I first spotted Brian's Alaska Railroad photos on Facebook in January of 2019 and immediately began corresponding with him. His photo of the Denali Star at Bison Gulch completely mesmerized me! In one of his messages, he said, "I live on the HAP property 11 miles south, first property on the west side of the road coming south out of the slide area in the canyon. The trains all signal right across from me as they enter and leave park and wind around mount Healy. Best porch view around!"

I wanted to link up and spend time with him. He graciously modified his work schedule so he could meet us at the Denali Park depot and spend time with Terry and me. We did some railfanning, flower photography, berry tasting and even met Emmett, his friendly German Sheppard. We finished the day with dinner at Clear Sky Lodge Bar & Grill and went four wheeling to his super secret train spotting location overlooking the Nenana River.

In 2024 Terry and I had lunch at the magnificent Kenai Princess Lodge (KPL), where Brian worked as the head of maintenance. Unfortunately, his time was limited, but it was indeed great visiting with our dear friend.

Brian's passing on February 10, 2025 came as a complete shock to me. I am still trying to get more information into the circumstances.

Brian LeRoy links found on this site:

• Fairbanks coal train for loading at the Usibelli tipple
• Tail end of the work train heading north
• Usibelli Coal Mine tipple (4/14/21) as the Fairbanks coal train was loaded
• North bound Denali Star (1, 2, 3, 4) meandering along the Nenana around Mount Healy
• Sunset on The Bridge at Nenana
• Work train as it pulls into Denali National Park to tie up for the night (1, 2)
• Spectacular videos
  • Northbound Denali Star at Bison Bridge MP-353.8 7/5/20
  • PTC train also north bound crossing under the Parks Highway near the north end of Broad Pass 7/10/20
  • Work train heading north near Denali national Park (6/25/21)
  • No. 4328 pulling the Denali Star (8/17/23)
• No. 4317 meandering her way through Healy Canyon along side the Nenana river just as she crosses Bison Gulch
• Potassium nitrate delivery along Healy Spur Road
• The winter passenger train with several gondolas added for the U.S. Air Force added to the end makes its way through Nenana Canyon at Bison Bridge
• SD70MAC #4319 doing its impersonation of a steamer in -20 degree temperatures
• North bound AuRoRa looking rather festive this evening. Riley Creek Trestle
• High rail maintenance vehicle heading south out of Cantwell 
• Making its way under Windy Bridge, location of the old Moody tunnel, I caught a work train (1, 2) last night
• Denali Star train rounding the final bend before reaching the Denali National Park depot, it’s being led by 4328 in its Bold new 100 year anniversary paint scheme.
• Captures a maintenance of way crew returning from Nenana canyon
• Freight train passing through snowy Nenana Canyon
• Denali Star around mile 351 directly across from Dragonfly Creek falls 
• Southbound passenger train crossing Riley Creek trestle 
• Trip journal, July 31, 2021
• Trip journal, June 24, 2018

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