My Secret Train Love

I have a secret love of trains. I actually owe trains and the railroad a great deal when it comes to the life I’m living now. My first job out of college was at Union Pacific Railroad in their Accounting Department. It was at UPRR where I learned how to be successful in corporate America, I learned about computers, which led to my career switch into IT. I learned about budgets, life in cubes, and I received my MBA thanks to UPRR.

But most importantly – I learned how to operate a train when I worked at Union Pacific. Yes, that’s right, I was a licensed train engineer. As a management employee I was required to get my train engineer and conductor license just in case the Union went on strike and they needed to put management to work to keep the railroad running.

But I left my UPRR hard hat in my storage unit along with my steel toed boots, and instead just had a camera with me for this trip. I wouldn’t be operating the train (or we’d all be in real trouble), I would be photographing the train and surrounding landscapes.

The Alaska Railroad is One of a Kind

Owned by the state and not connected via rail to any other North American railway, the Alaska Railroad is unique. It operates 4 routes along 470 miles of track carrying both freight and passengers. Plus, it operates the last known flag-stop service in the US on their Hurricane Turn Line. Rather than making scheduled station stops, the Hurricane Turn Line passengers between Talkeetna and Hurricane can wave a white cloth anywhere along the route and the train will stop to pick them up. This is a crucial offering to locals living in the remote backcountry of Alaska; their lifeline in a way. I didn’t take this route while I was in Alaska – but it’s on my list to return and flag it down…literally.

Alaska Railroad Service

As I walked up the stairs to the 2nd level to find my reserved seat, my car’s bartender greeted me. Yes, I had a railroad car bartender; I knew this was going to be a great day. I was traveling on Gold Star Class, and I wasn’t really sure what that meant – but apparently it meant that you had an open bar – and brunch.

If you are going to ride the Alaskan Railroad, then try to splurge on the Gold Star Class. Normally I’m not a proponent of 1st class travel, but I’m making an exception for this – because it’s a train. The Gold Star Class cars were windowed dome cars, which gave you the best possible view. I imagined it was sort of like flying in Wonder Woman’s invisible plane.

The entire time we had a ‘guide’ who provided commentary and history throughout the ride. They even gave you ample notice of the scenic spots upcoming for photos.

In addition, the Gold Star cars also had an outdoor ‘balcony’ on the back of the car where you could take photos unobstructed by glass. Even more than the unlimited booze and food, the outdoor space for photography was my favorite feature of the Gold Star Class.

Surrounded by windows.

Landscape Photography via the Alaska Railroad

As we pulled out of the Anchorage Railroad Station, the whistle blows and the commuting scene out my large window gives way to pink sky that makes the mud flats outside of anchorage glimmer in the low morning light. This Coastal Classic route, from Anchorage to Seward, is often called ‘the most scenic route’ as it passes through fjords, glaciers, mountains, and tunnels. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time outside on the ‘balcony’ shooting photos between drinks and brunch.

Then again, the day I road the Denali Star route, from Fairbanks to Talkeetna, Mt. Denali decided to grace us with it’s presence, which apparently is pretty rare. The views of Denali National Park and it’s mountains, rivers, and bridges are also stunning.