Trains, bikers and babes

The Alaska Railroad logo is a class act with the Alaska state colors.

The Alaska Railroad held an open house May 5, with music, giveaways and train rides. The ARR is America's only full-service railroad, offering both freight and passenger service year-round. Line construction was completed in 1923; it was built in sections by work gangs starting in 1915. Today nearly 70 percent of Alaska's population live along the 500-mile railroad corridor that runs from Whittier and Seward to Anchorage and north to Fairbanks, with a branch line serving Fort Wainwright, North Pole and Eielson Air Force Base.

In my mind, trains are one of the beautiful mechanical creations.

Babe Jaz and I (the other babe), both of us bikers, had decided to go experience something other than a simple motorcycle ride. (We did ride to the event, though.) We'd been in the area a few days before looking at trains and taking a few photos of engines. Doesn't everyone love trains?

The yellow tape just seemed funny ... as though it would keep the massive locomotives from breaking through and rolling on down the tracks.  Yeah, yeah.  I know.  It's to keep people out.  Still looked humorous to me.

On open house day, we spent a fun couple of hours. First we rode the train. The rides weren't long, only 20 minutes in duration, and the wait in line was way longer than that, but it was fun.

Show us the way.  We're going on a train ride.

Our train awaits.  It looks like a moosegooser pushing baby strollers. 

Aaaalllll abooooaaarrrdddd!!!

 Then, just like all of the other kids, we wandered by the old steam locomotive, No. 557, and into and out of a number of rail cars on display.



Steam locomotive No. 557.

No. 557 returned to Alaska Jan. 3, 2012, nearly 50 years after it left service on the Alaska Railroad. It was the last steam-driven locomotive in active use and regular service on the ARR. It was mostly used to help during high-water conditions in Nenana during floods as steamers could easily go through two feet of water when it flowed over the rails. It was also used for special events, then it was sold to a scrap dealer and museum owner who preserved it, keeping it in running condition in Moses Lake, Wa. It was purchased by an Alaskan couple with the provisio that it be relocated to Anchorage, rehabilitated and eventually put back into service, possibly pulling refurbished railcars during the summer tourist season.

Beautiful wheels on No. 557.

Originally known as U.S. No. 3523, No. 557 was one of 2,120 of this type of locomotive built for the U.S. Army Transportation Corp. between 1942 and 1945. There were 12 sent to Alaska.

Engine 557 is a tender locomotive, meaning it pulls a special rail vehicle called a tender, which carries its fuel, which could be wood, coal or oil, and water. Originally the 557s tender carried coal, but it was later converted to oil. Currently it is valued between $175,000 to $250,000 and is in near-running condition.

The back end of No. 557.

From the steam engine, we trooped onto No. 4327, an SD70MAC locomotive. The ARR owns 28 of them, which makes up more than half of their 51-unit locomotive fleet. SD means special duty, and MAC means modified-cab, alternating current, referring to the traction motor.

We're going in.  No. 4327, here we come.

No. 4327 is a 4,300 horsepower locomotive, weighing 420,000 pounds, and capable of speeds up to 70 mph. The first two numbers of the four-digit locomotive numbers indicate the horsepower. Diesel locomotives are basically electric locomotives that carry their own power source.

Wouldn't I like to take this piece of machinery for a spin!!

Jaz and I then spent some time meandering through passenger cars, some of which were refurbished from the 1950s era. There are reclining seats, domes with seats up on top, and even a gift shop.

Not bad seating at all.

It truly was a grand few hours, made only better by riding to and from the event. Next time, consider taking a look at what's around locally for entertainment. We did, and found enjoyment in things that we see everyday, but don't really pay a whole lot of attention to as we go about our busy days.

Absolutely beautiful.  Clean lines, wonderful colors, and fun to be had when traveling by train.