Snow Fleet Southbound On this frosty winter morning the Alaska Railroad dispatched their 'Snow Fleet' work extra consisting of bought new GP40-2s 3006 and 3008 pushing Spreader 9 (custom built by Harsco/Jordan for the railroad in 2000) south to Portage to begin opening up the railroad to Seward. For the first time in perhaps the entire history of the railroad the southern end of the ARR's mainline from Portage to Seward had been out of service for months through most of the winter since the final coal train had run the prior spring. After that sad slumber it was being prepped to open up for some lumber trains that would load out in Seward and move north later in the month. They are seen passing through the treacherous slide zone 72 south of Girdwood, but have no need to work here since this stretch had been kept open all winter for traffic to and from Whittier. But in about 17 miles they will be deep into the snow with their work cut out for them as they begin the process of cleaning the pass through the Kenai Mountains over Grandview Summit. South of Girdwood, Alaska |
