NRHS Anchorage trip

Go to Chris Guenzler's site (  www.trainweb.org/chris  ), and search for the NRHS Alaska Convention.

Thanks Hot Water. very intersting reading along with pictures.

 

Once wife is mended up and able to navigate the high step ups into the cars from gravel, maybe we will return to ride Alaska RR in 10 years (i will be 75 by then), though I seriously doubt they would waste time on just me touring the shops or dispatch areas and things of real interest.  (See one tree or ROW, seen them all )

Alice Cooper concert was interesting.  Now I have to check out the Alaska trip.

I was at the Alaska NRHS convention last week and I am still smiling. Definitely the best RR convention most of us ever attended, or probably ever will attend.  I shot several hundred pictures and dozens of videos (mostly runby).

 

Alaska RR was very gracious to us, including numerous run-bys in very scenic locations and Wednesday tours of their Anchorage station, shops, yard and operations center. Regarding the weather, it was cool but generally favorable. Sunday was sunny for the North Pole trip out of Fairbanks; Monday (Fairbanks to Denali) was mostly sunny and clear; Tuesday (Denali to Anchorage) was overcast but dry; Wednesday was overcast with a few sprinkles but we were inside anyway; Thursday (Anchorage to Seward) was sunny with broken clouds (and absolutely stunning scenery); Friday (Anchorage terminal, Palmer, Potter) was sunny and clear with unlimited visibility i.e. Mt. McKinley visible from Anchorage; Saturday was cloudy with some showers and we did get pretty wet during the photo stop at Whittier.

 

I encourage you to ride the Denali Star and the Coastal Classic trains, in Gold Star class, as soon as you have the opportunity. The Coastal Classic (Anchorage to Seward) is the real gem.

Thanks GN Man, I will make a note of your recommendations for the far future Alaska trip.  Although judging my wifes reaction, Alaska is off her places to see again.

Maybe I missed something but, they didn't go to the White Pass & Yukon RR with their steam operations? 

Maybe I missed something but, they didn't go to the White Pass & Yukon RR with their steam operations?

Many of the convention attendees did visit the WP&Y prior to the NRHS activities in Fairbanks starting on Sept. 13, but it was not officially part of the NRHS convention.

During the Whittier run-by photo the people got soaked.  The train pulled in & unloaded into the street.  The rain started beating down.  They got their pics & videos & loaded back up.  When the train was sitting at the tunnel waiting for the green light, the rain quit.  By the time the cruise ship left, there was a big rainbow & fireworks on departure for the ship.

I'm surprised the WP&Y wasn't part of the convention...

For people who were surprised that the WP&Y wasn't part of the NRHS convention, look at a map.  It is more than 800 miles from Anchorage or Fairbanks to Skagway, and it requires you to travel through Canada - all on two lane roads.  I drive the route often and can do it in two days by pushing, but the worst part of the Alaska Highway is between Beaver Creek and Destruction Bay, the middle of the route.  The distance is so great that Holland America/Princess is reportedly stopping their bus runs along the route and starting to use charter airplanes.

 

NRHS did have an option for folks who wanted to ride the WP&Y and then bus to Fairbanks for the start of the convention, but only 3 folks signed up for the three day drive.  However, many folks rode the WP&Y by doing a cruise ship move, or flew/ferry in and out.  I did it by driving up from the lower 48.

For those that want to see photos from the convention, also check out the NRHS Facebook page, it has a number of photos.  For a very interesting look at the convention, go to the website for "I Ride the Harlem Line" as it has a number of great photos as well as a 10 minute video shot by a GoPro camera from the coupler of our train.

For the most part, the weather was great.  We had mostly sun for all of our stops and tours except for the Whittier rain. Saturday at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks was also good but Sunday at Wasilla was a bit cold and rainy - with a touch of snow.  The Alaska Highway was mostly ice covered from near Tok to Destruction Bay - a challenge getting home.