Alaska Railroad News Archives

Ski Train to Curry will return in March after a year's hiatus - 8/31/10 Anchorage Daily News By MIKE CAMPBELL

A rollicking winter tradition, the Anchorage Ski Train, will roll down the tracks to Curry in March after a one-year hiatus. The Nordic Ski Association announced that the popular train, which quickly sells out most years, will leave for Curry on March 19. Tickets go on sale Oct. 1. [See story]

Fairbanks borough, Alaska Railroad stall on Ice Park lease - 8/31/10 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner by Amanda Bohman

FAIRBANKS — Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins told the Borough Assembly on Thursday that negotiations with the Alaska Railroad Corp. over the lease for the Ice Park are at an impasse. The main issue is who will accept the liability in the event of an accident. Neither the railroad nor the borough are willing to accept the risk. [See story]

Alaska Railroad hires contractor to begin work on Delta Junction extension - 8/20/10 From Trains Newswire

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Railroad has hired a contractor to begin work on the first phase of an 80-mile extension from its current terminus at North Pole, Alaska. First-phase work includes land acquisition, material procurement, and construction of a bridge over the Tanana River near Salcha, Alaska. Alaska is pushing the extension primarily to serve military bases at Fort Greely and the Joint Tanana Training Complex. Work on the first phase is to begin late this year. Alaska will use $104 million from the Department of Defense and $40 million in money from the state legislature to fund the extension. Kiewit Pacific Co. has been chosen to complete the first phase. For more information on the Northern Rail Extension project, visit http://www.northernrailextension.com/. .

Arctic Thunder to continue after 4 died Fallen guardsmen - 8/6/10 Anchorage Daily News By LISA DEMER

The investigation is just beginning into what caused a Boeing C-17 to crash and burn on Elmendorf Air Force Base on Wednesday evening, killing all four crew members and damaging nearby Alaska Railroad tracks that carry passenger and freight trains. Despite the deaths, the hugely popular Arctic Thunder air show and open house will go on this weekend, officials announced Thursday afternoon. [See story]

MP15 status - 8/6/10 Submitted by John Taubeneck, our ever vigilant northwest coast correspondent

[From a 7/24/10 email]: I don't get down to Harbor Island every day any more but I try to keep an eye out. There has been a lot of rail going north. Last Saturday I was down in Tacoma and noticed the four ARR switchers that came through Seattle a few months ago. They are setting at the former CEECO locomotive rebuild facility. The sign now says "Progressive". .