WASILLA, ALASKA: WHERE THAT LONESOME WHISTLE BLOWS

Last night’s southbound Denali Star charges past Wasilla Malibu with two Wilderness Express bear cars at the end. Wasilla Malibu doesn’t look too crowded - but it was crowded in the afternoon. Please note too that I did not state, “yesterday evening’s Denali Star” but “last night’s.”

Up until yesterday afternoon, every southbound Denali Explorer I had been aware of this year, whether I had been by the tracks, in the yard or even in the house when I heard the whistle had come within minutes of 4:15. So, yesterday, I came down about 3:50. No train came. About 4:30, I drove down to see if the signal light was green for the Denali Explorer. It was not on. Usually, it comes on at least half an hour before the train arrives and sometimes even an hour or more. So I figured maybe today it had come earlier. I drove home.

I returned at 5:50 to be certain I would be there when the evening southbound Denali Star, scheduled to arrive at 6:25, came through. I checked the signal light first thing. It was off, but I knew the train had to be on its way. Over an hour and half passed. No train. I took Sancho to the station where we found one man waiting for. He said he had talked to the passenger he was waiting to pick up at 7:00. The passenger told him the train was 50 miles out. It was now 7:50. Sancho and I repositioned ourselves atop a hill on the lake side of the tracks. The crowd had thinned considerably, but there was still good activity. Recreationists paddled bright red and yellow plastic kayaks back and forth. A young family splashed and swam at the edge in cold water. Kid after kid jumped off the dock.

More time passed. The canoes disappeared. The family left. Numbers dwindled. About 8:30, I took a quarter mile drive to check the signal light. It was green. I made a U-turn. I saw train headlights coming. I turned into the parking lot, launched Sancho off the car and, at the last instant, got this picture - best seen on a big screen. It’s hot again today. I will try again. If I fail, I still have tomorrow. 5/29/22