The White Pass and Yukon Route 2011
The Regular Tourist Steam Operation

Use the links below for other parts of James Waite' report of his visit:

• Introduction to the WP & Y Railroad

• "Normal Tourism" - Big Stuff!

• 2-8-0 69 on charter specials

• Diesels and the non-active steam locomotives

For further information on this railway and its rolling stock, James recommends the following excellent articles:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Pass_and_Yukon_Route

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_White_Pass_and_Yukon_Route_locomotives_and_cars

Trevor Heath worked here during the 2010 season has added some background information to the current scene, you can get a further flavour of this special operation on his own pages:

• http://www.trevorheath.com/AK.html.

While vintage 2-8-0 69 worked the special charters, 'modern' 2-8-2 73 (Baldwin 73352/1947) was kept back for the regular steam trains. It may not have performed to order but it did offer the kind of opportunity when you are tied to the vicinity of the special train:

73 at Skagway station

73 standing at the railroad dock with a steam special with a cruise ship behind. The WP&Y has branches to all three docks where the cruise ships tie up so that the passengers can board with the minimum of walking.

73 takes water at Fraser

73 crossing the Thompsons River bridge

A distant view of 73 passing Summit Lake en route for Fraser