Nenana Passenger cars #90 and #91
by Kittrell Rushing

Former Alaska Railroad passenger cars, repurposed in Nenana, Alaska, photographed in late summer 2017, provide housing and offices for a dog sled musher and a background for the trading post-community center.

During the early 20th century Nenana was an active center for Alaska business and construction. Gold was discovered in nearby Fairbanks in 1902, a post office opened in 1908, and by 1915, the Alaska Railroad connected Nenana to Anchorage and other point along the coast.

Nenana was the starting point for the famous 1925 dog sled run to Nome with diphtheria medication. The little community has lost most of its citizens and much of its economic base sine its 20th century heyday. The population was estimated to have been about 5,000 in the 1920s. In 2010, the number of citizens registered fewer than 400.

Although regular passenger service ended for Nenana some time ago, the depot remains a freights stop, and at least one and a half of two old Alaska Railroad passenger cars still echo some of the community's and the railroad's former importance to the community, now seemingly little more than a tourist stop.

Half of an old Alaska Railroad passenger car is halved and up on blocks in the yard adjacent to the Nenana Depot and Community Center.

Repurposed Alaska Railroad coach, off tracks and on blocks. Now being used as the office and dog kennels for an Alaskan musher.

An old Alaska Railroad passenger coach serves at the home for sled dogs and a musher. The car is on blocks at what was a checkpoint for several recent Iditarod races. The coach is to the right behind the woman with a camera.

Half of an Alaska Railroad passenger coach, on blocks at Nenana, Alaska.

Interior of Alaska Railroad coach showing passenger compartment and washroom.

Interior and side of Alaska Railroad coach, Nenana, Alaska.

Passenger compartment or lounge and washroom of a halved Alaska Railroad coach, Nenana, Alaska.

Sled dog pens and dog houses now line the side of the old Alaska Railroad's passenger coach. The coach rests on blocks near what was once the passenger depot in Nenana, Alaska.