|
|
|
|
A 5:45 AM wake call found the Princess Sun sitting at the dock in Whittier since midnight. I went off for my last buffet breakfast of the trip.
The predawn was beautiful from the front of the Lido Deck.
Our train that would take us to Anchorage pulled into Whittier.
Following watching "Freaky Friday", I went up to the Lido Deck for a few final pictures off of the Sun Princess while I waited for our debarking group to be called. We were light blue 2 but we got to debark when they called the "Scenic Train". At 7:48 AM they called "Train" and we debarked from the Sun Princess for the last time. What a great cruise it was and I truly loved it all.
Everyone debarking walked through a building and we the train passengers had to exchange our vouchers for our train tickets. We walked across the main highway to a tented covered area where we boarded car Alaska Railroad car #552 taking table seats 12A&B. Our train constituted of GP-40-2 3011, low level domes 553, 554, bi-level Tiki Railbar 352 and two more low level dome cars 551 and 552 with an ex Amtrak F-40PH 244 as the cab car 31.
This train set is used only for the Cruise Ship passengers.
This train set was part of the former Florida Fun Train. The four single level dome cars can carry 76 passengers at table seating. The seats have high backs that are alternately colored in bright orange, yellow, purple and green hues. The dome glass rises from the table level to a point high above the aisle then repeats down the other side of the car. In the middle of the five car train set is the lone bi-level car that is the Tiki Railbar. Yes, its a Tiki Bar running around Alaska. This car has a complete thatched roof and faux-palm trees covering the bar. There is still a dance floor and tables for enjoying beverages at one end of the car. There are a few gallery seats still on one side on the upper level above the dance floor. It is a fantastic train set and it was a true blessing to get to ride it on this trip.
Our train to Anchorage departed at 8:40 AM with this whole trip being new mileage for me.
.
The train headed along the far end of the Passage Canal.
Another glacier high to the north.
One last view of the Sun Princess.
We had to wait for a green signal at the highway staging area before we could enter the 13,075 Whittier Tunnel which the highway shares when the trains aren't running. It is a single lane tunnel so at 9:00 AM the westbound auto traffic will have their chance to pass through the tunnel following our train.
We exited the Whittier Tunnel into the fog as we passed Bear Valley siding.
Our train crossed Placer Creek then plunged into the 4,960 feet Portage Tunnel.
Weather conditions improved as we exited the Portage Tunnel and the Bryon Glacier came into view.
As we followed the Portage Creek west, the Middle Glacier came into view.
The Explorer Glacier was seen next to the south.
The vistas to the north were spectacular with the low laying fog.
The train reached the yard at Portage.
Our train had to stop to line the switch to the mainline to Anchorage.
A house that sank from the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake.
Trees that were killed are the results of salt water into the water table when the land settled. The earthquake really effected the railroad in this area. the ground sunk so far that the tracks were washed away during high tides. After repairs had been made, the railroad had a twice a day schedule to pass through Portage at low tide. A new railroad grade was then built which has solved that problem ever since allowing 24 hours of train operations.
From Portage to Anchorage our route will follow the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet.
Off to the north is Twenty Mile Glacier before the train crossed the Twenty Mile River.
To the south is the way the Alaska Railroad goes to Seward via Moose Pass.
The train curved for many miles along the base of the steep canyon wall. A few minutes later the train crossed Kern Creek.
The train crossed Glacier Creek with the fisherman trying their luck before we passed through Girdwood.
The train, Seward Highway and the Turnagain Arm.
After the train passed under the highway, our shoreline running of the Turnagain arm began.
The train passed one of the many slide areas on the highway.
MT Applegrow stands out on the Kenai Peninsula across the water.
The train passed the siding at Bird.
Every curve along the inlet provides another picture of the train.
The train takes more curves
and even more curves. Our train then ran by Indian siding.
With every turn,
turn,
turn,
more beauty unfolds.
The train passed the long siding at rainbow.
Another turn,
another view,
equals more pictures.
More curves,
another picture.
We went into the siding at Potter.
A rotary snow plow was on display along our route.
At Potter we met the Glacier Discovery holding the main with Conductor Steve aboard.
The tide had headed out across the mud flat of the Turnagain Arm as the Potter State Game Reserve Refuge is off to the north of the train.
Our train has now reached the outskirts of Anchorage. Off to the right is Alaska's largest mall, the Diamond Mall before the train rolled through Spenard. We passed the backyard landing fields as we approached the junction to the Airport Line.
At MP 110 we turned off the mainline onto the Airport Line.
The train made the curve towards the airport.
The Anchorage Airport Control Tower could be seen ahead of our train.
Our train climbed the viaduct for the remaining distance to the airport station.
We have reached the Alaska Railroad Bill Sheffield Airport Station.
We detrained here and went down stairs to catch the shuttle bus to the Downtown Hospitality Center at the Anchorage Convention Center.
One last view of the fantastic Alaska Railroad Grandview Cruise Train taking from the bus. They took everyone who didn't have an immediate flight to the Hospitality Center to wait for hotels or later flights.
Anchorage 8/30/04
Once we were dropped off, I went to the Alaska Railroad Station to pick up my tickets for the trip to Seward tomorrow. I was then off to the Downtown Mall for more film and lunch at Arby's. I returned to the Convention Center to write and wait for our hotel shuttle at 3:15 PM. Listening to Jethro Tull to pass the time, I remembered that our conductor was named Jethro as well on the train this morning. Small world isn't it! A little late, they called all those going to the Captain Cook Hotel which was just four blocks away.
After a slight room mix up, we got a room on the 17th Floor of the Tower #3 with an excellent view of the Alaska Railroad yard and shops. Later we went to the Glacier Brewhouse where I had an excellent Prime Rib. I took a walk down to the depot to time it for my walk in the morning.
The old Holland America Dome Cars at the Alaska Railroad Shops. After my second E-mail check of the day in the Captain Cook Business Center, I watched that classic movie Airport. I turned in early expecting to have a great train adventure tomorrow.
|
|
|
