscribed (our guide said they usually have 50 or 70 people, but they had 250 that day. The train was not crowded, but with only one dining car, they had to call you by seat rows to go to the dining car. We were in the second car and it took a very long time to get called (a lot of people cheated) and by the time we got there some items were sold out, but we survived. Our return trip was far less crowded and we even saw some whales on the way.
All in all, it was a pleasant way to travel, but very slow because of all the scenery and the single tracking. Its run very much like an old railroad, with the all aboard call, and the conductor getting off to work the switches at the sidings. Incidentally, they call it America's only full service railroad, as they have both passenger and freight service. I think they were built by the federal government, but have now been sold to the state.
At Denali, we never got to see the mountain (once called Mt. McKinley but now called by the native name of Denali) as there was always cloud cover. If we go back, I think we will charter a seaplane and fly around the mountain above the clouds, and perhaps even land on one of the glaciers. Trains are nice, but they can't get you above the clouds.
dmwnc1959 Member # 2803
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Did you do this as an independent tour or through a cruise line? One thing I remembered from being a Travel Agent about the Alaska Railroad was that depending on which cruise line you may have booked with, depended on the type and luxury of the rail car. Princess, Royal Caribbean/Celebrity, and Holland-America all had their own rail cars, then there was the smaller older cars of the Alaska Railroad for those who booked independent and not through a cruise line. The cars that belong to RCCL/celebrity are supposed to be the very nicest.
The only time I have seen Mt McKinley was when we flew into Anchorage and you could see her from the air, and we could still see her once we landed, and from the bus departing the airport. The driver said it was a rare day to have that good of a visiblity and we were honored, and that was only one of the five time I visited Alaska...
CoastStarlight99 Member # 2734
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Very intereasting, I was recently invited to Alaska by some friends, and it seems an intereasting palce to visit. The "Alaskan RR also has entertaining ads on television. Thanks for the repot
clevelandbrown Member # 3654
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We did this independently. I don't think I would like the regimentation associated with cruise lines.
The cruise line cars on the back of the train did look plush, from outside, but the new first class cars the Alaska RR had on the front of the train looked just as nice.
dmwnc1959 Member # 2803
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quote:Originally posted by clevelandbrown: We did this independently. I don't think I would like the regimentation associated with cruise lines.
The cruise line cars on the back of the train did look plush, from outside, but the new first class cars the Alaska RR had on the front of the train looked just as nice.
Did you know that you can actually book the cruise lines rail cars and land-packages without having to take the Inside Passage cruise? Princess and RCCL/Celebrity are famous for this too! First-class lodges and great meals might make this worth looking into for anyone wanting to do the interior part of Alaska without having to endure the 'regimentation associated with cruise lines', but believe me, the Inside Passage cruise is REALLY very nice and not at all regimented!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Mt. McKinley remains named as such; however it is now within Denali National Park, formerly McKinley NP.
espeefoamer Member # 2815
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The Alaska Railroad operates its own tours,using its cars.I visited the Alaska Railroad in 2001,and rode all three lines.The scenery is awesome,the food is good,and the trains are clean and well kept.I highly reccomend a visit .
RRRICH Member # 1418
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espee - what is the 3rd Alaska Railroad route? The only ones I know of are Anchorage-Fairbanks and Anchorage-Seward?
--Rich K
dmwnc1959 Member # 2803
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dmwnc1959 Member # 2803
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quote:Originally posted by dmwnc1959:
quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: espee - what is the 3rd Alaska Railroad route? The only ones I know of are Anchorage-Fairbanks and Anchorage-Seward?
--Rich K
I believe 'espee' is referring to the 'cruise' lines instead of the 'rail' lines:
Holland-America Royal/Celebrity Princess
Your travel agent can book the rail/lodge-only tours if you like that option, or www.alaskarailroad.com has many other option for the adventurous traveller.
As you mentioned, there is also the opportunity for cruise ship passengers to take to the 'rails' from Seward to Anchorage or visa-versa when embarking or disembarking from their cruise instead of a transfer by motorcoach. The scenery is also quite nice along this route. I did his at the end of a n/b sailing on Princess.
20th Century Member # 2196
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In '03 I traveled in the the Holland America railcar (our cruise was on Celebrity) hauled by the Alaska RR from Anchorage to Denali Park. It was a beautiful trip. The weather was quite clear so we were able to see Denali/Mt. McKinley. Returned via train 3 days later to Anchorage. Then the next day traveled on the train to Seward. The Alaska RR had some very nice luxury coaches for the Seward trip. It was one level but the top half of the coach was all glass for viewing the fantastic scenery along the way. The train stops right near the ship (walking distance).
clevelandbrown Member # 3654
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I think the third line mentioned is from Anchorage to Whittier called, I believe, the Glacier Special. It Shares some track with the Anchorage to Seward Coastal Special, but then goes on its own track to Whittier.
We actually stayed in a Princess facility in Denali, but I chafe at the "be on the bus at 11:15, have your bags outside your room by 08:30" lifestyle where a guide picks what you want to see and do. Granted we had to make our planes and trains, but I always schedule enough free time that we can overstay in someplace we find. interesting, or even return a second day.
They have an art and history museum in Anchorage, open 9 to 6. We were there at 9, intending to spend a half day, but it was so interesting that we didn't leave until about 4; as we left a group of tour busses was emptying to give their passengers their alloted two hours of culture. I wonder what parts they skipped? Rant mode off.
vline Member # 1132
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by RRRICH: [QB] espee - what is the 3rd Alaska Railroad route? The only ones I know of are Anchorage-Fairbanks and Anchorage-Seward?
--Rich K Well, I'm not Espee, however I have ridden all of the Alaska railroad. The third route is on the Anchorage to Seward line. It departs Whittier & goes to Portage on the coast, a spur line of about 4 miles through a mountain. Portage isn't very scenic but the trip through the mountain is ok. Until about 1996 all vehicular traffic to Portage had to be loaded onto flat cars to travel by train, however I believe now its possible to get to Portage by car. Mike in Australia.
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by vline: I believe now its possible to get to Portage by car.
Yes, the railroad tunnel has been modified so that you drive through between trains. One way at a time, with traffic light control
espeefoamer Member # 2815
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: espee - what is the 3rd Alaska Railroad route? The only ones I know of are Anchorage-Fairbanks and Anchorage-Seward?
--Rich K
The third route is Anchorage-Whittier.This line goes through two long tunnels.One is 2 1/2 miles long,and the other is 1 mile long.This route branches off the Anchorage-Seward line.
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