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Written by Lindsay Korst
gngoat@gngoat.org
Alaska by Rail 2025
Special Interest Tours - Trains Magazine
Thursday, September 11th
Day Eight
Alyeska Resort to Seward and back.
Gulp. Another early start, AND breakfast is at the frikken Forte. Surprise! A
new crew and a buffet line made all the difference. We were in and out in less
than 30 minutes and on the bus and off to the Girdwood station (as we GIRD up
our loins for the day's journey). Not all of us girded. Head
count was down to 18 on this excursion, as many elected to hang around at the
Resort.
Head-end shot, Hype!
Yep, me and at least two other guys formed a photo line to capture
4318/3013 and consist roll into Girdwood.
Boarding the Coastal Classic train.
Molly handing out tickets. Baolu captures old fart Lindsay, photo-bombed by tour guide Molly. Doesn't she
have a great smile?
Climbing up into the mountains, the line to Seward traversed several
tunnels and numerous S curves past glaciers through the eternal mist.
Really, the hardest part was trying to focus through the water droplets on the
dome glass. I didn't feel like standing outside either, as even this seasoned
railfan knows enough to come in out of the rain. Sometimes.
Upon arrival in Seward, decision time. To take the
Kenai Fjords National Park
Cruise, or not? It's a 4 hour tour (a four hour toooourr)
and the weather is looking a bit chancy.
I was the only one in the bunch who chose NOT to take the tour, but I had
different fish to fry.
First, find a bench under cover and enjoy my box lunch.
Next, walk the town from end to end.
Next, visit Ray's Waterfront for a Coors Light and double JD on the rocks
Next, walk over to the cruise ship terminal and back.
Next, photograph every car on the Coastal Classic train. They had since wyed the
train to face outbound.
Next, go back into town and scope out the best gift shop for B.
Next, sit pier-side and wait for her ship to return. (Cue 1970's Old Spice Commercial...start
whistling...)
Baolu returned from the sea right on time, we hit the major gift shop emporium,
but then it was time to head back to Gird-Up-Thy-Loins-Wood.
Here's our train consist coming and going:
ARR 4318 EMD SD70MAC
ARR 3013 EMD GP40-2
ARR 103 baggage car (heritage unknown).
ARR 655 Ultra Dome, Colorado Railcar Manufacturing, 2008.
ARR 656 Ultra Dome, Colorado Railcar Manufacturing, 2008.
ARR 301 Counter-Cafe, Daewoo Heavy Industries, Korea 1989.
ARR 352 Cafe-Diner, ex-Chicago North Western, Pullman-Standard, 1958.
ARR 206 Coach, Daewoo Heavy Industries, Korea 1989.
ARR 502 Dome Coach, ex-Union Pacific, Pullman-Standard, 1958.
ARR 200 Coach, ex-Union Pacific, Pullman-Standard, 1950.
ARR 203 Coach, ex-Union Pacific, Pullman-Standard, 1950.
ARR 207 Coach (part of it), Daewoo Heavy Industries, Korea 1989.
Thanks to these two links for helping me identify the
equipment:
https://www.alaskarails.org/fp/passenger/passenger-roster.html
http://www.trainweb.org/rosters/ARR.html
Oh. Almost forgot. Baolu DID take the boat tour.
Let's see how it went.
Here's B and the sea critters she saw through the murk.
Scenery and a rainbow! Isn't B adorable in her little
Izod beanie?
Dinner on the train was good as always. Couldn't see a thing outside in the
darkness. As we pulled into Girdwood Station, Molly got on the public
address to congratulate us on riding the ENTIRE Alaska Railroad by rail.
Hooray for us! Bravo! Huzzah! Let's have another drink!
 
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