What's New - 2021 Archive

yellow diamondModeling: Barge work is now finished on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. Grandsons make another invasion on the layout. - 12/30/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's land of the midnight sun - 12/28/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The end of the line - 12/27/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Holiday Cheer In The Last Frontier - 12/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: I created a new roster section called gas cars which consolidates all the related links on my website. I also added a 1944 gas car roster to it. Lastly, a gentleman is trying to find out information on gas car #767 which he recently purchased. Can you help? - 12/24/21
yellow diamondModeling: Rick finishes work on the barge and brings it in for final testing on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. Hopper cars are tweaked, an elevation kink is fixed at the east end of the swing gate and a faulty wire is replaced. - 12/23/21
yellow diamondRosters: Living the stuff railfan dreams are made of Dave Blazejewski captures an active snowfleet on Winging on Top of the World - 12/22/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday's Clearing the Path - 12/22/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller captures a lengthy Coastal Classic as it rolls through Brookman and a spectacular start to the 2016 passenger season - 12/22/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: News flash! Santa upgrades his sleigh to an SD70MAC - 12/20/21
yellow diamondRosters: SD70MAC #4327 and GP40 #3015 in the Anchorage yard - 12/17/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Geeps on high and Northbound snow fleet - 12/17/21
yellow diamondModeling: Rick continues works on barge motorization while the crew troubleshoots two trouble locations on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 12/16/21
yellow diamondRosters: Master photographer Kevin Burkholder catches 125N along Turnagain Arm as well as at TwentyMile bridge - 12/14/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller captures a MOW rip rap train in Delivering the Goods - 12/14/21
yellow diamondHistorical: Many thanks to Clytie Alaimo for allowing me to post these photos taken by her late father-in-law, Francis S. Alaimo. Francis was a first generation Italian American who took the trip to Alaska from Chicago with his brother sometime between 1950-53. They were both WWII veterans. - 12/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Presented in a larger format Rusty Wendlandt catches a northbound freight in Palmer - 12/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand is helping to fatten up the rosters with his photos of #1503 - 12/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer provides us with some photos from May 1986 - an RDC at Willow, northbound passenger and freight trains at Willow and gondola #13203 - 12/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: The Whittier shuttle - 12/13/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The Holiday Train - 12/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's Night Moves and the snowfleet coming around the wye at Healy - 12/12/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday shares an Al Chione photo of #1516 as part of an ABA consist in Fairbanks and Alan Miller's #570 (#1714) - 12/12/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Jonathan Fischer catches RDC numbers 702 and 7011 on a commuter route on the southwest side of Portland, Oregon - 12/12/21
yellow diamondModeling: Rick works on barge motorization while the crew troubleshoots a 26-car hopper consist on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 12/9/21
yellow diamondRosters: Rusty Wendlandt catches GP38-2 2002 crossing Post Road with a car headed to Alaska Mill and Feed - 12/7/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's Riley Creek and Winter Wonderland - 12/7/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Winging It and Winter Wonderland - 12/7/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Northbound freight in Wasilla - 12/6/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The November Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 12/2/21
yellow diamondModeling: Rick works on the barge while the crew tackles car weight issues on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 12/2/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: 557 Restoration Company selling HO scale collection to raise funds: This HO scale train collection was donated by the Hal Smith estate. He was more of a collector than an operator so many items saw little or no use. You will find the current listing here. Condition is a subjective judgement but I can tell you there is NO JUNK HERE. I believe the prices are more than fair. Always use the most current listing available at alaskarails.org. Note these are private sales and are not to be considered “tax deductible donations”. All proceeds go directly to Engine 557 Restoration Company which is a 501 (C) 3 non profit EIN#46-2663256. - 12/2/21
yellow diamondHistorical: Many thanks to Cheryl Laffranchi for allowing me to share her Healy and Suntrana historical photos - 11/30/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's And so it begins - 11/30/21
yellow diamondVideo: A small clip of a freight train under darkness near Anchorage - 11/30/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Frosty morning tracks - 11/29/21
yellow diamondVideo: Great video showing how Anchorage Sand and Gravel gets gravel from Palmer by train and hauled off by local trucks for Anchorage building projects. - 11/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand catches Municipal Solid Waste containers - 11/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Three SD70MACs at the Anchorage fuel racks - 11/26/21
yellow diamondHistorical: Mike Gerenday shares some history from Chickaloon, Sutton and Jonesville - 11/26/21
yellow diamondModeling: Rick works on the barge and track electrical conductivity, David paints Alaska Mill and Feed on the backdrop and John paints the southern end of the Anchorage yard on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 11/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess's Aurora Winter Train - 11/23/21
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand shares January 2013 photos of adding reinforcements to the bridge across Ship Creek at the South end of the Yard - 11/23/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday's Turnin' Round the Wye. - 11/23/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Rusty Wendlandt's scrapping the British Columbia Railway cement hoppers (taken with permission on private property) - 11/23/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Alaska State Fair train - 11/22/21
yellow diamondModeling: David continues work on painting Alaska Mill and Feed, Rick works on the barge and its loading tracks while John paints AM-1 numbers on snap switch connectors on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 11/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dick Morris sends us three photos of steam locomotive #403 in its previous life on the Claiborne and Polk Railroad. - 11/16/21
yellow diamondModeling: Work continues on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. The south end of the Anchorage yard gets some touch up work while Rick continues with his barge work. - 11/16/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Aurora winter train - 11/15/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's bringing up the rear and Bill Hess's the elusive 1092 - 11/9/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The October Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 11/9/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Dumping coal in Seward - 11/8/21
yellow diamondModeling: Preparing to paint Alaska Mill and Feed on the backdrop, running new ballast hoppers, hanging the Tour Alaska Herald, replacing passenger car couplers and installing the Tortoise on the south Anchorage Yard mainline on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 11/4/21
yellow diamondRosters: J. Waide helps us fatten up our SD70MAC rosters with numbers 4005, 4008 and 4011 - 11/3/21
yellow diamondRosters: Paris and the Alaska Railroad - 11/3/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess catches the winter Aurora at Sunshine Crossing - 11/3/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's photos the new 186XX flat cars and Dawn's Early Light - 11/3/21
yellow diamondHistorical: Daniel Osborne provided us a New York Times article of Harding driving the golden spike - 11/3/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: This Budd is for you - 11/1/21
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad rescinds COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all employees, for now - 10/28/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's photo of a pair of cabooses bring up the rear of the company work train at Healy - 10/28/21
yellow diamondModeling: Work continues on the high speed switch at the south end of the Anchorage yard on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 10/28/21
yellow diamondVideo: Model railroad video of four DMU'ed SD70MACs pulling a 47 coal car consist - 10/27/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Casey Durand's photos of cement and HLMX hoppers - 10/26/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger:  Rusty Wendlandt adds photos of hoppers 16332 and 62055, gondola 13306, and Fairbanks Facilities Maintenance Department and Car Shop - 10/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Rusty Wendlandt's eye-popping photos of the company work train - 10/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday provides brief histories of gas cars, Union tank car and USRA hoppers on the Alaska Railroad - 10/25/21
yellow diamondVideo: Check out Rusty Wendlandt's video on the yard job switching out Univar and AK Steel in the midnight sun. - 10/25/21
yellow diamondBibliography: You'll want to pick up Railroads Illustrated Annual 2021 for Frank Keller's article on Alaska Railroad's Passenger Trains. - 10/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many, many thanks to Daniel Osborne for providing us with a photo of locomotive #11. Only 38 more and I will have a photo of every locomotive on the Alaska Railroad's roster. - 10/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: I love Bill Hess's photo of the work train at Montana Creek bridge. It gives a great perspective of the bridge as well as the work crew. - 10/25/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: B&B 6 at Montana Creek Bridge - 10/25/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Many thanks to Rusty Wendlandt for trying to swamp me with photos. Here are his photos of spine cars and fire suppression tank cars. - 10/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: Rusty Wendlandt's photos of GP38 #2005 in Fairbanks, #2005 and coal hoppers in Fairbanks, Fairbanks locomotive shop, Fairbanks freight house and hopper #16226. - 10/21/21
yellow diamondModeling: Work begins on the new high speed switch at the south end of the Anchorage yard on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 10/21/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Slide zone - 10/18/21
yellow diamondVideo: Review of Casey Durand's HO scale resin Alaska Railroad GP-49 and Alaska Railroad GP38-2 2002 APU spur setting out a car at Alaska Mill and feed in the midnight sun by Rusty Wendlandt - 10/17/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller is Living the Dream! - 10/15/21
yellow diamondHistorical: An equipment roster letter dated 1/24/1918 - 10/15/21
yellow diamondModeling: Grandsons invade my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. Rick continues to work on the barge as well as looking into a replacement for the south main Anchorage yard turnout. - 10/14/21
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand provides photos of the new Progress Rail Ballast Regulator #32 and the ancient Ballast Regulator #16 - 10/13/21
yellow diamondModeling: Bowser has released HO 70-Ton ballast car with side chutes, no. 14903, 14912 and 14909. You can purchase them here. - 10/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller catches a freight train as it crosses Indian Creek heading for Whittier - 10/13/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The Aurora at Talkeetna - 10/11/21
yellow diamondHistorical: My mailman almost got a hernia from delivering the 10 pound box of historical Alaska Railroad paperwork sent by my dear friend Randy Thompson. Some of these papers are dated as far back as 1924. I'll scan them in as my time allows. for now here is a teaser called Engine Failures (1, 2) from 1924. I received a bit of an education myself as I did not know the railroad ever rostered 52 or 151. - 10/10/21
yellow diamondRosters: Max and Mary Poppins - 10/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's A Simple Portrait and That Sky - 10/7/21
yellow diamondModeling: Rick rips off existing barge rails and begins installing new ones on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. David begins painting the backdrop for TwentyMile bridge. - 10/7/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Casey Durand for help in fattening up the leased locomotives roster: #3878, #4400, #4403, #4404, #4408, #4411 and #4414 - 10/6/21
yellow diamondRosters: Added Mary Bryan's photos of pipe coming out of Seward to Erik Moore photo set - 10/5/21
yellow diamondNews: Whistle Hill makes two additions - 10/4/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: No. 4007 pulling a gravel train over the Northern Lights Benson overpass on a crisp fall morning - 10/4/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The September Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 10/3/21
yellow diamondRosters: Erik Moore captures some great photos of unloading pipe in Seward - 10/2/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: The Alaska Railroad has purchased a brand new Ohio locomotive crane #112 - 10/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: Robert Krol snaps six pix of MOW equipment at Portage - 10/1/21
yellow diamondRosters: Shane Durand provides us with current photos of SD70MACs 4014 and 4323 - 10/1/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: 186XX Series Flatcars with 53' Container and 129XX Series Flatcars with 53' Container - 10/1/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: CEI scraps the 19XXX flatcars - 10/1/21
yellow diamondModeling: Whittier barge rails are in need of work on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout - 10/1/21
yellow diamondNews: Kashwitna #1058 to be repainted - 10/1/21
yellow diamondAdmin: As Alaska photographer Bill Hess stated, "Nothing like traveling... and nothing like coming home again!" My wife and I put 4,080 miles on the car touring our beautiful country from Clayton, Ohio to Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas. It was two fabulous weeks of fun, but now it is time to put my nose to the grindstone and work on this website! - 10/1/21
yellow diamondModeling: Backdrop painting and barge platform support for my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout - 9/16/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: Video of 557 in Whittier for its journey to Wasilla for rebuilding - 9/14/21
yellow diamondRosters: Undated photo of the Cantwell Section - 9/14/21
yellow diamondRosters: Brian Reed captures a series of photos of GP40 #4902 switching out coal cars at Eielson power plant and switching in Fairbanks - 9/14/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Your next three Pictures of the Week - 9/13/21
yellow diamondVideo: Casey Durand catches speeder operators on video near Anchorage - 9/12/21
yellow diamondRosters: Matt Leistico captures a Trackmobile Hercules CM-6 - 9/12/21
yellow diamondModeling: Backdrop painting, barge installation, mountain building, cold air return hole cutting and tours are all happening my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 9/11/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller shares a photo of a freight train headed north to Anchorage near MP 72 - 9/8/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Spreading ballast on the Palmer Branch - 9/6/21
yellow diamondModeling: Backdrop painting, first round of scenery, Keep-Alives, cold air return holes and couplers are all happening my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 9/3/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The August Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 9/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: The prolific Dave Blazejewski shares Something Different, Southbound Mixed Over The Knik and The Venerable F40 - 9/1/21
yellow diamondRosters: The amazing Bill Hess and his drone Sancho captures the flag at half mast, the northbound freight at the Dog Wash and one of my all-time favorites the accidental video - 9/1/21
yellow diamondRailfan stops: Whistle Hill: With a mixture of vintage train cars, modern food & coffee preparation, hitching posts and Tesla charging stations, we aim to balance the old and the new into creating an unforgettable experience. Featuring an espresso shop, restaurant, gift shop and art gallery, as well as a hydroponic farm, Whistle Hill is Soldotna's newest destination development that provides a meeting place for locals and visitors alike. Make sure and watch "The Making of Whistle Hill." - 8/30/21
yellow diamondRosters: More Dave Blazejewski submissions: Reflecting On Three Decades, Railroading Under The Midnight Sun and Around the Loop - 8/31/21
yellow diamondRosters: It's about time I posted a current photo of GP40 #3004! I added Robert Krol's photo of #3004 at Portage to the current roster. - 8/31/21
yellow diamondRailfan stops: Whistle Hill: With a mixture of vintage train cars, modern food & coffee preparation, hitching posts and Tesla charging stations, we aim to balance the old and the new into creating an unforgettable experience. Featuring an espresso shop, restaurant, gift shop and art gallery, as well as a hydroponic farm, Whistle Hill is Soldotna's newest destination development that provides a meeting place for locals and visitors alike. Make sure and watch "The Making of Whistle Hill." - 8/30/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: In June 1985 Jonathan Fischer was exploring the Birchwood yard and photographed various passenger cars. Can you identify the ones appear without numbers? - 8/30/21
yellow diamondRosters: Matt Leistico catches distributed power on a consist of empty hoppers crossing Ship Creek - 8/30/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: No. 3015 at TwentyMile Bridge - 8/30/21
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer captures #3009 leaving Fairbanks, #1512 & #1508, in work train service, tied up for the evening and #1802 and #1067 leading the Whittier Shuttle north for Anchorage - 8/29/21
yellow diamondVideo: An outstanding YouTube video on the Denali Star Goldstar Service Fairbanks to Anchorage - 8/29/21
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand documents the first appearance of the home built ballast spreader - 8/29/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Matt Leistico for sending us a photo of the Chugach Explorer #751 in Fairbanks - 8/29/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's latest submissions: A Difference Of Generations and Glass Out On Sitka Street - 8/28/21
yellow diamondRosters: Under the category of "sometimes you just get lucky" Rusty Wendlandt captures a call on the APU spur. - 8/28/21
yellow diamondModeling: A new Ultradome roams the rails on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. David paints details on mountains while Rick finishes the RailPro status panel. - 8/26/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Steve Katkus shares some recent interior/exterior photos of the Aurora car - 8/24/21
yellow diamondRosters: The magic of Bill Hess captures of the final sunbeams of the season - 8/23/21
yellow diamondRosters: Before F-7 #1530 called Alaska her home she belonged to the DRGW as #5654. Deane Motis captured her in full detail for your perusal. - 8/23/21
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer grabs two photos of ARR 1512 & 1508, in work train service, tied up for the evening - 8/23/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Fort Richardson Loop - 8/23/21
yellow diamondRosters: A few photos from the Fairbanks car shop in 2012 and GP40-2 3003 in the Anchorage shops - 8/20/21
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer captures ARR 1500, 1517 and 2402 on a southbound passenger train at Birchwood - 8/20/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Casey Durand records the end of the ex-Canadian National container flats 192XX - 8/20/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Mike Gerenday shares a hi-cube surprise - 8/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: Puppy Max. Miss any Max installments? If so, click here. - 8/19/21
yellow diamondModeling: Rick begins the effort of creating a RailPro status panel on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. We also have time to capture a few Ultradome passenger cat videos. - 8/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: It always brings me great joy to share Dave Blazejewski's top notch photos. Here is another fine selection: Big Country, Gold and Blues and Twisting towards Oliver - 8/18/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Denali National Park sunset - 8/16/21
yellow diamondModeling: David continues painting the inner scenery backdrop while Rick fixes Ultradome car uncoupling issues on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 8/15/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Loram RAILVAC™ Excavator train - 8/9/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's The Blues at Bird - 8/8/21
yellow diamondNews: State forestry and Nenana VFD snuff out small wildfire along Alaska Railroad tracks - 8/7/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The July Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 8/7/21
yellow diamondModeling: The final fix for the swing gate on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 8/5/21
yellow diamondAdmin: I just got back from a two week trip to Alaska. What an absolutely awesome adventure! I'll put stuff online slowly as time permits. - 8/3/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Here are the next three installments, hy-rail, Coastal Classic and Colony Christmas train - 7/19/21
yellow diamondModeling: Keep-Alives and electrical changes on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 7/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday provides photos and commentary regarding caboose #1043 - 7/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday visits the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry to get photos of Copper River Northwestern wooden box cars that found their way to the Alaska Railroad. - 7/11/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Loading ballast - 7/12/21
yellow diamondRosters: The story of Max and Indy - 7/11/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday captures photos of scrapping the British Columbia hoppers - 7/11/21
yellow diamondAdmin: Steve Katkus is asking if there is interest in a webcam. "You all want a webcam? If you want one done right with great tech support and standardized equipment to work seamlessly with a known streaming service, we need to pony up $5k for the equipment and professional installation and a tower. This is what Virtual RailFan has offered. Anyone want to help out and pitch in?" If you are interested send me an email and I will forward your email address on to Steve. - 7/9/21
yellow diamondBibliography:   Bill Hess just released his first children's book, "The Boy Who Loved Trains, Book I: Alaska" on Amazon, available in paperback and ebook formats. It tells the story of a boy whose love for trains becomes obvious as soon as he begins to walk and talk. You can purchase the book here. - 7/9/21
yellow diamondModeling: The construction of TwentyMile bridge has reached a great milestone! Additionally, Rick is working on a RailPro monitoring panel and the twin grandsons make a surprise visit on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 7/9/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's The One and Only - 7/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess provides a trifecta of photos - last night, the slippery slope and Newcomb Park - 7/6/21
yellow diamondVideo: Rusty Wendlandt captures the northbound freight 2x2 SD70MACs and Gleaner R76 and Brian LeRoy captures a work train heading north near Denali National Park - 7/5/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Work train near Denali NP - 7/5/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess catches a freight train meeting a work train in Palmer - 7/4/21
yellow diamondPeople's Creations: Check out Jeff McCrea's HO scale Jordan Spreader #10 - 7/4/21
yellow diamondNews: Alberta to Alaska rail project files for creditor protection after lender goes into receivership - 7/4/21
yellow diamondRosters: Matt Leistico captures a caboosed work train. Modelers should especially love this photo set as it shows some nice gondola loads. - 7/4/21
yellow diamondRosters: Steven J. Brown captures the RDC hanger queen. I also took the opportunity to rescan Tony Roof's photo of it as well. - 7/3/21
yellow diamondModeling: Grandsons, mountains and RailPro on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 7/1/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The June Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 7/1/21
yellow diamondModeling: Grandsons, mountains and RailPro on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 7/1/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The June Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 7/1/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess captures the Coastal Classic as it departs Seward - 6/30/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Special load - 6/28/21
yellow diamondModeling: David works on painting the inner scenery backdrop while Rick fixes locomotives and modifies the swing gate on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 6/25/21
yellow diamondNews: Thinking about renting a car for your Alaska trip? Think again! Renting a car is crazy! - 6/23/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Mike Gerenday presents an excellent photo commentary on Jordan Spreader #6 and locomotive cranes #56 and #57 - 6/23/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Military loads in Whittier - 6/21/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: No. 4016 in the Anchorage Yard - 6/14/21
yellow diamondModeling: Lots of train videos this week on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 6/12/21
yellow diamondRosters: I love this "in your face" super sized Steven Ogden photo of #4317 at the Anchorage depot. I think I will begin posting larger sized photos from now on. What about this one? Steve captures #4326 getting ready to head north. Now I got the itch. I'll post one more. Man, you can almost feel the water as the Coastal Classic crosses TwentyMile River. - 6/8/21
yellow diamondModeling: During the week I enjoyed running a variety of trains on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. During our weekly train night we chased a RailPro ghost and track tested a repaired locomotive headlight as well as a poorly rolling passenger car. - 6/7/21
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer takes us back to 1986 with GP40 #3010 loading passengers at Portage and the Whittier Shuttle heading toward Whittier - 6/7/21
yellow diamondModeling: Do you have any high resolution scans, original slides, negatives, or high resolution prints of the ARR 9010-9019 series GATC 1917-Design 10,000 gallon tank cars? If so, please send them to me as there is a manufacturer looking to create these tank cars. - 6/7/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Jerry Davis from the railroad after 36 years - 6/7/21
yellow diamondNews: Roadtrippin’: All aboard the train car cabin that’s oddly perfect for your stay in Homer - 6/6/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The May Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 6/6/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski captures The Saddest Train of All - 5/31/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess was told, "I just need to see your driver’s license." Also featured is The First Denali Star - 5/31/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Sunset at the Mears Memorial bridge in Nenana - 5/31/21
yellow diamondModeling: Some locomotive and switch repairs were needed on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. We also had fun running trains around the layout as well - 5/30/21
yellow diamondRosters: This photo of SD70MAC #4322 by Steven Ogden was so striking I decided to add it to the roster page. Enjoy! - 5/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Marty Bernard's photo of P-32 - 5/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Added two more photos of 2-6-0 #208 - 5/26/21
yellow diamondVideo: A good contemporary video of taking the Denali Star from Anchorage to Fairbanks - 5/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Here are photos of the remote controlled Tesoro Logistics (former Williams) Alco S-4 in the Anchorage diesel shop - 5/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Two marvelous Frank Keller photos of the freight to Fairbanks and a cruise train from the past - 5/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand documents the scrapping of the first of the British Columbia hoppers - 5/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Optical Illusion and Palmer Turn Turning - 5/25/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Denali Star at Ship Creek Avenue - 5/24/21
yellow diamondVideo: Mike Gerenday's video of a southbound freight at Mike Ardaw Crossing - 5/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Shuttle Reborn and ACVB Charter At Girdwood - 5/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: Steven Ogden shares photos of a Whittier southbound freight and an inbound Whittier freight. - 5/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Mike Gerenday for helping us update our passenger car roster with some current photos of 102, 110, 201, 523 and 751 - 5/21/21
yellow diamondNews: US House passes bill allowing large cruise ships to visit Alaska this summer; Biden expected to sign - 5/20/21
yellow diamondModeling: Several milestones were reached during the week on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. All sky and cloud paintings are complete on the inner scenery backdrop. Additionally, all 24 locomotives are operational and traverse the layout smoothly. - 5/20/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday snags a refreshingly unique photo of the northbound Aurora at Mahay's. Also check out the corresponding video. - 5/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: A smattering of Frank Keller photos: The Whittier Turn at Beluga at dusk, Whittier freight along Turnagain Arm, Alaska Railroad at the end of the rainbow, Crossing the Matanuska River and Crossing the Knik - 5/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Steven Ogden captures the Coastal Classic unloading passengers in Seward, Glacier Discovery and the Fair train - 5/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Max and Geo - 5/18/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Marty Bernard shares a photo of E9As #2401 - 5/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday's visit to the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry to see #1018 - 5/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Working The Warehouse, Switching Suburban, The Ruskies Are Coming!, Pick Your Flavor and Mixed Train 2009! - 5/18/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Denali Star at Windy Bridge - 5/17/21
yellow diamondModeling: Things electrical, elevation and essential on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 5/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Fattening up the caboose photo roster with Mike Sypult's snapshots of #1084 and #1092 - 5/11/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Storm Light Alaska Style - 5/11/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday's visit to the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry to see #1718 , #1000 and #1500 - 5/10/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Ties and MOW equipment - 5/10/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's In Another Land, In Another Life... - 5/9/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller captures big scenery in Alaska - 5/9/21
yellow diamondRosters: Shane Durand captures an U.S. Army flat car sent out for repair and four MP15s in the Anchorage yard - 5/8/21
yellow diamondModeling: An incredible amount of work took place on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout over the past week. Trees were completed, a switch was replaced, track was cleaned, locomotives were tested, backdrops were painted and locomotives upgraded. - 5/8/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The April Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 5/6/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Curling South To Seward - 5/4/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: USAF X175 - 5/3/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess captures the elusive caboose - 4/30/21
yellow diamondAdmin: My wife and I purchased airline tickets to Alaska for this summer. I am so excited! - 4/30/21
yellow diamondModeling: Modification of the swing gate as well as some turnouts plus gremlin havoc shutting down the south Anchorage yard turnout on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 4/30/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Mike Gerenday provides us with the latest photos of the Harding car at Pioneer Park - 4/28/21
yellow diamondSpecial Features: Tugboat to Whittier: Added a new question (see question #6) - 4/28/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller captures photos of the picturesque southbound Aurora - 4/28/21
yellow diamondIndustries: - Mike Gerenday shares photos of Alaska Basic Industries - 4/28/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess captures the full moon at Lake Lucille- 4/27/21
yellow diamondRosters: John Carrico adds some information regarding the SS Baranof - 4/27/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Mike Gerenday travels through the Great State of Alaska tracking down such entities as RDC 701, British Columbia cement hoppers, observation car Seward and WWII troop conversions 1555E and 1556E - 4/27/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Mike Gerenday for recording the video The Historic Nenana Depot - 4/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's AquaTrain tribute: A Look Back, AquaTrain Arrival, Stripping The Barge, The Floating Train Is No More, Working The AquaTrain and Working Whittier - 4/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller shares photos of the recent Seward freight train - 4/26/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Usibelli Coal Mine tipple - 4/26/21
yellow diamondModeling: Turnouts on steroids, firmware updates, bumpy Chenille tree and other madness my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 4/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: From the Frank Keller collection, F7 #1502 leading a freight from Whittier and the AuRoRa at the Anchorage Depot - 4/20/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Mike Gerenday sniffs out photos and commentary on F7 numbers 1510/1512 on the Wyoming Colorado Railroad and baggage 58 - 4/20/21
yellow diamondRosters: Alex Makar shares a photos of F40 P32 at Twin Bridges - 4/20/21
yellow diamondNews: North to Alaska, Let's Go North, the Tour is On! (Second Edition) Fairbanks to Seward, Alaska - 4/20/21
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad prepares to roll out on new season after a year of big losses - 4/20/21
yellow diamondRosters: Victor B. D'Agostino shares his photos of Matanuska, Moose Pass, train time for #6 and an aerial view of the wreck at Houston - 4/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: Robert Krol shares his photos of a Maintenance of Way consist at Portage - 4/19/21
yellow diamondIndustries: - Mike Gerenday presents the Suntrana Branch Unloading Facility - 4/19/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Mike Gerenday sniffs out former reefer 11015 and box cars 10293 and 10718 in Anchorage and Denali Park Hotel WWII troop sleepers outside of Healy - 4/19/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The last Canadian National rail barge - 4/19/21
yellow diamondIndustries: The last AquaTrain - 4/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller captures the cruise train along Turnagain Arm - 4/17/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to John Carrico for sharing his ARR steam locomotives eBay purchase with us - 1, 239, 310, 312, 402, 502, 555, 559, 562, 701, 703, 801, 801, 802, 802, 901, 901, 901, 901. Although some of these some seem like a repeat they are scans from the original prints. - 4/16/21
yellow diamondFreight/Passenger: Casey Durand catches a rare acid tank car probably on its way to Brentagg Chemical in Fairbanks along the airport branch - 4/16/21
yellow diamondRosters: Number 95900 is a former Army Transportation Corp hospital/baggage car used in wrecker service - 4/16/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mark Butler's photos of the Tundra truck delivering a 350 pound wood stove - 4/16/21
yellow diamondModeling: RailPro software updates, powerless points and tree production on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 4/15/21
yellow diamondRosters: A boxcar with a garage door - 4/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Frank Keller for sharing this unique photo of a steam locomotive on The Loop - 4/13/21
yellow diamondNews: ‘Runaway Train’ is a hidden gem in the history of movies filmed in Alaska - 4/12/21
yellow diamondRosters: Over a decade ago a new dog came to our home - 4/12/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Number 4006 at Denali depot - 4/12/21
yellow diamondRosters: Steve Brown's Winter Aurora crossing Riley Creek trestle - 4/11/21
yellow diamondRosters: Scratching your heritage itch with a shot of a #3003 in the Anchorage diesel shop - 4/11/21
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad Corp. took $7.8M loss amid pandemic - 4/11/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The March Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 4/11/21
yellow diamondRosters: Always good to refreshen up the current train rosters. Here is a shot of SD70MAC #4325 at the Anchorage depot. - 4/10/21
yellow diamondNews: Track removal and replacement Whittier - 4/10/21
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand provides us with some photos of the 2015 repainting of #3012 - 4/10/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Alan Miller via Jonathan Fischer for additional photos and information on the GP49s in Chile - 4/10/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Mike Gerenday sniffs out P18 which houses Alaska Artisan Coffee- 4/9/21
yellow diamondModeling: Same stuff, different day as the crew works on trees, passenger cars and plywood ripples on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 4/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: The Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad are in the process of refurbishing the Nenana Depot. Many thanks to Alexander Gudschinsky for sending us a few photos of the current efforts. - 4/7/21
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer shares some photos of no. 2808 on the southbound freight and no. 3014 on the northbound passenger - 4/7/21
yellow diamondRosters: RaeEllen Kurzendoerfer shares her photos of a Maintenance of Way consist at Portage - 4/6/21
yellow diamondHistorical: Mike Gerenday added an historical update and photos #556 - 4/6/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's When It's Springtime In Alaska..., Time To Part Ways, Fairbanks In Winter and Whittier Bound - 4/6/21
yellow diamondSpecial Features: Snow fighting: Many thanks to Mark Butler for providing a nice video of a ballast regulator doing snow removal an hour in advance of the southbound Aurora on Easter Sunday. - 4/6/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's A Simple Portrait - 4/5/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The tugboat Arctic Titan brings the Alaska Railroad rail barge to the slip in Whittier during some rough weather - 4/5/21
yellow diamondModeling: The crew works on trees, passenger cars and plywood ripples. A friendly invasion of grandsons results in the joys of model railroading on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 4/4/21
yellow diamondAdmin: Why no updates to the website this past week? Is the website dying? Did John get hit by a train? Nope. I just took a week long vacation to Mississippi. It was the only state my mother-in-law had never visited and I played chauffeur. Well, I also got 80 geocaches including the oldest ones in Tennessee and Mississippi. We also drove the Natchez Trace parkway, stayed in some very cool bed and breakfasts, saw Elvis Presley's birthplace and Johnny Cash's grave site plus lots more. It may be hard to believe, but I did not chase one train. - 4/4/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: ARR GP38-2 2005 switches the company warehouse in Anchorage Yard - 3/29/21
yellow diamondBibliography: Make sure and check out Frank Keller's Portfolio article in the April 2021 edition of Railfan and Railroad magazine. The ten page article features the Alaska Railroad as well as Rio Grande, SP, and UP. Frank's photo of SD70MAC #4319 on point of a passenger train captures the magazine's centerfold. - 3/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Brian Ambrose shares photos of GP7-L 1825 at Interbay, WA and Interbay Roundhouse north of Seattle. Also featured are photos of numbers 1826 and 1838 and caboose #1068. - 3/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Sun on my face - 3/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Picture Perfect - 3/25/21
yellow diamondModeling: Shims, trees and voltage polarities on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 3/25/21
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer shares some rare photos of E9-A #2401 leading a train plus #1802 leading the Whittier shuttle and #2502 on the Palmer local - 3/22/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess's Freight at Palmer Hay Flats - 3/22/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Freight train at TwentyMile bridge - 3/22/21
yellow diamondModeling: Smoothing transitions and making trees on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 3/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday provides information on the Mikados of the North - 3/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Max and I geocaching at Lake Ferguson - 3/16/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess's Burger King burrito and freight and southbound morning freight - 3/16/21
yellow diamondNews: Last Aqua train arrives this week - 3/15/21
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Railroad announces 2021 summer schedule - 3/15/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Fairbanks depot sunrise - 3/15/21
yellow diamondRosters: Alex Makar's Curry flag stop, Mears Memorial Bridge, Conductor Amelia switching track and Hurricane Gulch in the fall - 3/11/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: Alaska Railroad, Steam Locomotive 557 Tour and Talk - 3/11/21
yellow diamondModeling: Cemeteries, grandsons, chocolate chip cookies and repairs on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 3/11/21
yellow diamondRosters: Alex Makar's photo of caboose 1086 at Curry  - 3/10/21
yellow diamondRosters: No. 3006 in the Anchorage shops  - 3/10/21
yellow diamondRosters: Brian Saul captures #3017 trailing #3005 at Healy in 1985  - 3/10/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The February Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 3/9/21
yellow diamondRosters: Brian LeRoy captures the engineer positioning the Fairbanks coal train for unloading at the Usibelli tipple - 3/8/21
yellow diamondVideo: Brian LeRoy's video of the Alaska Railroad positioning for the loading of the Fairbanks coal train - 3/8/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Passenger train at Nancy Lake - 3/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller catches the snowfleet crossing the North Fork of the Chulitna River, plowing as they go. - 3/7/21
yellow diamondModeling: Painting sky and clouds, creating a mountain base and welcoming a visiting GP40 on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 3/4/21
yellow diamondNews: Nenana Depot Refurbishment - 3/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: Steve Drassler's sunflower drawbars - 3/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday helped unravel the mystery of some of the timetable designators found under the capacity column (for example check out timetable #50). Can you fill in any of the remaining blanks? - 3/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Robert Krol for his photos of the red lights of F40 P-31, snow covered GP40 numbers 3009 and 3011 and the ARRC Headquarters building adjourned in holiday trimmings - 3/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess's Was it the Quake? - 3/1/21
yellow diamondRosters: Number 4001 lost her shoes - 3/1/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Winter Aurora - 3/1/21
yellow diamondRosters: A captivating photo from Frank Keller, On Frozen Ground - 2/28/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's Crossing the Knik River- 2/27/21
yellow diamondIn remembrance: Added a Steve Drassler photo of a young Frank Dewey to his remembrance page. I miss you Frank! - 2/27/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bryan Saul shares a photo of RDCs at the Fairbanks depot - 2/27/21
yellow diamondRosters: Victor B. D'Agostino photos of F7s 1514 and 1525, GP7-Ls 1821 and 1839, and S-2 7109 as well as Diner 4815 - 2/27/21
yellow diamondModeling: This week was a flurry of activity on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. David continued painting the interior backdrop, Rick fixed kinks and a baggage car, I continued foam board work and Ted continued framing the exterior backdrop. - 2/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Victor B. D'Agostino's 1978 photo of Nenana depot - 2/24/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller captures a coal train as it drops down Divide Hill - 2/24/21
yellow diamondRosters: More photos from Victor B. D'Agostino - F7 #1510, McKinley Park Station, caboose #1076, Healy depot and number 5 in Nenana canyon - 2/23/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Mike Gerenday is out sniffing around trying to pick up the scent on the status of our retired RDS1s- 2/23/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: The three heritage sisters at the racks in Anchorage - 2/22/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess lets us know once again, the Aurora Winter Passenger Train is hauling freight as well as passengers - 2/21/21
yellow diamondVideo: Many thanks to Robert Krol for bird dogging this contemporary Whittier drone video. Also, Rusty Wendlandt continues to tear down his layout. - 2/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday provides information on the Panama moguls - 2/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: I am grateful to Victor B. D'Agostino for allowing me to re-post his 1972 Whittier Shuttle photos - 2/18/21
yellow diamondModeling: Installing the mountain support structure on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 2/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday's High Iron to Whittier - 2/17/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller captures the Valentine's Day winter Aurora and the heritage units heading to Whittier - 2/17/21
yellow diamondRosters: Our Seattle contact Jonathan Fischer captures four boxcars in the yard - 2/17/21
yellow diamondVideo: Mike Gerenday captures a modern day mixed train - 2/17/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Knik Crossing - 2/17/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Aurora winter mixed passenger/freight train - 2/15/21
yellow diamondModeling: For all you HO scale Alaska Railroad modelers let's band together and encourage Athearn to create an ARR SD70MAC HEP with flared radiators (4300 series). Send your emails of encouragement to athearn-productsuggestions@athearn.com.- 2/11/21
yellow diamondModeling: Installing the outer backdrop and trimming foam board on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. Rick runs trains in search of ankle biters. - 2/11/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess's Saturday morning in Wasilla - 2/10/21
yellow diamondVideo: Casey Durand captures the three heritage units in Whittier - 2/9/21
yellow diamondQuestions: I was recently asked about the cylindrical conduit on the front of the GP40 locomotives. The answer is at the bottom of the page. - 2/9/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Jordan Stepleton for sharing his photos of a lashup of the three GP49s on the Columbia-Walla Walla Railroad - 2/9/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller captures the AS&G train at the Palmer Branch - 2/9/21
yellow diamondVideo: Casey Durand captures the three heritage units at Potter Marsh - 2/9/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: A special thanks to Mike Gerenday for tracking down current information and photos of RDC #712 at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum - 2/8/21
yellow diamondVideo: Alaska Railroad steam locomotive #557 on display Moses Lake, WA. 2009 - 2/8/21
yellow diamondVideo: Mike Gerenday captures Black and Gold Sisters Pulling The Final Cut and Girdwood while Casey Durand captures them at Windy Point and emerging from the Anton Anderson Memorial tunnel - 2/8/21
yellow diamondVideo: An interesting YouTube video entitled The Begich Towers: A Real Life Arcology - 2/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Max and Facebook - 2/8/21
yellow diamondModeling: Rusty Wendlandt is selling his house and the layout is coming down . Here's hoping his next home has a huge unclaimed space for a monster size layout! - 2/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess misses the Super Bowl to capture Denali watches over - 2/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Chasing the Alaska Railroad heritage units - 2/8/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Three heritage locomotives along Turnagain Arm - 2/8/21
yellow diamondNews: Statement on Canadian Transport Minister Passenger Vessel Restrictions through February 2022, due to COVID-19 - 2/7/21
yellow diamondNews: Alaska Cruise Season Cancelled as Canadian Government Bans Cruise Ships for 2021 - 2/4/21
yellow diamondModeling: Replacing foam board, installing the outer backdrop, labeling electrical terminals and running trains on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 2/4/21
yellow diamondRosters: Deane Motis's photo of five brand new GP49's at the Anchorage depot. - 2/2/21
yellow diamondModeling: Casey Durand wants to have models created of HO scale GP49 models. If you are interested, then get signed up. This will be a limited run of 30 pieces. If there is more interest, he will do more. These are injection molded and of the same detail level and quality of all modern plastic models. For more details just follow this link. - 2/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: SD70MACs at the Anchorage fuel racks - 2/2/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The January Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 2/2/21
yellow diamondHistorical: Mike Gerenday added three photos of the Anchorage turntable and five photos to Suntrana - 2/1/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Engine 557 restoration - 2/1/21
yellow diamondRosters: Deane Motis shares a Mark Hemphill photo of McKinley Route boxcar 1564M - 1/29/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Mike Gerenday for contacting the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania to get the current photos and status on RDS-1 #1034 and Jordan Stepleton for sharing more photos and video of ex-ARR GP49 numbers 2806 and 2809 on the Columbia-Walla Walla Railroad- 1/30/21
yellow diamondAdmin: Today is my birthday! What can you get the man who has everything? Well, you could make a $20 (or more) donation to the 557 steam locomotive restoration effort! I've maintained this website for 24 years so this would be a great way to show your appreciation to me as well as wish me a happy birthday. Click here to make a donation. Thanks in advance! - 1/29/
yellow diamondRosters: Deane Motis shares a Mark Hemphill photo of McKinley Route boxcar 1564M - 1/29/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Mike Gerenday for contacting the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania to get the current photos and status on RDS-1 #1034 and Jordan Stepleton for sharing more photos and video of ex-ARR GP49 numbers 2806 and 2809 on the Columbia-Walla Walla Railroad- 1/30/21
yellow diamondAdmin: Today is my birthday! What can you get the man who has everything? Well, you could make a $20 (or more) donation to the 557 steam locomotive restoration effort! I've maintained this website for 24 years so this would be a great way to show your appreciation to me as well as wish me a happy birthday. Click here to make a donation. Thanks in advance! - 1/29/
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's Winter Wonderland and Encrusted with Snow - 1/29/21
yellow diamondRosters: Jonathan Fischer shares his photos from Triple Lakes Trail - 1/29/21
yellow diamondModeling: Work continues on inner and outer backdrop scenery as well as passenger car operations on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 1/28/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller snaps Amongst the Color - 1/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Casey Durand shares his 1998 photos of the Whittier shuttle - 1/26/21
yellow diamondRosters: Fairbanks passenger car inspection pit - 1/26/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Triple Lakes Trail - 1/25/21
yellow diamondModeling: Work resumes on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout after a COVID-19 shutdown. - 1/21/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to John Carrico for bird dogging this excellent photo of #214 and ARR B2 in Seward circa 1950-1959 - 1/20/21
yellow diamondHistorical: Here is three day's worth of work. Over 450 scanned Steve VanGoor photos from various tours and railfan expeditions. - 1/20/21
yellow diamondRosters: Master photographer Frank Keller's catches a work train at the Chugach Mountains, rare leader and Sunset Sentinels - 1/20/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Pure Alaska and spit and polished - 1/20/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Many thanks to Jordan Stepleton for sharing his photos of ex-ARR GP49 #2806 arriving to Columbia-Walla Walla Railroad - 1/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bryan Saul's aerial view of a dome car from an ERA helicopter, No. 1 at Healy in the late 1980's, high ball, the eyeball and Buddy Gray on snowfleet at Eklutna - 1/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bill Hess's Aurora Winter Train #2 - 1/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Coming Round the Mountain and The Alaskan Way To Go - 1/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's "Full Moon Rising" - 1/19/21
yellow diamondRosters: Deane Motis provides a photo of ex-ARR F7 #1512 in Wyoming and Colorado colors - 1/19/21
yellow diamondNews: Passenger Car Floor Repair Project - 1/19/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Mutt and Jeff - 1/18/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bryan Saul captures number 1 storming into Healy and Mike Gerenday's passing through the Big Susitna River Bridge - 1/15/21
yellow diamondRosters: Added mechanical drawings for cabooses 1065-1084 and it's 8/76 revision, Jordan spreaders 5&6, Russell snow plow 4, hoppers 7100-7199, 14000-14279, 14300-14349, 14600-14609, 16000-16076, tank cars 10900-10955, mechanical reefers 11500-1511, 11700-11749, gondolas 13200-13649, dump car 15000-15004, box cars 10100-10129, flatcars 2950-2953, 2954-2956, 5574, 12400-12424, 12500-12553, 12625-12699, 12700-12749, 12800-12899, 12900-12999. Some of the images are slightly crooked as they were received this way. For a complete list of drawings click here. - 1/14/21
yellow diamondWhere Are They Now?: Congratulations to Cy Two Elk on his purchase of converted WWII Pullman Standard Troop Sleeper #10325 as part of his home in Bird Creek - 1/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Many thanks to Deane Motis for helping me to fill in another photo on the Alaska Railroad's locomotive roster, leased unit HLCX GP38-2 #3816 as well as providing a photo of a future F7 #1530 - 1/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller's "The Great White North" - 1/13/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Twisting north, Portside and Brutish - 1/13/21
yellow diamondAdmin: The Alaska Railroad's Catch the Train photo contest is now underway. Vote for Dave Blazejewski's drop dead awesome photo! - 1/11/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Alaska Winters Night - 1/11/21
yellow diamondHistorical: I've created a collage photos from former ARR engineer/brakeman R.J. McKay. He began sending me his photos in 2005 and for some reason I only posted a fraction of them. I must have fallen asleep at the switch. I am feeling lazy at the moment so instead of vectoring them into their proper pigeon holes I am just blasting them out into this collage. - 1/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Curt Fortenberry's 1999 photo of no. 1551 pushing tankers into the North Pole Refinery - 1/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Catching up on some backlogged photos: layered ice, avalanche cleanup and No. 1000 pulling passenger train - 1/8/21
yellow diamondModeling: ARR F7A 1510 and 1512 to Verde Canyon RR custom set painted - 1/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Tidewater Bound and Bill Hess's "There must be coffee" - 1/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: 1959-1962 work train and four ALCO RSD-1 locomotives in one lashup photos from the Jack Klingbeil collection with commentary by Mike Gerenday - 1/8/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday's "The story of the four number 1 locomotives" - 1/6/21
yellow diamondPicture of the Week: Tail end of work train - 1/4/21
yellow diamondRosters: Bryan Saul's Seward bound passenger extra along Turnagain Arm and after establishing the ARRC passenger takes dignitaries to Seward - 1/3/21
yellow diamondRosters: Frank Keller is actually able to get his drone to fly in -36 degrees temperatures to capture a Snow Fleet Aerial - 1/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: Shelties love winter! - 1/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: Dave Blazejewski's Big Time Freight and the last chase - 1/2/21
yellow diamondRosters: Mike Gerenday provides an overview of EMD GP40s and SD70MACs - 1/2/21
yellow diamondHall of Fame: The 2021 inductees to John's Alaska Railroad Web Page Hall of Fame are Steve Drassler, Mike Gerenday, Bryan Saul and Eric Swedberg. Congratulations! - 1/2/21
yellow diamondModeling: Swing gate repair, coupler adjustments and backdrop installation on my HO scale Alaska Railroad layout. - 1/1/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: 557 Annual Fund raising Campaign -The annual fund raising campaign officially starts on "Giving Tuesday", December 1. Engine 557 supporters Dennis and Diane and Dick Morris have again made generous matching challenges for a total of $10,000. Each incoming contribution with be matched dollar for dollar by the challenge. As 557 is being reassembled, several high cost tasks are upcoming. We appreciate your consideration of a generous contribution to keep 557's return to operation "on track."557 restoration We welcome and appreciate your contributions. Information on contributing by credit card or check can be found here. - 1/1/21
yellow diamondAdmin: Happy New Year! - 1/1/21
yellow diamondNo. 557 Info: The SPECIAL December Engine 557 Restoration Company Progress Report - 12/19/20