Bill Sheffield Depot

This decidedly modern and urban scene is not what people think of when they envision the Alaska Railroad, but it's just another aspect of this at times anachronistic railroad that makes it truly unique.

This is train 215W, the Grandview Cruise Train loading passengers at the Bill Sheffield Alaska Railroad Depot located at Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport depot which opened in 2003. A typical Alaskan pork barrel boondoggle that while modern and gorgeous has never lived up to its potential as told here.

One everyone is aboard the 'low level dome cars' the train will depart out the branch and hang a right at the wye and enter the mainline at CP 1102 to head south on a spectacular journey to Seward. This Friday special was operated exclusively for Royal Celebrity Cruise lines and everyone aboard is destined to a cruise ship waiting at the railroad owned dock at the head of Resurrection Bay that will sail south across the Gulf of Alaska later this evening.

Anchorage, Alaska
Friday September 9, 2011

Photo courtesy of Dave Blazejewski