the wandering chick

...The White Pass & Yukon Route
a lovely ride to Fraser Meadows, B.C.

As rich as Skagway's history is, it is not to be surpassed by that of the White Pass and Yukon Route, well-known as the WP&YR. The railroad has been designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark...that gives it the same status as The Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and the Panama Canal!

Like everything else in this region of the world back in the late 1890s, it was gold that brought the WP&YR idea to being. Railroad building at that time was common, so it wasn't unusual when a handful of men shared the vision of an easier transport up the White Summit Pass to the goldfields. Sir Thomas Trancede, an investor, thought twice about building a track over the Coastal Mountains. The railroad labor contractor, Michael J. Heney, on the other hand, is quoted, "Give me enough dynamite and snoose, and I'll build a railroad to Hell." And that's about what they did. Obstacles such as cliff-hanging turns, the need for tunnels and bridges, construction in heavy snow and at temperatures of 60 below and a climb from zero to almost 3000 feet of solid rock in 2o miles had to be overcome.

Construction began on May 28, 1898 and was completed on July 29, 1900. Of the 35000 workers, 35 lost their lives. The financial cost: $10 million.

By the time the railroad was completed, the gold rush was over. But the railroad has been an invaluable asset from the day of its first run. During World War II, it helped supply the Army's Alaska Highway Construction Project. Today, it operates as an excursion railroad between Skagway and White Pass Summit and on to Carcross.

White Pass steam engine
Steam Engine Number 73 is more than just a number to the fleet of the White Pass Railroad. Built in 1947, she is the last one built. Retired in 1964 and brought back into service in 1982, she's been hauling passengers up and over the White Pass for more than 30 years.
White Pass steam engine
climbing to White Pass Summit
Skagway harbor
After a bit of a climb and a few turns, a view of Skagway's harbor can be had.
grave site of two rr construction workers
On August 3, 1898, a blasting accident killed two construction workers, burying them under a 100-ton granite rock. The cross, at 1090 feet up the mountain side marks their final resting place.
view from the train
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls cascades some 6000 feet from glaciers above.
steel bridge crossing gorge
Constructed in 1901 and used until 1969, this was the tallest cantelever bridge in the world. It stands at 2, 613 feet up the mountain side.
tunnel in mountainside
This is one of two tunnels the rail passes through on its voyage up to White Pass Summit.
cantelever bridge
cantelever bridge
cantelever bridge
cantelever bridge
the trail of '98

Gold diggers had a choice of two routes they could take to get up the mountain. One route was the Chilkoot Trail which started in Dyea, about 10 miles distance from Skagway. This trail was 33 miles long, 7 miles shorter than the White Pass Trail, but its last leg was so steep it was given the name"The Golden Staircase," a difficult incline to the top of Chilkoot Pass. The alternate route, The White Pass Trail, was longer but not as steep. This picture and the next show remnants of the actual foot path of the White Pass Trail. This particular portion is at 2,730 feet up the mountain, just 135 feet shy of White Pass Summit.

The cantelever bridge spans what became called Dead Horse Gulch. Because the stampeders were inexperienced and the climb so treacherous, three thousand pack horses perished. Sadly, they weren't taken care of either; the gold diggers had one goal: to get to the gold fast. They cared little that their animals were overworked and not given needed rest.
Trail of '98
This photo shows the rugged terrain that had to be out-maneuvered by railroad construction workers.
one of the bridges used by the WP&YR to reach White Pass Summit
Yet another bridge used daily by the WP&YR train tours as it climbs its way up to White Pass Summit.
near Fraser Meadow and the summit
the Alaska, US/Canada border
The flags at White Pass Summit are those of the U.S., Alaska, British Columbia, the Yukon Territory and Canada. The summit at 2,865 feet is also the U.S. /Canada border.
heading back to Skagway
Fraser Meadow
The final destination on the WP&YR steam excursion is Fraser Meadow, British Columbia, just past White Pass Summit. I can imagine how much snow fall is collected up here when in June the patches are still evident among the ponds and grasses.

Choose a destination:

The Inside Passage, continue the trip in chronological order (The next stop is Petersburg.)

The previous location was Skagway.

The Inside Passage home page

Or, pick a location from the Interior Alaska home page.

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