I have Roy Minters book on this railway. I have visited Skagway 6 times in my lifelong Alaskan life now living near Seward and if Sam or Colleen Hover see this I wish to send them my warmest wishes. They are dear friends of mine living in Skagway. I've stayed at the Golden North Hotel and the Pumpkin Patch Trailer once on a cold and windy March night. Skagway remains as my favorite place to visit. Filled with down to earth people and good stores and restaurants. Seward is another railway town that eventually became the Alaskan Railroad. I do love my state and it's people. God Bless Alaska.
Returning from Whitehorse in 1974 the engine broke an axle and we were stranded on White Pass, it was cold and heating oil was getting low so they put us all in one car to stay warm. Finally we were connected to another train but had to stop often to cool the brakes. We arrived in Skagway late, missed the ferry, chartered a Piper Cherokee 6 to Juneau, and caught the ferry there. A great, memorable trip for sure!
My wife and I travelled on the WP&Y RR from Skagway to the Summit and back in 2010 during our last cruise to AK. It was a great day for us. As a couple of old folks from SC, seeing snow up high was a treat. We like to travel in the Fall, since things aren't as crowded. If you ever go to Alaska on a cruise, you can't miss Skagway and this trip into the 1890s.
Gee I remember watching this video as a kid. My uncle owned it but it got damaged and was lost to history. I'm happy to see it again, it made my day! One day I'll get to ride this train for real.
There was a Catholic Mission School in Skagway. It was called Pius X Mission. I spent the summer of '54, '55 and '56 working as a "gandy dancer" on the WP&YUKON RR. and attending the Mission during the school year. The people of Skagway were the greatest! I was stationed at Clifton, the first section of the RR. A beautiful experience, highlighted by exploring the natural elements all around Clifton. Sure wish I could buy a copy of this video.
Surprised to find this site by accident. We visited Skagway twice, once 1997 by boat from Haines. Again in 1999 by RV so we could spend more time in the area. we visited in the Fall when the tourist season was slow so we weren't dealing with the hoards of tourists. When we were there the long high RR trestle had been abandoned and bypassed. we were able to see Boot Hill up close. Some venues had shut down for the season such as the Soapy Smith for lack of ticket sales. No problem. There was more than enough history to follow. Can't for the life of me remember the citizen that took out Soapy. As a model rail roader would have liked to have seen the steamer loco running but not enough passengers for it to run.
I rode the train when I was 5 or 6 I believe, cold, cloud cover, misty and everything was damp, I loved it, the scenery was amazing, we saw wildlife, but the one thing that bothers me is I haven't been able to find out a lot of history on the steam locomotive number 69, how it came into the picture, why it's running today, and some stories of it's past.
THe railroad offers the best transport of population moving to rising sea levels. Few seaports have this heavy carry ability. To move infrastructure out of present tidal reach. It would be extended when Alaska must move a population inland. Canada also has the same future tidal concerns,
I find it odd that no Canadian railway got ambitious enough to extend the railway line from Fort Nelson, B.C. to Whitehorse, Yukon; As a result all goods have to be trucked or flown in, unless some stuff comes through the Skagway line by ship ?
There have been numerous attempts to build your suggestion. Nothing came of any. Of more interest, perhaps, is connecting to the Alaska Railroad. At one time, the ARR offered to build to the border of Yukon if only some Canadian line would meet them there. I used to know something about freight coming through Skagway but that was before the shutdown--and before they built a parallel highway. I no longer know if the White Pass & Yukon carries any freight. I've even seen recent attempts to dual gauge the entire WP&Y and then extend the standard gauge alone to a specific mine in the interior. Nothing ever happens--probably because of the lack of financing.
Yea, I heard that line as well. I bought the copyright to this video so would have not have phrased it as they did. You are absolutely correct. It is badly worded.
That's a great ides. No railroad would have been built without difficult and dangerous work often ending in life-long handicap or disfigurement or even death. Surely they should be honored today. Railroad construction workers would be a great subject for a video. I haven't made a video in 20 years and am retired, I would guess that the video has already been made. Several organizations exist to honor railroad workers. Oneo f them may havr commissioned such a video.
Took the train from Whitehorse to Skagway with my grandmother 50 years ago, the beauty never left me. Absolutely beautiful!
It is sad that the track from Carcross to Whitehorse is out of service. At least it was wasn't torn up so there is always hope.
I have Roy Minters book on this railway. I have visited Skagway 6 times in my lifelong Alaskan life now living near Seward and if Sam or Colleen Hover see this I wish to send them my warmest wishes. They are dear friends of mine living in Skagway. I've stayed at the Golden North Hotel and the Pumpkin Patch Trailer once on a cold and windy March night. Skagway remains as my favorite place to visit. Filled with down to earth people and good stores and restaurants. Seward is another railway town that eventually became the Alaskan Railroad. I do love my state and it's people. God Bless Alaska.
Returning from Whitehorse in 1974 the engine broke an axle and we were stranded on White Pass, it was cold and heating oil was getting low so they put us all in one car to stay warm. Finally we were connected to another train but had to stop often to cool the brakes. We arrived in Skagway late, missed the ferry, chartered a Piper Cherokee 6 to Juneau, and caught the ferry there. A great, memorable trip for sure!
Thanks for your description of an exciting trip!
My wife and I travelled on the WP&Y RR from Skagway to the Summit and back in 2010 during our last cruise to AK. It was a great day for us. As a couple of old folks from SC, seeing snow up high was a treat. We like to travel in the Fall, since things aren't as crowded. If you ever go to Alaska on a cruise, you can't miss Skagway and this trip into the 1890s.
Gee I remember watching this video as a kid. My uncle owned it but it got damaged and was lost to history. I'm happy to see it again, it made my day! One day I'll get to ride this train for real.
There was a Catholic Mission School in Skagway. It was called Pius X Mission. I spent the summer of '54, '55 and '56 working as a "gandy dancer" on the WP&YUKON RR. and attending the Mission during the school year. The people of Skagway were the greatest!
I was stationed at Clifton, the first section of the RR. A beautiful experience, highlighted by exploring the natural elements all around Clifton. Sure wish I could buy a copy of this video.
Born and raised in Faro and I gotta say this film was beautiful and shows a lot of the Yukon's beauty. There is no place like home !
During the Klondike road relay I met a bunch of PT’s from Mayo.
@@Harold710 great people around there!
good old 73 saved the day
Awesome footage. As of 2023 they WP&Y does run to Carcross, B.C. @ 37:13-37:19 2 East Broad Top RR Hopper Cars purchased in 1968 are visible.
One Hell of a Great Story.
Thank You for this magnificent video 👌🤗
Glad you liked the video.
It sure is a good thing they have old 73 working, and 70 at Dollywood as well.
awesome video loved it
Thanks for your kind words.
Wonderful.
Great trip.
It is a great trip.
29:23 The old Sitmar Fairmajesty / STAR PRINCESS / Arcadia / Ocean Village / Pacific Pearl / Columbus. Sadly scrapped last year :( (1988 to 2021).
Great railroad.there in 06
Surprised to find this site by accident. We visited Skagway twice, once 1997 by boat from Haines. Again in 1999 by RV so we could spend more time in the area. we visited in the Fall when the tourist season was slow so we weren't dealing with the hoards of tourists. When we were there the long high RR trestle had been abandoned and bypassed. we were able to see Boot Hill up close. Some venues had shut down for the season such as the Soapy Smith for lack of ticket sales. No problem. There was more than enough history to follow. Can't for the life of me remember the citizen that took out Soapy. As a model rail roader would have liked to have seen the steamer loco running but not enough passengers for it to run.
My wife and I prefer Fall travel as do you and for the same reasons. Glad you liked the video.
I rode the train when I was 5 or 6 I believe, cold, cloud cover, misty and everything was damp, I loved it, the scenery was amazing, we saw wildlife, but the one thing that bothers me is I haven't been able to find out a lot of history on the steam locomotive number 69, how it came into the picture, why it's running today, and some stories of it's past.
Watching from Ohio great job Smitty out 🙃
Thanks for watching!
THe railroad offers the best transport of population
moving to rising sea levels. Few seaports have
this heavy carry ability. To move infrastructure
out of present tidal reach. It would be extended
when Alaska must move a population inland.
Canada also has the same future tidal concerns,
I never thought of that. An interesting and important thought on the use of railroads.
I find it odd that no Canadian railway got ambitious enough to extend the railway line from Fort Nelson, B.C. to Whitehorse, Yukon; As a result all goods have to be trucked or flown in, unless some stuff comes through the Skagway line by ship ?
There have been numerous attempts to build your suggestion. Nothing came of any. Of more interest, perhaps, is connecting to the Alaska Railroad. At one time, the ARR offered to build to the border of Yukon if only some Canadian line would meet them there. I used to know something about freight coming through Skagway but that was before the shutdown--and before they built a parallel highway. I no longer know if the White Pass & Yukon carries any freight. I've even seen recent attempts to dual gauge the entire WP&Y and then extend the standard gauge alone to a specific mine in the interior. Nothing ever happens--probably because of the lack of financing.
wow out othis world am saving this send it again i read about n d Irish that played tr part am tired now 0.48am 9th March brian Ireland
Hauled the last freight? USG Gypsum says hi
Yea, I heard that line as well. I bought the copyright to this video so would have not have phrased it as they did. You are absolutely correct.
It is badly worded.
@@trainclaude us gypsum is now the VERY last freight hauling narrow gauge in the us and ironically there using 2 locomotives meant for the white pass
How about a tribute to the workers who built it?
That's a great ides. No railroad would have been built without difficult and dangerous work often ending in life-long handicap or disfigurement or even death. Surely they should be honored today. Railroad construction workers would be a great subject for a video. I haven't made a video in 20 years and am retired, I would guess that the video has already been made. Several organizations exist to honor railroad workers. Oneo f them may havr commissioned such a video.
Viva Fidel!
so the container system was created here
Correct. The WP&Y had the first container ship.
All without GPS and computers .
Amazing, isn't head. No heavy equipment either, no dozers or backhoes, etc. Tough people.
👇