Streamliner Pioneers and the dome car...

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by passengerfan

The Alaska Railroad still operates P/S, Budd and AC&F short domes and the tour operators operators operate a number of new domes and one still operates a couple of the former Santa Fe Big Domes.
The BNSF operate two full domes one ex GN the other ex AT&SF in their business fleet. The UP operate a number of Dome Coaches, diners and lounges in their business fleet and many tourist roads operate a number of domes as well as private operators and private owners even the American European Express has a couple of domes. As far as car type goes their are probably more surviving dome type cars than just about any other type. Even one of the former SP 3/4 length domes is now operating on the Panama Railroad in daily service. Many in the US are available for charter and others are even in stationary use like those at the BNSF headquarters in Fort Worth. Lots of domes still around if one wants to look for them.

Alan, your comments about Alaska Railroad explains something else - I see ads for HO models of of the Alaska Railroad, operating with dome cars. Teh navy and yellow livery is quite striking. Two primary colors together often look good.

Did Amtrak never bother with pax services in Alaska, so the Alaska RR filled the gap?

Dave

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kozzie

QUOTE: Originally posted by passengerfan

The Alaska Railroad still operates P/S, Budd and AC&F short domes and the tour operators operators operate a number of new domes and one still operates a couple of the former Santa Fe Big Domes.
The BNSF operate two full domes one ex GN the other ex AT&SF in their business fleet. The UP operate a number of Dome Coaches, diners and lounges in their business fleet and many tourist roads operate a number of domes as well as private operators and private owners even the American European Express has a couple of domes. As far as car type goes their are probably more surviving dome type cars than just about any other type. Even one of the former SP 3/4 length domes is now operating on the Panama Railroad in daily service. Many in the US are available for charter and others are even in stationary use like those at the BNSF headquarters in Fort Worth. Lots of domes still around if one wants to look for them.

Alan, your comments about Alaska Railroad explains something else - I see ads for HO models of of the Alaska Railroad, operating with dome cars. Teh navy and yellow livery is quite striking. Two primary colors together often look good.

Did Amtrak never bother with pax services in Alaska, so the Alaska RR filled the gap?

Dave

Amtrak came into being because the 'Mainland' railroads were losing money on passenger service and want to get out of the business. Amtrak was the government's 'solution' to the problem.

Alaska Railroad was originally a governmental owned and operated railroad that has been privatized and can come close to break-even on its passenger service, which in a number of cases, is the only tranportation to some of the areas of service.

[Anonymous]

Railroads were given the option of paying to join Amtrak in 1970, in return for which they would get to get rid of their passenger operations. Several railroads in the lower 48 chose not to join and kept their own trains.
At the time, Alaska RR was government owned, and its passenger trains were considered an essential government service, so they had no incentive to join. And the ARR did not connect to any other US railroad, so they were not really part of the national network.

[passengerfan]

Passenger service in the winter in Alaska is not much but come summer it really comes to life. Their are at least four crusie ship operators that contract with the Alaska Railroad to carry their cars and the ARR equipment itself. The crusie ships dock at Seward foir the most part and the ARR provides connecting service to Anchorage. From Anchorage the ARR provides daily service to Fairbanks during the summer and this is where the majority of the crusie ship owned RR cars are operated. All of the cruise ship owned cars operate on the rear of the ARR train to Fairbanks and these cars are self contained providing meals as well as the upper level for viewing. Most of these cars are from Denver Railcar and are beautiful both inside and out with the newest ones having an elevator for handicapped passengers to be able to access both levels. The last cars are eighteen feet in height and the upper level is all glass enclosed for a view not to be forgotten.

[Kozzie]

Sounds like a terrific trip! I guess there would still be snow on the peaks, even in Summer...

The local folk would still need a rail service in Winter wouldn't they? Bring out the snow plows...

D

[espeefoamer]

In the winter there is one train a week.It runs Anchorage-Fairbanks on Saturday,and Fairbanks-Anchorage on Sunday.The train runs with one unit and two coaches.
It is an awesome trip.I was there in 2001,and loved every minute.Alaska Railroad operates several tours that include the train and several local sightseeing trips.These last from two days,to an entire week,covering the whole railroad.

[Kozzie]

Dan, how long does the Anchorage - Fairbanks trip take? Many stops en route?

Dave

[passengerfan]

Dave The trip between Anchorage and Fairbanks takes twelve hours in either direction during the summer. The train takes siding quite often for freights although the freights where the sidings are long enough go in the hole for the passenger trains. The longest stop is at Denali National Park where the passengers usually stretch their legs and Mount McKinley tallest mountain in the Northern Hemisphere is visible. I have never made a trip to alaska where I have not witnessed abundant wildlife. The Alaska Highway Patrol holds up traffic on the Alcan Highway to permit the migrating Caribou to cross the road. This happens twice a year. I personally wrecked two trucks hitting Moose in the Yukon territory when I drove truck to Alaska. My CB handle for a long time was Moose gooser. Later my boss bought me a rifle and told me it had to be cheaper to hunt moose with a rifle than my truck. After that my CB handle was rifleman.