What's New - 2018 Archive

yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Five photos from Whittier - 12/31/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska tourism businesses warm up to a growing winter market - 12/24/18
yellow diamondNews: Fort Wainwright brigade gets marching orders - 12/24/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The December Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 12/24/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Five photos from Dave Blazejewski - 12/24/18
yellow diamondModeling: The train is up and running on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout!- 12/23/18
yellow diamondNews: FRA Awards More Than $46 Million for PTC Implementation - 12/23/18
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Robert Krol for sending us night photos of Mary Krull's Whistle Hill. When you are in Soldotna, Alaska make sure and stop in! - 12/16/18
yellow diamondNews: Navy gambled on Chickaloon coal and lost - 12/19/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Five photos from Frank Keller - 12/17/18
yellow diamondModeling: The crew speeds up their efforts in hopes of getting the main loop operational by Christmas on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 12/14/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Many thanks to Darlene Lind for sending some of Curt's stories and seven more of his photos (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69) - 12/11/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Three photos from Mike Gerenday - 12/10/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: Engine 557's Matching Challenge increased to $25,000 - Dick Morris kicked off the 557 December campaign with a $5,000 match challenge. The challenge is now up to $25,000 as an anonymous donor has pledged an additional $20,000.00 to the matching pool. Now is the time to make your donation double in value for Engine 557 Restoration Company. Donations can be made either on line or by mail. - 12/9/18
yellow diamondModeling: With carpentry construction 95% complete the crew turns to electrical wiring on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 12/7/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The November Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 12/6/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad resumes operations - 12/3/18
yellow diamondNews: Railroad should be back on track by Monday night - 12/3/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad finishes track, bridge inspections - 12/3/18
yellow diamondHistorical: The famous Healy Hotel Shoot Out story - 12/3/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Roy Foster's photo of FP7-A #1512 in Anchorage, July 1973 - 12/3/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: Just in time for Giving Tuesday, the Engine 557 Restoration Company is kicking off their annual fund raising drive. Please support the effort to return 557 to operation on the Alaska Railroad. Dick Morris has issued a challenge again this year. He will match every contribution through December 31 up to a total of $5,000. Donate on line or get information on how to send a check. To see what you contributions support go to the monthly Status Reports on the Engine 557 Web Page for the latest update or to see the project's entire history. - 12/1/18
yellow diamondModeling: Tom drills Tortoise spring wire holes while LJ mounts RailPro communication devices on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 12/1/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Many thanks to Roy Foster for submitting his photo collection from 1973-1983. - 12/1/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad shuts down all operations due to earthquake - 12/1/18
yellow diamondNews: Quake leaves Alaska Railroad north of Anchorage ‘impassable’ - 12/1/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Earthquake Damage – Stats/Photos/Videos of the Aftermath - 12/1/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad reports impassable track north of Anchorage after earthquake - 12/1/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Glacery Discovery at Girdwood - 11/26/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: Just in time for Giving Tuesday, the Engine 557 Restoration Company is kicking off their annual fund raising drive. Please support the effort to return 557 to operation on the Alaska Railroad. Dick Morris has issued a challenge again this year. He will match every contribution through December 31 up to a total of $5,000. Donate on line or get information on how to send a check. To see what you contributions support go to the monthly Status Reports on the Engine 557 Web Page for the latest update or to see the project's entire history. - 11/24/18
yellow diamondRosters: Added two photos of steam locomotive #557 (1, 2) courtesy of Jonah's Online Sales - 11/24/18 
yellow diamondNews: The Lifeline – Accessing Port in Whittier WWII Engineering Feat - 11/24/18
yellow diamondNews: Boardroom coworking space, 49th State Brewing Co. move into Ship Creek building - 11/24/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Sullivan's Curve - 11/19/18
yellow diamondModeling: Neither rain nor snow nor ice storm keeps crew from working on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 11/18/18
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's photos of military loads on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson - 11/14/18 
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: Daniel Arnold's HO scale locomotives from the movie Runaway Train - 11/14/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Maintenance of Way rail gang changing out rail - 11/12/18
yellow diamondModeling: Tortoise holes, strike plates and RailPro on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 11/10/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The October Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 11/10/18
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Ed Rosek for letting me us his Tunnel section MOW photos from 1976-1977 - 11/6/18 
yellow diamondRosters: Jeff McCrea submitted a pair of photos of a passenger train taken at the UAF overpass and a photo of northbound #4317 - 11/6/18 
yellow diamondSpecial Features: Snowfighting: Terry Douglas sent us a photo of Jordan Spreader #8 in Wasilla on November 1, 2018. Of his photo he said, "We finally had a decent bit of snow here earlier in the week. I suppose they needed to move some somewhere?" - 11/6/18
yellow diamondNews: Lace up your snow boots for winter rail adventure in Alaska - 11/6/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Transitioning from fall to winter quickly. - 11/5/18
yellow diamondNews: Interior Alaska officials agree to explore Siemens plan to bring in natural gas - 11/2/18
yellow diamondModeling: Leigh carves foams with hot wire, Tom hits the 95% mark on track installation and Mike and LJ install a swing gate on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 11/2/18
yellow diamondNews: Soldotna changes Kleeb to Whistle Hill Loop - 11/1/18
yellow diamondNews: Coal mine to sell lots to Healy subdivision residents - 11/1/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Group of speeders at Spencier Glacier - 10/29/18
yellow diamondNews: Soldotna Looks At Renaming Kleeb Loop To Whistle Hill Loop - 10/22/18
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Baggage car #75 in Anchorage - 10/22/18
yellow diamondRosters: RF1A #1078 in Anchorage - 10/22/18 
yellow diamondLinks: Arctic-Photography.com's Aurora Winter Train - 10/22/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Recognizing 557 restoration volunteers - 10/22/18
yellow diamondModeling: Carpentry and track laying is drawing to a close on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 10/18/18
yellow diamondRosters: Karl Hovanitz sent in a photo of an old Alaska Engineering Commission boxcar - 10/18/18 
yellow diamondHistorical: I added a section featuring photos from 1978-1985 by Curtis Lind. Feel free to email me any additional commentary you might have. Also, I am experimenting with a new format and tried it out on his photos. Let me know what you think. - 10/16/18
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Casey Durand's photo of a Hydro-train flatcar plus the 97XXX series - 10/16/18
yellow diamondStrange Freight: Casey Durand shared photos of well cars hauling Frac sand - 10/16/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Work train on autumn day - 10/15/18
yellow diamondModeling: Things come full circle on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 10/12/18
yellow diamondNews: The 2019 Alaska Railroad art print is based on an original oil painting by Alaskan artist Susan Watkins. Entitled "On Time for Dinner," this vibrant artwork depicts an Alaska Railroad passenger train moving beside a stretch of track between Portage and Seward,where a sow and her two cubs prepare to fish the salmon-rich stream. Print signing will be held in Anchorage and Fairbanks. - 10/12/18
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer's photos of a fall gravel train in Anchorage and #1502 heading up a train at the Anchorage depot - 10/10/18 
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Southbound Hurricane Turn - 10/8/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The September Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 10/7/18
yellow diamondRosters: Moe Odell shows how a Cat EX 8 gets ready to roll through Whittier tunnel back to Portage - 10/5/18 
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer captured a herd of GP40s in the Anchorage yard and the old yard office - 10/5/18 
yellow diamondModeling: The work crew has reached the Port of Whittier on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 10/5/18
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer with a variety of photos from the 1985 Whittier shuttle - 10/5/18 
yellow diamondModeling: Breathing adhesive fumes, watching the sun go down and eating hot Mexican dessert on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 10/2/18
yellow diamondModeling: I received an email from a long time internet friend and fellow ARR fan the other day. He asked if I would post a short blurb on my site requesting folks to chime in with their interest for another possible ARR model. He recently contacted ScaleTrains.com about the possibility of producing a GP-40 in ARR colors (Blue and Yellow bold scheme). For those of you not familiar with Scale Trains they produce models in HO and N gauge with incredible detail, road specific accuracy, and operation. They replied every request is cataloged and tracked… this database is consulted when considering future model releases. If you’d like to see them produce an ARR model contact them via e-mail. - 10/2/18
yellow diamondNews: Usibelli Coal gives big financial gift to Fairbanks Children’s Museum - 10/2/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: MOW train at Palmer - 10/1/18
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand caught a few photos of the welded rail gang in the Anchorage yard - 9/27/18 
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer's 1985 photos of the now long gone Cantwell section house - 9/27/18 
yellow diamondIn remembrance: Our friend Stewart Sterling passed away Sunday. If anyone has photos or stories they would like to share I would be honored to post them on my website. - 9/24/18
yellow diamondAdmin: I've had several people tell me they've had my email bounce back undeliverable. If you send me an email and you don't hear back in 4-5 days then please send it again. I've shared this with my Internet Service Providers and they've said nothing is wrong. - 9/24/18
yellow diamondRosters: Blake Moore's photo of a herd of locomotives in Fairbanks and Jonathan Fischer's photos of F7 #1500 at Denali Park - 9/24/18 
yellow diamondNews: ARRC Passenger Coach Painting and Repair ARR 500 and ARR 202 - 9/3/18
yellow diamondNews: Siemens-led consortium plans to test old Houston well for gas to be sent to Fairbanks - 9/3/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: DPUs on QAP - 9/24/18
yellow diamondModeling: Another successful work night on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 9/24/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Speeders in Alaska - 9/17/18
yellow diamondRosters: Curt Fortenberry's photo of the southbound Denali Star at Nenana - 9/16/18 
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Fairbanks yard - 9/10/18
yellow diamondRosters: Final installment from Stacy Ammerman: Moose Pass, motion blur at Moose Pass, Resurrection, Seward, snow spreader, snow spreader at night, surfacing gang at Hunter Flats - 9/5/18 
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Robert Krol for sending us photos of Mary Krull's Whistle Hill. When you are in Soldotna, Alaska make sure and stop in! - 9/4/18
yellow diamondRosters: Jeff McCrea's photo of GP38-2 numbers 2004/2005 with a string of tank cars - 9/4/18 
yellow diamondHistorical: Marty Caress sent us a copy of Congressman Oldfield's letter concerning the Alaska Railway Appropriation Bill - 9/4/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The August Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 9/4/18
yellow diamondNews: UAF power plant nearing completion - 9/3/18
yellow diamondNews: Fairbanks steam engines takes final trip this summer - 9/3/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Mears Memorial Bridge - 9/3/18
yellow diamondModeling: Double track road bed was put in place on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 8/31/18
yellow diamondRosters: More from the Stewart Sterling collection: Kiwanis Moose Gooser, caboose #1068, 4-8-2 #801 and Jim Duley and Kenny Miller - 8/27/18 
yellow diamondHistorical: A special thanks goes to Marty Caress for sending us scans of a 1922 Alaska Railroad brochure and a 1924 ticket (1, 2) - 8/28/18
yellow diamondRosters: From the Stewart Sterling collection: RF1A #1050, RF1A #1078, 4-8-2 #801 - 8/27/18 
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Windy Corner - 8/27/18
yellow diamondRosters: Three more from Stacy Ammerman: Crown Point, Matanuska and Snow River - 8/24/18 
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer's photos of caboose #1085, Healy in the 1980s and #3008 in Healy - 8/24/18 
yellow diamondNews: Siemens pitches alternative plan for getting natural gas to Interior Alaska - 8/24/18
yellow diamondNews: ARRC receives $10 million for Vital Functions for PTC to Improve Safety and Velocity - 8/24/18
yellow diamondModeling: Check out the latest progress on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 8/23/18
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Stacy Ammerman who sent us eleven HDR photos for our viewing pleasure. This first one was taken at Trail Lake. - 8/21/18 
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: MEX at the Whittier Tunnel - 8/20/18
yellow diamondModeling: More elevated track work, cork bed installation and a video of locomotive movement on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 8/17/18
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer's set of four photos of #2401 leading the northbound Aurora - 8/15/18 
yellow diamondFor sale: I received an email and thought I'd share it with you. "My name is Jon, and my close friend who lived in Chugiak passed has an estate with a large intricate N scale interlocking landscape that has tunnels, switching stations, and a custom control board. It is for sale but would require a large truck to haul. Please contact me if interested." - 8/15/18
yellow diamondIn remembrance: Many thanks to Xavion for adding memories and photographs of Frank Dewey who passed away last year - 8/14/18
yellow diamondRosters: Around 1985 Dick Morris encountered a gondola which provided remnants of steam locomotive #902 - 8/14/18 
yellow diamondStories: Stewart Sterling provided us some good photos of the Coastal Classic as he chased it from Anchorage to Seward - 8/14/18
yellow diamondIndustries: - Added Gabe Emerson's photos of University of Fairbanks coal fired power plant tour - 8/14/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Across the Matanuska River - 8/13/18
yellow diamondRosters: MRS-1 #1603 and #1604 photos sent by Jonathan Fischer - 8/12/18 
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Jonathan Fischer added photos of F7 #1502 in Yakima - 8/12/18
yellow diamondNews: Harry Ross has spent 50 years as an Alaska Railroad conductor. Meet him before he retires - 8/10/18
yellow diamondModeling: The work my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout continues to progress nicely. Feel free to stop by and help out! - 8/10/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Difco dump cars at Healy - 8/6/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The July Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 8/4/18
yellow diamondModeling: Elevated track was installed between TwentyMile subdivision and the APU as well as prep work for the double crossover. Check out the latest work on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. - 8/4/18
yellow diamondRosters: Alaska Railroad train designators - 8/2/18 
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer sent us some very nice photos of GP7 #1804 and GP49 #2803 getting a sun tan in the Anchorage yard - 8/2/18 
yellow diamondNews: The Lifeline – Accessing Port in Whittier WWII Engineering Feat - 8/2/18
yellow diamondNews: Head to Healy for the Usibelli anniversary: For 75 years, UCM’s unique operation has delivered for the Interior - 8/2/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Reflections - 7/30/18
yellow diamondModeling: I made updates for the past five work nights on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 7/26/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: TwentyMile bridge - 7/23/18
yellow diamondAdmin: Wow! What a great time I've had these past four weeks. In June my wife and I were in Alaska and in July we headed out west to ride eight different trains. Living the dream! Now time to get back to work on my website. I hope to have some photos online soon. - 7/22/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The June Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 7/2/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Next three entries - 7/2/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Fairbanks coal turn - 6/25/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Coastal Classic at the Trail Lake Bridge - 6/18/18
yellow diamondRosters: From the Stewart Sterling collection - Alaska Railroad 1050 and very new train behind it- 6/16/18 
yellow diamondAdmin: This from my friend Randy Thompson, "While I was working away in Alaska some low life scum sucking pigs broke down my garage door, house door and cut open the padlocks I had on my storage container doors and cleaned me out. They destroyed the dash and steering column on my car sitting in the garage trying to hot wire it. They stole all my tools, kitchen appliances etc. But most importantly they took my entire HO collection that I've been collecting for decades. Over 78 large boxes of brand new, never run HO scale stuff. I've never had a layout so most of my collection was brand new in boxes and many pieces are not replaceable, including lots of brass. They are mainly Alaska Railroad however I also had many other road names including; D&RGW, BN, NS, MRL, BC Rail and Amtrak. This was not a small collection, I had over 1400 pieces of rolling stock alone, not to mention 220 locomotives, boxes of track, turnouts, buildings, scenery etc. I was collecting so I could build my retirement layout. So if anyone is approached by someone trying to sell a large collection that hasn’t got a clue about what they have and if they are suspicious, please contact the Spokane County Sheriff's Dept immediately and refer to case # 2018-10078179 and let them do their thing." - 6/16/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Number 3015 in Seward - 6/11/18
yellow diamondNews: Cruise company Carnival will buy Southeast Alaska’s historic White Pass railroad - 6/9/18
yellow diamondNews: RoadTrippin': From the railroad to a river raft, Spencer Glacier's bluebird day delights - 6/9/18
yellow diamondNews: Anchorage Yard Wireless Network Design & Installation Request for Proposal - 6/5/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: New Holland America Princess (HAP) paint scheme - 6/4/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The May Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 6/1/18
yellow diamondModeling: Roadbed cutting on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 5/30/18
yellow diamondModeling: Roadbed cutting on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 5/30/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Bicentennial work train - 5/28/18
yellow diamondNews: Anchorage’s first schoolhouse survived challenges - 5/27/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Hurricane Turn - 5/21/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad chooses Alaskan transportation artist to create exclusive gift for 35+ year retirees - 5/20/18
yellow diamondRosters: From the Stewart Sterling collection, Anchorage shops 1948 - 5/20/18
yellow diamondNews: With start of demolition, Ship Creek condo development gets underway - 5/19/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad back on track after repair of ice-jam damage - 5/16/18
yellow diamondNews: Northern half of Alaska Railroad remains offline due to ice damage - 5/15/18
yellow diamondNews: Cosson makes presentation to Big Boy restoration - 5/15/18
yellow diamondNews: Flooding, ice overflows damage Alaska Railroad tracks - 5/14/18
yellow diamondNews: ‘Wall of ice’ from Susitna River damages railroad tracks near Curry - 5/14/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Anchorage yard photos from A Street bridge - 5/14/18
yellow diamondNews: Susitna River flooding shuts down some Alaska Railroad train service - 5/12/18
yellow diamondNews: Susitna River floods Alaska Railroad tracks near Talkeetna - 5/12/18
yellow diamondNews: Susitna River flooding shuts down Alaska Railroad north of Talkeetna - 5/12/18
yellow diamondModeling: And finally all the bench work, ribbing and supports were completed on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 5/11/18
yellow diamondRosters: Denali Park depot, September 1982 - 5/11/18 
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Gondolas: Chuck Zeiler's photo of gondola #13375 at Galesburg, Illinois - 5/10/18
yellow diamondRosters: Chuck Zeiler's photo of caboose 1084 at Kansas City, Missouri in April 1980- 5/10/18 
yellow diamondRosters: Rounding up information on the Daylighting of Divide Tunnel - 5/10/18
yellow diamondLinks: The Alaska Railroad and Vital Positive Train Control - 5/10/18
yellow diamondNews: Holland America Princess repaints railcars - 5/10/18
yellow diamondModeling: Another successful evening work session on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 5/7/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Air dumps - 5/7/18
yellow diamondVideo: Many thanks to Terry Douglas for bird dogging this great video of the daylighting of Divide tunnel - 5/6/18
yellow diamondNews: Now is the time for early-season deals on Alaska tours and lodges - 5/5/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The April Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 5/3/18
yellow diamondRosters: Retired baggage/48 seat coach #87 - 5/2/18 
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Box cars: Many thanks to Gerald Forsyth for submitting corrections to some of the links on my box car page. I hope everyone knows I am always open to corrections and appreciate help in keeping things straight. Contact me anytime at john@alaskarails.org. - 4/29/18
yellow diamondRosters: The AuRoRa train no.5, arriving at Anchorage in May 1968 - 5/2/18
yellow diamondRosters: Curt Fortenberry's photo of RDC #701 in Fairbanks - 5/2/18
yellow diamondNews: Resolution puts Legislature into railroad property dispute - 5/2/18
yellow diamondRosters: Current Passenger Cars: Curt Zeiler sent us a photo of dome #522 in its previous life as Amtrak #9403 - 5/1/18
yellow diamondRosters: SD70MACs: Delivery Photos: Jonathan Fischer caught the delivery of SD70MAC #4008 and SD70MACS #4013, 4014 and #4015 in Seattle, Washington in April 2000 - 5/1/18
yellow diamondRosters: From the Stewart Sterling collection, F7A #1528 - 5/1/18
yellow diamondNews: The QAP gravel trains have resumed running - 5/1/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: SD70MAC #4004 Spirit of Whittier at Cantwell - 4/30/18
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Curt Fortenberry's photos of the Tour Alaska passenger railcars - 4/29/18
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Chuck Zeiler for providing photos and information for retired passenger cars numbers 7066, 7073 and 7074 - 4/28/18
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Stewart Sterling who provided a photo of the wreck of steam locomotive 702 on August 9, 1944 - 4/27/18
yellow diamondModeling: Work on the APU and S curve was completed on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 4/27/18
yellow diamondRosters: Cabooses: Chuck Zeiler's photo of #1070 at Kansas City, Missouri - 4/24/18
yellow diamondModeling: Here is the weekly work report on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 4/13/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: Dan Bolyard provided a photo of #557 at Monte Holm's Mon-Road Railroad - 4/24/18
yellow diamondRosters: Sid Vaught's photo of F7B #1505 - 4/24/18
yellow diamondRosters: Cabooses: Received photos from Larry Platt showing the final destination of caboose #1070- 4/24/18
yellow diamondRosters: Cabooses: Alaska Railroad #1070 meets Rock Island line - 4/23/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Caboose #1776 - 4/23/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad finds savings closer to home - 4/20/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Jim Douglas's Nenana River Adventures - 4/17/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Aurora Winter Train at Hurricane Gulch - 4/16/18
yellow diamondNews: Suntrana Coal Mine is just a memory - 4/15/18
yellow diamondModeling: I'm feeling happy after inhaling contact cement fumes while working on Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 4/13/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad returned to profitability in 2017 - 4/13/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad honors a century of service - 4/12/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: No. 3006 on the point of 120S - 4/9/18
yellow diamondNews: Task force debates commuter train to Anchorage at Wasilla City Hall - 4/8/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The March Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 4/6/18
yellow diamondModeling: Another successful evening work session on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 4/2/18
yellow diamondRosters: Patrick Durand and John Gray added commentary to wooden outfit cars - 4/2/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: North freight crossing the Knik River - 4/2/18
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: Pat Durand's HO scale ALCO MRS #1603 - 4/1/18
yellow diamondNews: Artist Susan Watkins wins 2019 Art Print Contest - 4/1/18
yellow diamondNews: Two Alaska Railroad employees each mark 50 years in 2018 - 4/1/18
yellow diamondModeling: Many thanks to Robert Brooks for heeding my call for combing the N-scale roster list and adding missing items - Pacific Western Rail Systems Tank-Train, Kato's new road numbers for SD70MACs, Con-Cor's 53 feet Hi-Cube Container Alaska Marine Lines and Athearn's new road numbers for 57' Mechanical Reefer - 3/30/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Rage - 3/26/18
yellow diamondAdmin: I've been out of town for the past four days for the birth of my fourth grandson. Yes, I put a toy train in his crib to help him sleep better. - 3/18/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Anton Anderson's Construction and Maintenance Problems Encountered on the Alaska Railroad - 3/22/18
yellow diamondRosters: More photos from Jonathan Fischer - F7 Bicentennial locomotives #1510 and #1512, E9 #2401 and passenger cars #5715 and #7022- 3/21/18
yellow diamondModeling: Terry Douglas was kind enough to send in photos of his Atlas N-scale cabooses nos. 1086 and 1088. I added these two entries into the N-scale roster. Are you a big ARR N-scale person? If so, please take a minute to check my roster for completeness and accuracy. - 3/21/18
yellow diamondRosters: Lots-o-pix from Jonathan Fischer - No. 1802 pulling the Whittier Shuttle at west portal of the Portage Tunnel, Whittier shuttle at Portage, #2809 is seen leading a charter/cruise train, yard boiler (heat) plant, P-7 and GP7 #1810 - 3/20/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Jack Hepworth and the Black Mariah at Tunnel - 3/19/18
yellow diamondNews: Old depot is a monument to Seward’s survival as a railroad town - 3/18/18
yellow diamondRosters: Sidings: Jonathan Fischer's photo of #3003 heading up a northbound freight at Healy - 3/17/18
yellow diamondLinks: Added an interesting link for the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel - 3/12/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Reflection - 3/12/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad’s first black conductor celebrates unprecedented 50 years with company - 3/9/18
yellow diamondModeling: We had another successful evening work session on my Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout - 3/8/18
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Mary Krull at Whistle Hill (Brew @ 602) has acquired #1514 - 3/7/18
yellow diamondModeling: After 14 years I've begun building an Alaska Railroad HO scale train layout. Stay tuned for weekly updates. - 3/5/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: SD70MACs in Anchorage - 3/5/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The February Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 3/4/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Construction: Many thanks to Nick Nugent for bird dogging this incredible historical image of ARR #1 at the Hikey Farm in the Matanuska Valley - 3/3/18
yellow diamondRosters: Sidings: Jonathan Fischer sent us photos of P-30 and F7s #1500 and #1502 in the Anchorage Yard - 3/2/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Added a new section on the River Transportation System which began in 1916 - 3/1/18
yellow diamondBuilding the railroad: Added Anton A. Anderson's Railroad Engineering Under Sub-Arctic Conditions and Alaska Engineering Report: The Tanana Valley Railroad - 2/26/18
yellow diamondSpecial Features: Snowfighting: Here are various documents related to snow removal equipment - Assignment of snow removal equipment in the Whittier Terminal Yard, New York Central System's inquiry into types of snow equipment used, Alaska Railroad rotary Snow Plows Nos. 2 and 3, Russell Snow Plow Co. providing brief specifications, Urgency in receiving Russell Snow Plow, Roundhouse response excessive and Train Rules Regulating Handling of Snow Plows - 2/26/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Added a new section on the River Transportation System which began in 1916 - 3/1/18
yellow diamondBuilding the railroad: Added Anton A. Anderson's Railroad Engineering Under Sub-Arctic Conditions and Alaska Engineering Report: The Tanana Valley Railroad - 2/26/18
yellow diamondSpecial Features: Snowfighting: Here are various documents related to snow removal equipment - Assignment of snow removal equipment in the Whittier Terminal Yard, New York Central System's inquiry into types of snow equipment used, Alaska Railroad rotary Snow Plows Nos. 2 and 3, Russell Snow Plow Co. providing brief specifications, Urgency in receiving Russell Snow Plow, Roundhouse response excessive and Train Rules Regulating Handling of Snow Plows - 2/26/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Nenana River Gorge - 2/26/18
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: Dave VinZant's Kenai Fjords Tours dome - 2/20/18
yellow diamondRosters: Sidings: Many thanks to Bryan Saul for providing two photos of the Fairbanks coal bunker - 2/20/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Command Train: Many thanks to Steve Katkus for locating public domain photos of the interior of the command train - 2/20/18
yellow diamondHistorical: The Loop: Added a February 1928 engineering drawing with 1948 realignment - 2/20/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Southbound freight at TwentyMile - 2/19/18
yellow diamondRosters: Hoppers: Curt Fortenberry's photos of numbers 14600, 14602, 14603, 14607, 14608, 14609, 14853, 14855, 16214, 16505 - 2/13/18
yellow diamondRosters: John Henderson's collection RSD-1 #1014, GP40 #3020, GP7 #1808, 0-4-0T #5 - 2/6/18
yellow diamondRosters: Hoppers: Number 6043 in Healy - 2/13/18
yellow diamondRosters: Flat cars: Fattening up the flat car roster with 12629 and 12660 - 2/13/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Surplus cabooses - 2/12/18
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: Steve Booth's B&S Railroad - 2/7/18
yellow diamondRosters: Boxcars: Fattening up the boxcar roster with 8005, 10155, 10181, 10729 and 10801 - 2/7/18
yellow diamondNews: Blasting Services for Divide Tunnel Removal - 2/7/18
yellow diamondRosters: Locomotive crane #58 at Anchorage and MRS-1 #1714 at Healy in 1984 - 2/6/18
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Mario C. for his photo of GP49 #2808 in Chile - 2/6/18
yellow diamondRosters: Number 556 in Fairbanks in 1955 - 2/6/18
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad installs Lindamood as VP of engineering - 2/6/18
yellow diamondNews: The Alaska Railroad - Seward Route Add-On for Train Simulator - 2/5/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Robert Krol was able to snag a bridge work train - 2/5/18
yellow diamondLinks: For those of you who are interested in early ARR history here are two links (1, 2) identified by John Taubeneck of Panama Canal equipment - 2/3/18
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Jonathan Fischer's photos of LC-106 at Denali Park in August of 1989 - 2/3/18
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer's photos of a southbound coal train at Broad Pass - 2/3/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The January Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 2/3/18
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer's photos of GP49's en route to their future lives - 2/1/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Coastal Classic at Bird - 1/29/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Coastal Classic at Bird - 1/29/18
yellow diamondRosters: Maintenance of Way equipment at Hurricane - 1/28/18
yellow diamondRosters: Equipment Rosters: Historian Don Marenzi provided information on passenger cars #2 and #90 and #91 - 1/27/18
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Kittrell Rushing for letting me reprint his information on the two passenger cars at Nenana - 1/26/18
yellow diamondRosters: Equipment Rosters: Eat your heart out! Here is an Alaskan Engineering Commission, Alaska Northern Railway, Equipment Roster No, 18 dated March 21, 1918 (page 1, page 2) - 1/22/18
yellow diamondRosters: Locomotives 310-320 description, diesel bus #212 description and engineering drawing, Brill car #216 description and engineering drawing, motor railer car #213 description and engineering drawing - 1/22/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Tunnel exhaust - 1/22/18
yellow diamondRosters: Brill 214 and 215 description and engineering drawing, #901 description, #801 description, Brill trailer car #304 description and engineering drawing - 1/21/18
yellow diamondRosters: I finally obtained a photo of steam locomotive #406 for my rosters and as an added bonus it also features a derailment. 1/20/18
yellow diamondRosters: Equipment Rosters: diesel locomotive roster 9/29/54, locomotive classifications 2/1/52, locomotive number changes 1/25/52, Mechanical department movable rail equipment 3/8/47, locomotive specifications 4/11/51, locomotive specifications 10/1/51, locomotive classifications 5/20/53 and locomotive specifications 2/1/54 - 1/19/18
yellow diamondNews: Modern Living in Downtown Anchorage - 1/19/18
yellow diamondRosters: Added engineering drawings for steam shovel #3, Jordan spreader #3, ditcher #103, track driver 6 and 7, 15 ton crane #2, Hart convertible car 1700 series, western air dump car 400 series, coal car 4000 series, automobile car 1100 series, portable outfit car bodies 1-P to 64-P, mail & baggage cars #51 and #52, passenger car #50, passenger cars #81 and #82, passenger cars #61-64, caboose 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, caboose 1017, hot car 900 series and hot cars 71-79 - 1/14/18
yellow diamondNews: Taskforce to assess new commuter rail service in Alaska - 1/19/18
yellow diamondRosters: Curt Fortenberry caught a northbound oil train (OX) at the Mears Memorial Bridge - 1/16/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Freight 130N Beach Lake Road- 1/15/18
yellow diamondRosters: Equipment Rosters: Locomotive data including engineering drawings from 2/14/96 - 1/14/18
yellow diamondRosters: Equipment Rosters: ARRC Equipment circular revised 7/8/04 - 1/14/18
yellow diamondRosters: Equipment Rosters: A 1996 Freight Car Active Listing - 1/14/18
yellow diamondRosters: Equipment Rosters: Many thanks to Randy Thompson for providing a May 27, 1955 freight car roster which is a gold mine for the late steam era rolling stock! - 1/14/18
yellow diamondHistorical: Set up links to the Alaska Railroad Record which reported on construction of the railroad between 1916-1920 - 1/11/18
yellow diamondNews: Governor orders new commuter rail study for Valley-Anchorage commuters - 1/10/18
yellow diamondNews: Flooring to be replaced in passenger car ultradomes - 1/10/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Graffiti visiting from the lower 48 - 1/8/18
yellow diamondLinks: Casey Durand sent us in links for Leo King's photo collection in color and black and white - 1/7/18
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Stephen Low and Dick Morris for providing historical information on the Lima Loco 2-8-0 numbers 401 and 402. - 1/6/18
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer provided us with a new photo and status of GE 80 tonner 1650 - 1/6/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: Engine 557 Annual Fund Raiser a Huge Success ! The annual fund raising drive to return 557 to the rails was successful beyond all expectations. President/Project Manager Patrick Durand's thank you letter give details.  For more information on the restoration, including the most current status report, or to contribute to 557's restoration either on-line of by mail go to the Engine 557 Restoration Company Web Page. - 1/6/18
yellow diamondRosters: Dick Morris add information to the complete locomotive roster on steam locomotive #285. "Scrapped during FY 1944 (July 1943-June 1944) on account of being worn out. This is per the ARR 1944 annual report." - 1/6/18
yellow diamondStrange Freight: John Stutz updated the information on Ken Cringan photo of a WWII Marine Corps amphibious tracked landing vehicle - 1/6/18
yellow diamondRosters: John Stutz provided use with some historical information on the Mann-McCann spreader - 1/6/18
yellow diamondAdmin: Sorry! I've got a bit behind in my updates due to flu and first cancer immunotherapy treatment. - 1/6/18
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The December Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 1/3/18
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Snowfleet at Broad Pass - 1/1/18
yellow diamondAdmin: Happy New Year! - 1/1/18

BACK

© 1997-2018 John Combs unless otherwise noted