RIDE THE RAILS

AFTER MY HUSBAND AND I BOOKED A CRUISE UP THE COAST OF ALASKA AND CANADA, WE PORED THROUGH TRAVEL GUIDES ABOUT THE DAY TRIPS AVAILABLE FOR PASSENGERS. A BROCHURE ON THE YUKON TERRITORY OF CANADA CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION. TRUSTING THE CATCHY HEADLINE “RE-LIVE THE GOLD RUSH ON THE WHITE PASS & YUKON ROUTE RAILWAY,” WE BOOKED A TRIP ON THE HERITAGE TRAIN.

CANADA

The Caribou Hotel in Carcross is one of the oldest buildings in the region. The ghost of Bessie Gideon, a previous owner, is said to roam on the third floor. The hotel also is known for Polly, a parrot who entertained guests for 54 years with his rendition of “Springtime in the Rockies.”

The home that Skookum Jim built in 1899 is the site of a mural that features cherry red paint and black and blue images of Yukon animals. The mural was designed by Tlingit artist Keith Wolfe Smarch.

Carcross also is home to The Barracks, a log building built in 1921 that once was used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and now houses arts and crafts selections by local artisans.

We finished the day on a bus ride along the Klondike Highway back to Skagway. During a stop at Bove Island Lookout, we took time to enjoy the sun shining on the aspens surrounding Tagish Lake and Bove Island.

IF YOU GO

The White Pass & Yukon Route railroad operates from May through September. The website for the railway is www.wpyr.com. A good website for Carcross and the Yukon is www.yukoncommunities. yk.ca/carcross.

Ann Bush is freelance writer and photographer based in East Texas.

WP&YR FUN FACTS

• 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 climbs almost 3,000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades of up to 3.9 percent, cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles.

• 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 WP&YR suspended operations in 1982 when Yukon’s mining industry collapsed due to low mineral prices. The railway was reopened in 1988 as a seasonal tourism operation.

• The WP&YR rail fleet consists of 20 diesel-electric locomotives, 70 restored and replica parlor cars and two steam locomotives.

• The diesel-electric locomotives are General Electric units dating back to the 1950s and ALCO units from the 1960s. The pride of the fleet is Engine #73, a fully restored 1947 Baldwin 2-8-2 Mikado class steam locomotive and was joined in 2005 by No.69, a Baldwin 2-8-0 built for WP&YR in 1907.

Texas State Railroad takes passengers back in time

Texas State Railroad uses vintage locomotives to take passengers on a scenic 50-mile round trip between depots near Rusk and Palestine.

As the train moves through the Piney Woods, it crosses 24 bridges, including one over 1,000 feet long and 35 feet high. The forest along the route is home to over 100 species of birds that nest in the many species of hardwoods, and loblolly pines that tower over 100 feet tall.

Passengers frequently spot squirrels, rabbits, deer and other animals. The train also passes a yesteryear turntable used to turn engines around.

Most of the railroad cars are climate-controlled, have restrooms and access to a concession car stocked with snacks and beverages. Narration and music highlight the trip. Both depots re-create the atmosphere of the golden age of train travel. Each has a gift shop, picnic facilities and displays chronicling the rise of railroading in East Texas.

The first section of the Texas State Railroad was laid in 1881 using the labor of prisoners. Over a century later, the railroad whisks passengers aboard early-1900 coaches back in time to when steam locomotives were king and diesel power was in its infancy. The Texas State Railroad frequently has theme excursions including fall foliage tours, pumpkin patch rides and its popular holiday season Polar Express rides. Reservations are made by calling 855-632-7729 or going to texasstaterailroad. net.