John's Alaska Railroad Guestbook

Submitted by
Name: james coy
From: AUSTRALIA
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
So John haven't been on here in years and could not help myself .Had to go find all my photos on your Great page and looked and looked to find the old car at the
park in Fairbanks Denali car Harrison I have great no FANTASTIC memories of your GREAT LAND...See you. all the best.

Added: February 16, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Filippo Zandonà
From: Italy

Comments:
John, your site on ARR is really an amazing job and full of surprises ... really an inspiration for my dream to write a book about railroad mountain!

Added: February 13, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Ivar Aas
From: Norway
Website: http://ivar-aas.wix.com/ivars-mj
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Very good and interesting side about the ARR.
Fine to have a place to check out what happend, and get background stuff for my garden railroad under construction.
Many good and historical pictures.

Added: February 12, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Andrew J. Clark
From: Quitman, TX
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Wonderful Wonderful... My Son Eric, who lives in Soldotna sent me your Web site address and I have spent hours reading about the old times on the ARR.

I worked for the ARR from 1948 until I retired in 1977 but those were the best years of my life.. It was a good country for two Sons to be raised in.

Thank you for all the enjoyment you have given others and the work you have done.
Andy

Added: January 29, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Todd Hardesty
From: Anchorage, Alaska

Comments:
Hi John. Thanks for your help in researching Alco-Brooks 102 of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad. Very fun to identify the locomotive in the photo I found. Very best wishes,

Todd

Added: January 23, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Nancy
From: Nampa, ID (Originally Seward, AK)
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Hi John
Just learned today of your site & work. Forwarded by a childhood friend. We grew up together in Seward, AK.

His father worked for the Alaska R/R & my parents leased space from the railroad & ran a diner/coffee shop for the longshoremen on the dock.

My parents went to Seward from CA in 1952. Not sure exactly when they started the Dock Coffee Shop but it was in operation until March 27, 1964 when it was destroyed by the earthquake & tidal waves. My father & sister had just returned home from the Dock when the earthquake hit.

After the railroad built the new dock my parents were given the lease to open the Coffee shop. Mother ran it until her death in 1986.
The railroad is more than just rails.

Our picture is in the July, 1964 National Geographic Edition we are in a soup line..."the homeless & dispossed..."

My childhood friends & I have other stories should you be interested.
Blessings,
N

Added: December 25, 2014

Submitted by
Name: William Ward
From: Grew up in Anchorage
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Dad worked for the ARR for 38 years, retired as Chief Comptroller, 1965.

Added: September 8, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Kristina Davison
From: Arizona
Website: http://facebook.com/kkedavison
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Hi John,

I am an ARR daughter -- my dad was Robert Davison, and I hung around him and his close buddies Don Prince, Albert Bailey, and Bones every time my dad took me to his cabin up there. Slats was my Dad's nickname.... I was quite young when he passed and hadn't asked about his life before I arrived... but if I run across any photos or remember anything I will post here.

I have a personal memory though... and personal pictures. My dad was such a RRer at heart..we would hike out of our cabin and stop at a MP and wave our red flag and they'd ario for us as we loaded all our equipment. Dad was so proud to have been part of the ARR... I'll send on a picture of my "driving" the train

Added: August 18, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Stan Bissonette
From: Anchorage, Alaska
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
John, This is a fine web site of our Alaska Railroad, I have been a fan & observer of the Alaska Railroad since 1949 when I lived on Government hill & would set there & watch the Engines come & go on the old turntable roundhouse.
I have been a member of the Military Society of Model Railroad Engineers for 29 years now.
I have been given the task of researching the 3 paint scheme's of the Alaska Railroad. How they came about & the dates of each. I find no where else on how to get in touch with you except here. I work with Pat Durrand on the 557, but he is usually too busy to just set & talk. can you help me in this project. If you can give me your phone number, I will call & talk to you.
Thank you for your time & I hope to hear back from you soon.
Stan Bissonette
Anchorage, Alaska
907-344-8168

Added: July 10, 2014

Submitted by
Name: JoAnn Gronskei
From: AZ
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Thank you!! Anxious to meander around your website. Haven't checked the history part yet, but was married to Robert W Davison ... He worked for ARR for over 30 years.

Added: June 20, 2014