Harding Car

 

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Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, September 1, 2007
Photos courtesy of James Coy

 

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Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, April 2021
Photos courtesy of Mark Gerenday

This is the original observation car Denali also known as The Harding Car. The Denali was originally owned by the Great Northern Railway and was purchased by the AEC in 1922. The Denali was part of the consist that carried President Harding in 1923 to drive the golden spike and this was the car he rode in.

I grabbed these a couple of weeks ago during my whirl wind trip along the rail belt. The car is located in Pioneer Park/Alaskaland in Fairbanks. There are only three classic observation cars in Alaska, DENALI or Old Man to some, the Harding Car, and the SEWARD. The YUKON does exist though it was used as riprap along the OOS portion of the Sutton Branch. KENAI is supposedly along the same grade though it is yet to be found. I left out the AURORA for various reasons since it's a modern car. 04/21/2021.