The rails were three feet apart on a 10footwide road bed and meant lower construction costs. Beginning in skagaway, there are several different types of tours that you can take along this scenic line that was built in 1898 as transportation for tens of thousands of men and women on the hunt for gold in the canadian klondike. When the 110mile white pass and yukon railroad opened in 1900, it carried thousands of people from skagway, alaska to whitehorse in yukon, canada on their way to seek their fortune in the. Built in 1898 during the klondike gold rush, sit back as we take you on a journey to see our splendid panorama of mountains, glaciers. White pass railroad klondike gold rush historic railway. One of the most highlyrecommended and eagerly anticipated shore excursions on our alaskan cruise was the white pass and yukon route railway tour.
Its a must see web site for the historian and model railroader. Linking skagway, alaska with whitehorse, yukon this tiny railway carves and unbelievable path through a rugged coastal pass. The railroad said work on the acquisition began last september and was finalized in january. List of white pass and yukon route locomotives and cars. Aug 08, 2018 a white pass and yukon route railroad train in skagway in 2017. An isolated system, it has no direct connection to any other railroad. Books, videos and railroadiana railroadiana show categories default category applied filters. Ride the railway built of gold and step back in time to the days of the klondike gold rush.
Take an unforgettable journey aboard the scenic railway of the world to the white pass summit. Take a one hour scenic journey aboard the white pass railway from skagway then disembark for an eight mile roundtrip hike to laughton glacier for. An online railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used railroad books. The white pass summit excursion rises from skagway to the white pass summit, 2,865 feet 873 meters high, while the bennett scenic journey travels the length of lake bennett before arriving in the yukon territory, stopping in the old goldrush town of bennett station en route. This remains a definitive book on the history of this railroad. White pass, also known as the dead horse trail, elevation 873 m or 2,864 ft is a mountain pass through the boundary ranges of the coast mountains on the border of the u. Locomotives with dark grey have been scrapped, while locomotives with light grey have been either put on display, or sold to other railroads.
Set against the backdrop of the klondike gold rush and surrounded by the. The few flakes they found in bonanza creek in the klondike barely filled the spent cartridge of a winchester rifle. The skagway white pass railroad summit excursion is our most popular skagway excursion. The great klondike gold rush in the yukon and alaska started in 1896.
Built to bypassed the chilkoot pass trail into the yukon s interior, the railroad was successful in its effort. To bring up the rating, this book contains some great pictures with a historical outline. Amazing railway routes this powerpoint presentation was sent to me by a friend. Begin your excursion as you board the train in skagway and travel 20 miles from tidewater, to the summit of the white pass a 2,865foot elevation.
Completed in 1900, this narrowgauge railroad begins at the cruise pier where rail fans of all ages can board the vintage train for a breathtaking one and onehalf hour ascent to white pass summit and beyond. Sumpter valley then to the white pass and then back to sv. Ironically in the present time, the railroad now helped support the chilkoot pass hikers who needs a ride back to skagway after completing their hike. Apr 26, 2019 join a ride on the historic white pass and yukon railway in skagway as it travels thousand of feet up from the town to the pass and back down again. The white pass railroad is an excellent excursion in skagway. It was great to learn about the whole history of the railroad and the gold rush. Unfortunately by the time the railroad was finished. The white pass and yukon route railroad has had a large variety of locomotives and railroad cars white pass steam locomotives.
Sale of white pass and yukon route railroad finalized. The scenery is beautiful and the tour guide was very informative. White pass and yukon route railway depot klondike gold rush. Today, the white pass trail is one of four units in the klondike gold rush national historical park. Hundreds of titles available, most at discount prices.
Jan 28, 2008 amazing railway routes this powerpoint presentation was sent to me by a friend. Those taking the railroad from skagway to the 2,865foot white pass summit can get a glimpse of this romantic piece of railroad history. Come aboard and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the klondike gold rush and the construction of the white pass and yukon route railway. White pass and yukon route railway depot klondike gold. On a guided coach ride, stop for photos at scenic tormented valley and pitchfork falls. Travel to white pass summit in an 1898 vintage railcar along the narrow gauge railway. The epic construction and operation of the white pas and yukon route railway is legendary. By the time the railroad was completed in the summer of 1900 the rush was over, but the white pass route survived neva.
A white pass and yukon route railroad train in skagway in 2017. Beautiful scenery, good commentary on the way, and a delicious meal at the caribou crossing trading post, which has an excellent museum, mush dogs, and friendly helpful. Jan 26, 2007 an online railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used railroad books. The depot was, throughout most of its history, and certainly. Railroad pictorials, railroad history, steam locomotives, passenger trains, modern railroading. Trains magazine offers railroad news, railroad industry insight, commentary on todays freight railroads, passenger service amtrak, locomotive technology, railroad preservation and history, railfan opportunities tourist railroads, fan trips, and great railroad photography. Pacific rail news with the white pass, roy minter has written the definitive history of this extraordinary enterprise.
Getting to skagway and then over to dawson city will be much easier for me than it was for the original klondike gold rush stampeders who took the white pass railroad more than a century ago. White pass and yukon route book alaska shore excursions. Give me enough dynamite, and snoose, and ill build you a railroad to hell. The skagway historic district and white pass is a u. This fortymile round trip excursion climbs from tidewater at skagway to the summit of the white pass a 2,888foot elevation. We cover a wide variety of topics, including freight trains, passenger and commuter railroads, rail news and information, tourist railroads, railway museums and railroad. Experience the breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, trestles. The fully narrated tour passes through two tunnels, over skyhigh trestles and cascading waterfalls. The white pass and yukon follows a path originally laid out by george brackett, a former construction engineer on the northern pacific railroad who built a 12mile toll road into the mountains in 1897. They would build a narrowgauge railroad to climb from the tidewater at skagway up the steep mountain to white pass summit. The tight curves of the white pass called for a narrow gauge railroad.
Built in 1898 during the klondike gold rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an international historic civil engineering landmark. Class ii 3 ft 914 mm narrowgauge railroad linking the port of skagway, alaska, with whitehorse, the capital of yukon. It leads from skagway, alaska, to the chain of lakes at the headwaters of the yukon river, crater lake, lake lindeman, and bennett lake. New riches along the white pass and yukon route bbc. Ironically in the present time, the railroad now helped support the chilkoot pass hikers who needs a ride back to. A history of yukon river steam navigation harbour publishing, madeira park, b. The white pass and yukon follows a path originally laid out by george. White pass and yukon route railway tour alaskan cruise. Most of the original trail has been disturbed throughout the years from the construction of the railway, highway, and river system. The railroad said work on the acquisition began last september and was finalized in. No idea who created it but would love to acknowledge the author. After an allnight conversation, the white pass yukon railroad was born.
White pass to buy new locomotives, retire most shovel nose. Join a ride on the historic white pass and yukon railway in skagway as it travels thousand of feet up from the town to the pass and back down again. History of the white pass trail klondike gold rush. From there, the train would continue into the yukon territory to carcross, the end of the line. Cohen 1980, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The white pass railroad was built in 1898 during the klondike gold rush, by wouldbe miners making their way to the gold fields in the yukon.
The train shoppe skagway united states alaska afar. White pass and yukon railroad detail quick pic books by. File photo by emily fileskhns skagways white pass and yukon route railroad has new owners and a new president. With more than 125 spectacular historic photographs, fascinating anecdotes and personal accounts, this book is an essential keepsake. Jan 02, 20 with more than 125 spectacular historic photographs, fascinating anecdotes and personal accounts, this book is an essential keepsake. Steamstern wheel boat 1937 ss klondike national historic site, whitehorse, yukon length 210 ft. Cohen 1980, paperback at the best online prices at. On may 28, 1898, construction began on the narrow gauge railroad. The number of tourists or excursionists increased, especially during the grand ocean cruise days of the 1920s and 1930s. Join us 121 years later as we take you on a journey to see our splendid panorama of mountains, glaciers and gorges. The southern end of the klondike highway also uses the white pass and parallels the railway. Built to bypassed the chilkoot pass trail into the yukons interior, the railroad was successful in its effort.
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