The Alaska Railroad in Valdez: Russ Blood Photographs

Russ Blood Photographs

As we get further along with relating the history, we will be able to show a better picture of the operation and that it was a successful business. I can only speculate on why any official account may not have the complete story. It is important to show that this worked and was a good part of the transportation links of this area and Alaska. Freight arrived not only for Valdez, but also for destinations farther north - Fairbanks and other locations. I have been told by a good source, that at times there were three barges a week. There was also some backhaul, as able to acquire. It was in operation from 1965 to some time in 1978 I think. I'll have to do more research on the latter year. Pipeline construction began very late in 1973, if I recall, and continued through 1977.

I haven't found a lot but here are some pics to get started. I think the yard began operations in Sept. 1965 with the Crowley barge ''Birch" and tugboats Titan, Trojan, and possibly Champion, [at various times] providing the link between Whittier and Valdez. I have seen reference to "several hundred railcars" handled by the Valdez rail yard, and this was PRE - Pipeline. As I get more info it probably won't be in any order, so please bear with us.

	Photo of first rail barge arrival. I believe Sept of 1965 with equipment to install dolphins and other pieces.
	Photo of first rail barge arrival. I believe Sept of 1965 with equipment to install dolphins and other pieces.
	Barge at landing. Looking from about mid yard. Whiting Switcher at about 2nd switch. This photo about 1967-69. Truck is mid to late '50s White Freightliner, somewhat unique as it was equipped with front drive axle making it 4x4. 220 Cummins and 10 speed RR believe ex-CF. Two of these trucks were acquired to handle chassis's and other work.
	Barge arrival, about 1966-67. It shows two flats and bulk cement car.
	Showing barge and track and short sections of connecting rail. I believe cargo on flatcar is pre- fab split level home. Photo about 1965-67?
	Loading damaged tank truck for shipment to Seattle for repair. About 1970. Truck is late '60s Kenworth with four axles and V12-71 Detroit Diesel. Part of small fleet that hauled fuel from Valdez, north to Copper Center, Delta, Tok, and Fairbanks. If you are wondering why the tank truck was being loaded into a gondola, my recollection is that it needed to leave on the next barge and there were no empty flatcars in the yard. Because no ramp was installed the barge had to be worked according to the tide, so it was usually necessary to unload and reload the barge in a short amount of time.
	Early container handling. I think first van is 24 or 27' long. Reefer unit belonging to Alaska Line. Crane is a P & H Serial # 6817, purchased from Alaska Railroad. Photo about 1968-69.
	This photo about 1967-69. I think these containers belonged to Alaska Steamship Co. and were 24 or 27' long- General Cargo.
	This photo is Sept/Oct 1965 I think. In left background shows original prime mover for moving cars, prior to receiving Whiting trackmobile. Rhis was some type of large aircraft tow trailer, possibly USAF surplus.
	[Added 3/9/07] These two photos are very good. I think several of the people shown are listed in the News-Miner article. This shows the first prime mover? in good detail. So far I haven't found much information on it other than it was some type of aircraft tow tractor. (Photo by Don Teeters)
	[Added 3/9/07] These two photos are very good. I think several of the people shown are listed in the News-Miner article. This shows the first prime mover? in good detail. So far I haven't found much information on it other than it was some type of aircraft tow tractor. (Photo by Don Teeters)
	[Added 3/9/07] This picture shows one of the cement cars and was taken in the upper quarter of the yard, near where the yard met the road. I think the gondola next to it is up against the loading ramp.
	[Added 3/9/07] Shows barge arrival. The picture of the tug alongside the barge maybe 1966/67. I'm not able to I.D. which tug it was. Some of the debris shown on the rocks was probably left by a high tide. I think the short pieces of rail shown may have been one.
	[Added 3/9/07] This is interesting as it shows the number and how the cars were secured. Notice the chocks & stabilizers? 1966
	[Added 3/9/07] This is a mid to late 50's White 3000 series for my father's fuel company Harbor Fuel.
	[Added 3/9/07] Line of flat cars with container vans. Taken in the yard.
	[Added 3/9/07] Another view of the photo sent earlier. It shows the switcher. 1970
	[Added 3/9/07] I think this is rail for the first expansion of the yard which was across Mineral Creek Loop Road. 1969
	[Added 3/9/07] Shows new rail being handled by crane. 1969
	[Added 3/9/07] This is from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner.
	[Added 3/9/07] I think this was taken when the switcher was fairly new. April 1966
	[Added 3/9/07] Just another view of a previous photo. It shows the barge resting on the pad. 1966

[Added 9/27/13]
Lindsey Jauregui asks, "I am curious to ask about the "dolphins" (equipment of some kind) mentioned in the first photos on this page -- what exactly are they, and what are they used for?
Russ responds as follows:

How to describe a ( Mooring?) Dolphin? Simple question I thought, till I tried to detail. Don't recall trying to before and not that knowledgeable. Finally went to wikipedia and there is a good answer and picture there.

The Dolphins were important components . With this barge landing one or two hand operated winches were also used ( mounted on piling if I recall next to bulkhead ) to run wire rope to corners of barge to help keep end of barge against wood bulkhead , for track alignment and, short sections of rail to be placed in position, ( w / bolts and flanges) , to span the short space between rails on barge deck and tracks shoreside. This usually required constant monitoring to make any adjustments as tide went out , until barge was setting firmly on pad to begin work.

Cars could then be moved ashore, thru switches and positioned in yard .

There always seemed to be an awareness of working with the tides, and how much time it allowed to move cars off and on to the barge .

If I remember right, the barge needed to to be off loaded and load back completed before tide came back in enough to raise it off the pad.

Because this was tide work, many times beginning or ending , this was late at night or early morning. Always limited number of hours to complete , so priority then was cars moving on and off barge and repositioning in yard later if needed. Number of railcars inbound and outbound also varied.

Conditions and needs could also change things , along with any equipment issues.

Let me know if the dolphin info works . I think at the barge landing there was a point to attach mooring lines, on top , w/extended piling or bitt. I can't recall now if there were one or two dolphins.

Sorry for the length of reply, but thought it might add to how it worked. Hopefully it's somewhat accurate as it is a long time ago now!

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