|
Written by Lindsay Korst
gngoat@gngoat.org
Alaska by Rail 2025
Special Interest Tours - Trains Magazine
Thursday, September 4th
Day One
Spokane to Fairbanks
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:
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.
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!
Thursday 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 entered through a mine entrance and berm. Lindsay has found
gold....GOLD!
We had been warned off the salmon by a "to-remain-anonymous" source. Thus,
I had prime rib and Baolu had the halibut -- both were quite good. Looks like
Baolu snitched some prime rib off my plate!
Just one train picture today after dinner. This is the
President Harding
Railroad Car, "Denali" at
Pioneer Park.
Hey, this is a former Great Northern Railway car! GN was
Alaska Railroad's original link (via barge to Seattle) with the outside North
American rail network.
 
 
| 
