Did You Know... After living in Alaska for over four years I finally made a trip to our local "railroad" museum in 2011. They have a fascinating collection of Alaska rolling stock and it is definitely worth a look if you're in the area. This may not look like much but the story behind this little center cab is quite interesting. Built in 1942 she served the US Army until 1973 when she was transferred to the ARR (then still an arm of the Federal Government) for work in a new rail yard and barge operation being built in Valdez in support of the massive traffic boom associated with the then under construction Trans Alaska Pipeline. When her services were no longer needed there she was retired in 1983. For much more great information check out this link for some great photos and stories about this little known and long forgotten Alaska Railroad outpost. The wooden boxcars coupled behind her are also noteworthy as among the few remaining pieces of rolling stock from Alaska's second longest standard gauge railroad, the Copper River and Northwestern which ran between Cordova and McCarthy/Kennicott from 1911 to 1938. The first car is a wooden bunk car originally built in 1900 for the Northern Pacific Railroad prior to service on the CR&NW. The ARR purchased it in 1940 upon the demise of the CR&NW. The second car was built new in 1912 for the CR&NW with a steel underframe and also came to the ARR in 1940. Wasilla, Alaska |
