National Railway Historical Society Convention
The 2013 NRHS Convention took place in Alaska September 18-22. The following is a few photos taken by various railfans.
Art Chase Photos
John, hot off my camera and I was in town long enough to capture the train in
North Pole and working her way back to Fairbanks. I wanted to chase her
on the airport branch but had a flight to catch. So from an airport across the
west once again and back fresh off crewing Iowa Interstate RR QJ 7081, here
are the better ones.
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| The F-40 leads the consist in a push configuration. | The entire consist sits at North Pole, ready to head to Fairbanks | After loading all the NRHS passengers, the train backed down to the end of Chapado's siding and then made the high speed run to Fairbanks....okay not...10MPH track. | Working her way along the Old Richardson Highway. The fall colors were at their best....and still on the trees! |
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| The Geeps pushing on the rear end. | The colors just couldn't get any better than this. | Right around the curve at branch mile marker 12. | This zoom gives an idea on the track and reason for the speed. |
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| A crossing along the Old Richardson Highway | Coming out of the trees and along the Old Rich. | No 3003 brings up the rear and leans a little into the leisure run. |
Thanks a million to Art Chase for providing these photos!
To: arrrailfans at yahoogroups.com
Alaska Railroad Trip / NRHS Convention
Last September the NRHS held their national convention in Alaska, trips over almost every inch of the railroad were arranged and I attended most every one available, here are a few shots from the trip.
Note: Sorry this is such a long post, however I wanted to get all of the trip pictures out at once instead of over multiple postings. And I know this might not be pertinent to the areas covered by this list, however as a Southerner I wanted to share these pictures with the folks I know best.
Tanana Valley Railroad #1 (0-4-0T) at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks. This little engine was the first locomotive to operate in the Fairbanks area over a century ago and has recently been restored to operating condition by a group of very dedicated volunteers.
ARR #3003 & #3011 (GP40-2's) at the Fairbanks station with our train for the trip to North Pole, we were the first passenger train to operate over this stretch of railroad which actually heads south east out of Fairbanks.
ARR #32 (NPCU) (former Amtrak F40) on the rear of our train for the reverse move back to Fairbanks during out trip to North Pole, AK.
Our train at North Pole, Alaska.
ARR #31 leading on the return trip to Fairbanks.
ARR #4320 & #4318 (SD70MAC's) with Holland America tourist train at the Fairbanks station.
ARR #4322 (SD70MAC) with another Holland America train early in the morning light at the Fairbanks station.
Our train for the two day trip to Anchorage preparing to depart Fairbanks.
Locomotives at the Fairbanks Locomotive Shops as we pass by on our way southbound.
Shot of the freight yard in Fairbanks from the vestibule as we are leaving town.
ARR #4324 (SD70MAC) & #3013 (SD40-2) heading south out of Fairbanks on the main line.
Our train stopped for photos on the Tanana River Bridge.
Our train at the Nenana station with the Tenana River bridge in the background.
Passing through the Nenana River Valley.
In one of many canyons along the Riley Highway near Garner (1, 2).
ARR #2005 (GP38), #3003 (GP40-2) loading at the coal mine in Usibelli.
At the Station in Denali where we stopped for the night, with the mountains in the background.
ARR #4324 (SD70MAC) & #3013 (SD40-2) posed on the Riley Creek Bridge for the cameras in Denali (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
ARR #4324 (SD70MAC) & #3013 (SD40-2) at Summit the Highest point on the Alaska Railroad. We hiked across the muskeg to get in position for the run by, truly a once in a lifetime event.
ARR #4324 (SD70MAC) & #3013 (SD40-2) at Curry, where the Alaska Railroad has a huge gravel pit that is the source of almost all of the ballast used in maintaining their track (1, 2).
ARR #4324 (SD70MAC) & #3013 (SD40-2) at Talkeetna where we stopped for a quick off train visit. Quick note, the Mayor of this town is a cat !!!
ARR #2011 (GP38-2) in the Anchorage yard as shot from the tower at the Alaska Railroad operation center during our tour.
ARR #31 (NPCU) on the rear of a tour train at the Anchorage Depot.
ARR #1 (0-4-0T) on display in front of the Anchorage Depot.
Underside of ARR #4326 (SD70MAC) as seen from the servicing pit in the Anchorage Locomotive Shops.
ARR #3001 (GP40-2) sitting in the shops at Anchorage.
ARR #4013 (SD70MAC) on the ready track in front of the shops in Anchorage.
ARR #3009 (GP40-2) on the inspection pit in the Anchorage shops. Note the two mismatched font sizes on the number boards.
ARR #4014 (SD70MAC), & ARR #2008 (GP40) in the heavy repair shops at Anchorage.
ARR #3001 (GP40-2), #4004 (SD70MAC), #4001 (SD70MAC) on the fuel & servicing tracks at Anchorage.
ARR #4324 (SD70MAC) & #3013 (SD40-2) passing along the shoreline with the other primary mode of transportation in Alaska a floatplane at Moose Pass (1, 2).
Passing through Crown Point on Lower Trail Lake on the route to Seward.
At the very south end of the Alaska Railroad. The Station at Seward (1, 2).
Heading back north through Moose Pass enroute to Anchorage.
View of the head end of the train taken from the first dome car as we pass through a sharp curve at Moose Pass.
ARR #3011 (GP40-2), #3013 (GP40-2) at the Anchorage Depot waiting to leave with a northbound passenger train.
Our train approaching the platform that the Alaska Railroad has at the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage.
ARR #31 (NPCU) reflected in the glass at the Ted Stevens International Airport terminal building in Anchorage.
Our train at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer.
Thanks as always for checking out my work.
Mick Nussbaum
Page created 9/17/13 and last updated
3/20/16
© 2016 Art Chase and Mick Nussbaum unless otherwise noted