By Erin Kirkland
Alaska Travel Expert, about.com
[post_ads_2]For many, train travel invokes a sense of nostalgia that's hard to ignore once the "All aboard!" call is given and a noisy diesel engine pulls away from the station. In Alaska, trains represent an interesting link to the state's history and sense of independence, even though some of the passenger rail line is at a standstill during the winter.
Stretching about 500 miles between Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, and Fairbanks in the Interior region, the Alaska Railroad
connects people and goods, and accounts for a very popular segment of
the state's annual visitor numbers. With a mainline supply route that
runs year-round along the entire system, and a seasonal route carrying
passengers between Southcentral and the Interior, the Alaska Railroad is
a familiar sight and sound across much of the Last Frontier.
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Historically, the city of Anchorage owes
its existence to the Alaska Railroad, for it was in 1915 that a group
of surveyors arrived to plat the swath of land along Ship Creek below
what is now known as downtown.
The original historic depot still stands near
this area today, a testament to the fortitude and longevity of the
railroad's necessity in Alaska. It is here that the bulk of the Alaska
Railroad's passengers arrive and depart, on their way to or from cruise
ships, land tours, or, in the case of residents, headed to a cabin in
the remote wilderness.
Summer brings thousands of rail-riders to
depots in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Whittier, Seward, and Denali National
Park, and many little stops in between. But come winter, the Alaska
Railroad takes on a different approach to travel, and passengers reap
the benefits.
The Aurora Winter Train
and smaller, once-monthly Hurricane Turn Train are the only
passenger-based services available during the months between September
and May. For skiers, backcountry cabin owners, or those merely seeking
an easier way north or south than navigating often-treacherous roads,
the winter train is the perfect option for relaxation and a dose of that
train-nostalgia I mentioned earlier.
Snow-frosted trees and
tundra race by as one sits next to the expansive windows of the
usually-uncrowded train, with moose often spotted along the tracks as
they browse for winter forage. Denali is
the superstar on a clear day, rising 20,310 feet into the icy air, and
the engineer usually slows down for photo opportunities of the tallest
mountain in the United States.
Hop off the train in smaller
communities like Talkeetna and continue your journey on the train's
return, or travel all the way to Fairbanks and fly home on Alaska
Airlines or Ravn Alaska for a one-way adventure. Whichever you choose, you'll be treated to a slice of real Alaska that can't be duplicated any other time of year.
A few things to note
Only
the Aurora Winter Train offers dining service through a cashless
system, so bring your credit card if you think you might get hungry or
thirsty. Passengers on all Alaska Railroad routes are welcome to pack
picnic items, but no alcohol.
The Alaska Railroad is slow, especially between Talkeetna
and Curry (or reverse), due to the number of off-grid cabins and
homesteads scattered near the tracks. A flagstop service, the train will
often stop for those hopping on after spending weeks in remote places.
Take time to visit with these sourdoughs; these are real Alaskans.
Schedules[post_ads_2]
Aurora Winter Train
runs September through May, traveling northbound from Anchorage to
Fairbanks on Saturday; and southbound from Fairbanks to Anchorage on
Sunday. Stops along the way include Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Nenana,
among others, and the entire trip can take up to 12 hours. GoTip: Take the train one way and fly home; Alaska Airlines often runs specials in conjunction with the railroad.
Exception:
The Aurora Winter Train does have select midweek departures during
February and March; check the Alaska Railroad website for the annual
list, usually in conjunction with Fur Rendezvous festival in Anchorage,
or school breaks.
Hurricane Turn Train departs
Anchorage on the first Thursday of each month, October through early
May, and takes a scenic journey through some of the most breathtaking
winter scenery in Alaska. A long day trip, the train returns to
Anchorage at 8 p.m. There is no dining service (or any service at all,
really), so bring everything you'll need for a comfortable day on board.
GoTip: Consider boarding the train in Talkeetna midday, then return in time for dinner and an overnight stay in this quaint little town.
Discounts
While
ticket prices do vary from year-to-year, active-duty military with ID
always receive a 20% discount off regularly-published fares; children
ages 2-11 receive 50% off the published fare of the adult accompanying
them. Visit the Alaska Railroad fares page for complete and up-to-date information.
Travel
in comfort during a winter visit to the 49th state, wrapped in the
sense of remembrance of a bygone era of train travel, and savor every
moment.
