Blue Ice And Golden Leaves
Really, where else but Alaska can you get a view like this on train? The Alaska Railroad's sole Colorado Railcar built DMU poses in the middle of the famed Grandview loop at about MP 48, arguably the most scenic point on the entire Alaska Railroad mainline....which is saying quite a lot on this railroad of endless superlatives!
Here in the apex of twin 14 degree reverse curves in the midst of a 3% ruling grade the railroad comes within less than 300 yards from the face of Bartlett Glacier, named in 1907 by Alaska Central Railroad (Alaska Railroad predecessor) civil engineer Frank Bartlett.
I probably should have titled this photo "Can you believe I get paid to do this!?" On Thursday the 29th the U.S. Forest Service needed to take a dozen people in to inspect their construction sites at Spencer and Grandview where they are building a series of "whistle stops" and trails only accessible by rail. Since I hadn't been in there in a while I was real interested to see the progress as this is a real exciting project that should draw a lot more people to the railroad. Also, I talked to the Alaska Railroad's head of passenger marketing about posing the DMU for some promotional shots for future railroad Public Relations use since we weren't on a schedule and there were no conflicting train movements. All in all a great day out on the railroad visiting with employees, our Forest Service partners, and enjoying the stunning fall scenery.
If you would like to learn more about the Chugach National Forest's Whistle Stop project in conjunction with the Alaska Railroad please click on this link.
Addendum: alas the propulsion system just wasn't up to the task and the Glacier Discovery became much more popular and outgrew the seat capacity of 751 alone so while it remains in daily service today it is only used as a cab control car on the expanded locomotive hauled train that makes this run all summer long.
Grandview Loops
Chugach National Forest, Alaska
Thursday September 29 , 2011
