Trackside with Trains Vol. 251: "Mountain backdrops" is LIVE

[D-Halv]

Vote for your favorite photo here: http://trn.trains.com/photos-videos/trackside/2015/01/mountain-backdrop

[cx500]

Went with Alex Mays.  Kirk's needed something brighter than Amtrak blue and gray; I had to look twice to spot the train.

[saldana17]

I also chose Alex Mayes photo because we are in "Snow Season" now and I like BNSF. Good multi power and not a dark photo.

[mike_ruby]

A selfish choice this time, Bryan Bechtold's reminds me of my first view of the Canadian Rockies after leaving Calgary on the Canadian many years ago.

[Murphy Siding]

     A question about one of the photos-Chris Paulhamus are you listening?  The Alaska Railroad shot shows a train pulling export coal from Anchorage over a big grade to Seward.  Isn't Anchorage Alaska's biggest port?  Is there no coal loading facility there?

[Lear35A]

I am listening (or, rather, reading)!  First, thanks to all who have voted for my photo this week...hoping we can make it across the finish line a little better than the last Trackside contest!

But to answer your question, Anchorage is in fact the largest port in Alaska, but there is not a coal facility located there.  I'm not sure why Seward was ultimately chosen or even when, but I do know that Anchorage is a rather shallow port and tends to ice up in the winter (in addition to dealing with crazy tides).  Seward (and Whittier) are deep(er) water ports and are typically ice-free year-round.

The Alaska Railroad is building a rail extension to Point Mackenzie, which is across the Knik Arm from Anchorage.  They are building a modern port over there which will have a bit deeper water with which to work (not sure how they'll deal with the ice situation though).  I'm not sure of the final plans, but if there is an expansion in coal production/export in Alaska, I have read that some of that coal may go to Point Mackenzie.  But I think the plans to expand coal have hit a snag, so who knows.  I do know that some in Seward are not fans of having a coal facility in their town because of the coal dust it produces.

I'm sure someone else has more insight into the port situation in Alaska, but the one thing I do know, the rail extension to Point Mackenzie will be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay less photogenic than the line to Seward!

[Murphy Siding]

     Thanks for the response.  I was born in Palmer and went to grade school in Chugiak.  I remember taking a field trip to the dock area in Anchorage.  That's what made me wonder why there would be no coal dock there.