Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA: On the Rails in Skagway

Sunday, July 18, 2010

On the Rails in Skagway

It's about time, I pick up the story of our Alaskan cruise. The day after Juneau, we disembarked in Skagway, Alaska. This was to be a very early morning since Rob had to get off the ship before 7 AM for a hiking excursion.

I tried to sleep a little longer, but was rather unsuccessful. So what's a girl to do? Go shopping!!

With plenty of time in the morning, I ate a leisurely breakfast (which was very smart because I didn't get to eat lunch until dinner time). Then it was time to go into town which wasn't very far at all. With our great luck, the day was gorgeous and beautiful. Maybe a tad bit hot.

Next: The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad.

"Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.

The WP&YR railway was considered an impossible task but it was literally blasted through coastal mountains in only 26 months.

The $10 million project was the product of British financing, American engineering and Canadian contracting. Tens of thousands of men and 450 tons of explosives overcame harsh and challenging climate and geography to create "the railway built of gold."

The WP&YR climbs almost 3000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades of up to 3.9%, cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles. The steel cantilever bridge was the tallest of its kind in the world when it was constructed in 1901.

The 110 mile WP&YR Railroad was completed with the driving of the golden spike on July 29, 1900 in Carcross Yukon connecting the deep water port of Skagway Alaska to Whitehorse Yukon and beyond to northwest Canada and interior Alaska."

The scenery truly was breathtaking as we climbed higher and higher into the mountains.

More train pictures with the Sawtooth Mountains on the right.

After a long train ride which took us to the border of British Columbia and back, what's some hungry goldminers to do?

Attempt to avoid spending too much money in the shops and head over to the Skagway Brewery to pick up a free hat. The only catch with getting the hat (besides having a coupon) was the you ~~had to~~ got to partake in their beer samples.

I particularly enjoyed the seasonal Spruce Tip Ale which is said to be chocked full of vitamin C. It was yummy!

Sunset as we left Skagway.