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Written by Lindsay Korst
gngoat@gngoat.org
Alaska by Rail 2025
Special Interest Tours - Trains Magazine
September 2025
Come along on the "trip of a lifetime", as Baolu and I visit The Last Frontier.
The Alaska Railroad links the interior of the State from Fairbanks to Anchorage
with separate lines to Whittier and Seward. We rode them all.
This was the first time we had taken an all-inclusive tour
(IOW, not planned by Lindsay). All we had to do was get plane tickets
going/coming and Special Interest Tours would do the rest. There were
pluses and minuses to this approach, but for the most part, it was money well
spent.
For the first time, I could sit back and let someone else tow
ME around.
Click Here, or on the navigational arrow below, to reach
Alaska Day 1, and read about our (my) thinly-disguised railfanning trip to the
49th State!
 
Thursday, September 4th
Day One
Spokane to Fairbanks
Use 082 for lead picture
Up at the crack of dawn, we are packed and ready to go. Leaving Baolu's Jeep at
the Spokane Airport (GEG) parking garage, the only snag was my belt setting off
the TSA (Security Theatre) detector (I ALWAYS set off the detector). I could be
buck naked and set off the detector.
GEG to SEA to FAI was a grueling series of delays and discomfort aboard Alaska
Airlines, best not described further.
After landing in Fairbanks, we collected our bags and rode the shuttle to the
downtown Springhill Suites for check in.
It was 3pm Alaska time (an hour behind Pacific Time). To stretch our legs, we
walked around outside. Fairbanks smelled like POT. Not much caught our eye at
the local gift shops, so back to the room for a quick nap.
At the appointed hour, we met in the hotel lobby with our group for the first
time (24 folks plus our two guides).
At last, we were in good hands and I'd like to throw some major kudos their way:
25ak_003
GLAM SHOT #1! Rachel and Molly of Special Interest Tours were our guides on this
trip. They were the BEST. Any problems that arose, they were ON it. Many (Okay,
most) of us were elderly and anyone who needed assistance were quickly attended
to. Their cheerful attitudes were infectious and I believe, as a group, we all
had a great time. Well done, Rachel & Molly!!!
They handed us a couple tote bags and our all-important lanyard -- which never
seemed to display our names facing forward. (Note my above picture with 4322.) I
think all lanyards do this. ;p
Hint to S.I.T. Perhaps in future, print name tags on BOTH sides.
25ak_000
This is Ben, our motor coach operator giving us a safety talk before we headed
out to dinner. He was with us from start to finish. He shadowed us when we rode
the train carrying our luggage to each resort hotel and arranging for our bags
to be in our rooms upon arrival. Many thanks, Mister Ben!
Saturday Evening, 5:30pm
Our first stop was the Alyeska Pipeline just north of town.
The second stop was in Fairbanks' Pioneer Park and dinner at their famous salmon
bake. We had been warned off the salmon by an anonymous source. Thus, I had
prime rib and Baolu had the cod -- both were quite good.
25AK_002.jpg
Just one train picture today after dinner. This is the parlor car, "Denali" at
Pioneer Park from way back yonder. Will research.
Farewell, Essex. So much Blue...
THE END
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