Daylight Freight Memories The nightly Alaska Railroad 130S freight from Fairbanks to Anchorage was running very late this particular morning affording the rare opportunity for shots in daylight on the mainline. They have just crossed the long Knik River bridge and are swinging around a bluff to head south toward their final terminal in this view from the Old Glenn Highway overpass at ARR milepost 145.6. The moderately sized train of 4344 feet and 6731 trailing tons trailing three SD70MACs is heavy with jet fuel from Flint Hills Resources in North Pole destined for the Anchorage International Airport. Alas the 85,000 barrels per day refinery whose production once accounted for 40% of the railroad's revenue is no more having shut down for a multitude of economic and political reasons in 2014 and being demolished two years later after operating since 1977. To learn a bit more click here. Providing a dramatic backdrop 15 miles distant on the far side of the wide Matanuska Valley past Palmer is the 6093 foot summit of Matanuska Peak in the Chugach Mountains. South of Palmer, Alaska |
