Alaska Railroad

When the Alaska Railroad retired five of its cabooses and sold two in an auction, a railroad fan decided to share his passion with the rest of Alaska -- and one of these cars is making its way to a new home. In tonight's Assignment Alaska, reporter Christine Kim and photojournalist Rich Jordan follow an Anchorage man as he moves his prize onto a new track. It's the last call for a ride on Caboose 1041, and a special day for railroad buff John Whitney. "I never dreamed that I'd be able to have that opportunity, because owning a private car can be very expensive," Whitney said.

The Alaska Railroad will eliminate 52 positions this summer, a result of reduced production at an Interior fuel refinery. Tim Sullivan, the railroad's manager of external affairs, says fewer train loads from the Flint Hills Refinery in North Pole will cost the railroad an estimated $5 million this year and $7 million in future years. Most of the job losses will be through attrition or leaving seasonal and budget positions unfilled, with only a small number of workers receiving pink slips by July 1. Sullivan says most of the affected employees are in seasonal and maintenance positions.

by Lori Tipton Wednesday, June 2, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In late April, after submitting multiple applications for a permit, the Alaska Railroad was able to get a green light from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to use herbicides on railroad tracks. Plants and brush push roots into the gravel bed beneath the track, making the tracks unstable and unsafe. If the railroad doesn't upkeep the tracks, the federal railroad administration promises fines and expensive operational restrictions.

The Alaska Railroad offered passengers a ride on the "Holiday Train" this past Saturday and tickets sold out. More than 300 passengers boarded the Holiday Train for a ride from Anchorage to Indian and back. This is the second year Alaska Railroad has offered the Holiday Train. Passengers take part in holiday festivities, like caroling through the train cars and visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus, while enjoying glorious views from the Turnagain arm. The Alaska Railroad is discussing adding additional Holiday Train trips next year.

by The Associated Press Thursday, January 07, 2010 FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Federal regulators have approved the plan to extend the Alaska Railroad 80 miles from Eielson Air Force Base to Delta and nearby Fort Greely. After months of review the Surface Transportation Board said Tuesday it is satisfied with the plan that would provide year-round freight access to military training grounds. The Department of Defense is contributing $100 million for a half-mile bridge across the Tanana River.

Next year could be a bit leaner for the Alaska Railroad due to lower production of coal and refined fuel in the state's Interior. The railroad is anticipating significant decreases in next year's capital budget because of freight reductions. Flint Hills Refinery in North Pole says it is idling one of its two operating units, citing challenging economics and rising crude prices. The Alaska Railroad transports jet fuel from Flint Hills, as well as coal from the Usibelli Coal Mine in Healy, but a weakened global coal market means a drop in Usibelli's exports.

Steam engine 557, a 69-year-old Alaska Railroad locomotive, rolled into Anchorage for the first time in many years Tuesday. “It's a pretty big moment for Alaska and the railroad,” said David Blazejewski, the Alaska Railroad's transportation superintendent. Blazejewski gathered along the Seward Highway with several other railroad fans to see the locomotive make its way from Whittier to Anchorage on a flatbed railcar, towed by a pair of diesel locomotives. Engine 557 was the last regularly-scheduled steam locomotive to run on the Alaska Railroad, before it was retired in the 1960's and sent to a museum down in Washington State.

by Mary Pemberton The Associated Press Friday, July 9, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Alaska Railroad Corp. is taking steps to reduce coal dust that for years has dirtied the scenic town of Seward. The railroad and Aurora Energy Services have reached an agreement with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to take steps to clean up the coal-loading facility, where residents say coal dust flies from huge piles of coal.

by Ashton Goodell Thursday, July 15, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Alaska Railroad won't be able to spray weed-killer along its tracks until the Alaska Supreme Court learns more about the chemicals' effects. The court issued an order to stop the spray of herbicides along 30 miles of track just south of Anchorage until it can review the case. Environmental groups worry the chemicals could contaminate drinking water and cause harmful health effects. The railroad says the bigger concern is not being able to see the track because of overgrown weeds.

It's been a long journey home for Alaska Railroad Engine 557. This week a semi-truck carried the steam locomotive to a railroad shop in Wasilla for restoration, but her odyssey began in 1944, when she first arrived in Alaska, as part of a World War II effort to move troops and supplies.  The 557 was the last steam engine to be used for regular service in Alaska.  In 1957, she was retired, pushed aside by more powerful and efficient diesel engines.  But in June of 1962, the locomotive turned out to be the little engine that could.  She was  briefly brought back to service during flooding in Nenana.

The Alaska Railroad Corp. says it will have to lay off more than two dozen people and leave a similar number of positions unfilled, due to budget shortfalls that have forced it to restructure the organization. The move comes after what the railroad described in a Thursday statement as “a $45 million negative swing in finances from 2011 until now.” ARRC has seen an $8.5 million increase in its expenses for wages, benefits and Federal Transit Administration grants' matching funds since 2011, coupled with a $20.4 million fall in revenue from export coal and petroleum and FTA funds in the same time period.

It could be one of the largest projects in Alaska since the Trans-Alaska pipeline was constructed more than 35 years ago.  A natural gas pipeline spanning from the North Slope to the Tidewater; delivering a resource that could provide relief for Alaskans suffering from skyrocketing energy bills.  Governor Sean Parnell backs the concept, but not the execution of this project.  He's worried about handing over too much power to the Alaska Gas...

The Alaska Railroad offered passengers a ride on the "Holiday Train" this past Saturday and tickets sold out. More than 300 passengers boarded the Holiday Train for a ride from Anchorage to Indian and back. This is the second year Alaska Railroad has offered the Holiday Train. Passengers take part in holiday festivities, like caroling through the train cars and visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus, while enjoying glorious views from the Turnagain arm. The Alaska Railroad is discussing adding additional Holiday Train trips next year.

Next year could be a bit leaner for the Alaska Railroad due to lower production of coal and refined fuel in the state's Interior. The railroad is anticipating significant decreases in next year's capital budget because of freight reductions. Flint Hills Refinery in North Pole says it is idling one of its two operating units, citing challenging economics and rising crude prices. The Alaska Railroad transports jet fuel from Flint Hills, as well as coal from the Usibelli Coal Mine in Healy, but a weakened global coal market means a drop in Usibelli's exports.

The Alaska Railroad says it is taking measures to help the Fairbanks North Star Borough improve its air quality. The railroad says it will now move inactive locomotives indoors during the winter, which will help cut down on unnecessary idling and reduce emissions, as well as fuel use and costs. According to railroad officials the idea, first proposed by employees, has already reduced fuel usage by more than 24,000 gallons after three weeks, a savings of nearly $80,000. Fairbanks weather often includes temperature inversions, which can trap pollution close to the ground and in turn create poor air quality.

The Alaska Railroad freight service between Anchorage and Fairbanks resumed Tuesday afternoon following the recent string of destructive Alaska flooding. Alaska Railroad officials said freight service resumed around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and weather-related damage costs are approaching $2 million. Crews repaired a 500-foot stretch of track that hindered operations washed out by flooding near Milepost 261 about 35 miles north of Talkeetna. Crews have focused on a 70-mile stretch of rail corridor between Willow and Gold Creek since Friday.

Alaska Railroad officials said Sunday night that track repair crews continue working day and night to repair a major washout that has left 500 feet of the mainline track dangling just south of Gold Creek, about 35 miles north of Talkeetna.  Officials say once the washout is repaired train traffic can resume north of Wasilla. Crews estimate repair will be completed by Wednesday. In a press release, the AK Railroad said the washed out track segment runs parallel to the Susitna River and is in a remote area accessible only by rail.  Thirty-five railroad crew members are said to be working in shifts around-the-clock to operate work trains with air-dump railcars hauling fill material, as well as heavy equipment , including bulldozers and loaders.

It's been a long journey home for Alaska Railroad Engine 557. This week a semi-truck carried the steam locomotive to a railroad shop in Wasilla for restoration, but her odyssey began in 1944, when she first arrived in Alaska, as part of a World War II effort to move troops and supplies.  The 557 was the last steam engine to be used for regular service in Alaska.  In 1957, she was retired, pushed aside by more powerful and efficient diesel engines.  But in June of 1962, the locomotive turned out to be the little engine that could.  She was  briefly brought back to service during flooding in Nenana.

Anchorage Police said 57-year-old Steven Powers, of Anchorage, died Tuesday evening when his motorcycle slammed into a guardrail on the Seward Highway. Lt Dave Parker said it happened around 9:20 p.m. at mile 112, near McHugh Creek.    Police said Powers was thrown from a blue 2004 Yamaha sport-bike onto Alaska Railroad property and was wearing a blue helmet and blue riding gear. A train was stopped as police conducted its investigation. Witnesses told police that Powers was riding northbound and crossed into the southbound lane around a corner.

The sights along the Seward Highway attract visitors from all over the nation -- but those same sights may be drawing people into dangerous situations, after an Alaska Railroad train had to make an emergency stop to avoid hitting dozens of children sitting on the tracks. Tourists Derrell and Dot Dore, visiting from Louisiana, saw the chaperoned group of day campers from Camp Bear Valley near the scenic highway south of Anchorage. “We saw some children, family members sitting on a railroad track, taking pictures,” Dot Dore said.