Alaska Railroad Overview
The Alaska Railroad is a Class II railroad that operates freight and passenger trains in the state of Alaska. The railroad's mainline runs between Seward on the southern coast and Fairbanks, near the center of the state. It passes through Anchorage and Denali National Park, to which 17% of visitors travel by train.
The railroad has 656 miles (1,056 km) of track, including sidings, rail yards and branch lines. The main line between Seward and Fairbanks is over 470 miles (760 km) long. The branch to Whittier conveys freight railcars interchanged with the contiguous United States via rail barges sailing between the Port of Whittier and Harbor Island in Seattle.
Construction of the railroad started in 1903 when the Alaska Central Railroad built a line starting in Seward and extending 50 miles (80 km) north. The Alaska Central went bankrupt in 1907 and was reorganized as the Alaska Northern Railroad Company in 1911, which extended the line another 21 miles (34 km) northward. On March 12, 1914, the U.S. Congress agreed to fund construction and operation of an all-weather railroad from Seward to Fairbanks and purchased the rail line from the financially struggling Alaska Northern.
As the government started building the estimated $35 million railroad, it opened a construction town along Ship Creek, eventually giving rise to Anchorage, now the state's largest city. In 1917, the government purchased the narrow gauge Tanana Valley Railroad, mostly for its railyard in Fairbanks. The railroad was completed on July 15, 1923 with President Warren G. Harding traveling to Alaska to drive a ceremonial golden spike at Nenana. Ownership of the railroad passed from the federal government to the state of Alaska on January 6, 1985.
The system had a ridership of 220,400, or about 1,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023. In 2019, the company generated a US$21.6 million profit on revenues of US$203.9 million, holding US$1.1 billion in total assets.
Alaska Railroad Locomotives
|
Number
|
Model
|
Year Built
|
History
|
Paint
|
Notes
|
ARR 31
|
APCU
|
1977
|
Ex-AMTK 244
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
HEP quipped
|
ARR 32
|
APCU
|
1977
|
Ex-AMTK 268
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
HEP quipped
|
ARR 2001
|
GP38-2
|
1977
|
Ex-RARW 108/BAP 108
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 2002
|
GP38-2
|
1978
|
Ex-RARW 109/BAP 109
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 2003
|
GP38-2
|
1969
|
Ex-CR 7812/PC GP38 7812
|
Bold Alaska Scheme
|
|
ARR 2004
|
GP38-2
|
1969
|
Ex-CR 7773/PC GP38 7773
|
Bold Alaska Scheme
|
|
ARR 2005
|
GP38-2
|
1969
|
Ex-CR 7752/PC GP38 7752
|
Bold Alaska Scheme
|
|
ARR 2006
|
GP38-2
|
1969
|
Ex-CR 7754/PC GP38 7754
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 2007
|
GP38-2
|
1969
|
Ex-CR 7780/PC GP38 7780
|
Bold Alaska Scheme
|
|
ARR 2008
|
GP38-2
|
1968
|
Ex-CR 3250/NYC GP38 3250
|
Bold Alaska Scheme
|
|
ARR 3001
|
GP40-2
|
1975
|
Purchased new.
|
Black & Yellow Scheme
|
|
ARR 3002
|
GP40-2
|
1975
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 3003
|
GP40-2
|
1975
|
Purchased new.
|
Black & Yellow Scheme
|
|
ARR 3004
|
GP40-2
|
1975
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 3005
|
GP40-2
|
1975
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 3006
|
GP40-2
|
1975
|
Purchased new.
|
Black & Yellow Scheme
|
|
ARR 3007
|
GP40-2
|
1976
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 3008
|
GP40-2
|
1976
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 3009
|
GP40-2
|
1976
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped
|
ARR 3010
|
GP40-2
|
1976
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped
|
ARR 3011
|
GP40-2
|
1976
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped
|
ARR 3012
|
GP40-2
|
1978
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
|
ARR 3013
|
GP40-2
|
1978
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped
|
ARR 3014
|
GP40-2
|
1978
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped
|
ARR 3015
|
GP40-2
|
1978
|
Purchased new.
|
Baby Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped
|
ARR 4001
|
SD70MAC
|
1999
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Alaska"
|
ARR 4002
|
SD70MAC
|
1999
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Seward"
|
ARR 4003
|
SD70MAC
|
1999
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Moose Pass"
|
ARR 4004
|
SD70MAC
|
1999
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Whitter"
|
ARR 4005
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Girdwood"
|
ARR 4006
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Anchorage"
|
ARR 4007
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Palmer"
|
ARR 4008
|
SD70MAC
|
1999
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Wasilla"
|
ARR 4009
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Talkeetna"
|
ARR 4010
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Cantwell"
|
ARR 4011
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Denali"
|
ARR 4012
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Healy"
|
ARR 4013
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Nenana"
|
ARR 4014
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Fairbanks"
|
ARR 4015
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of North Pole"
|
ARR 4016
|
SD70MAC
|
2000
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
"Spirit of Delta Junction"
|
ARR 4317
|
SD70MAC
|
2004
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped. Operation Lifesaver Decal.
|
ARR 4318
|
SD70MAC
|
2004
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4319
|
SD70MAC
|
2004
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped. Operation Lifesaver Decal.
|
ARR 4320
|
SD70MAC
|
2004
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4321
|
SD70MAC
|
2004
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4322
|
SD70MAC
|
2004
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4323
|
SD70MAC
|
2004
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4324
|
SD70MAC
|
2004
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4325
|
SD70MAC
|
2007
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4326
|
SD70MAC
|
2007
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4327
|
SD70MAC
|
2007
|
Purchased new.
|
Big Mac Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
ARR 4328
|
SD70MAC
|
2007
|
Purchased new.
|
Centennial Scheme
|
HEP equipped.
|
|
Alaska Railroad Train Symbols
|
Symbol
|
Origin
|
Destination
|
Frequency
|
Notes
|
110N
|
Anchorage
|
Seward
|
|
Manifest
|
110S
|
Seward
|
Anchorage
|
|
Manifest
|
120N
|
Whittier
|
Anchorage
|
Weekly (Barge Dependent)
|
Barge Manifest
|
120S
|
Anchorage
|
Whittier
|
Weekly (Barge Dependent)
|
Barge Manifest
|
130N
|
Anchorage
|
Fairbanks
|
Sunday-Friday
|
Manifest
|
130S
|
Anchorage
|
Fairbanks
|
Sunday-Saturday
|
Manifest
|
150W
|
Kashwitna
|
Anchorage
|
|
QA&P Unit Gravel
|
155W
|
Palmer
|
Anchorage
|
|
AS&G Unit Gravel
|
155W
|
Healey
|
Fairbanks
|
|
Usibelli Unit Coal
|
Coastal Classic (Summer)
|
Anchorage
|
Seward
|
Daily
|
Operates seasonally.
|
Denali Star (Summer)
|
Anchorage
|
Fairbanks
|
Daily
|
Operates seasonally.
|
Glacier Discovery (Summer)
|
Anchorage
|
Grandview
|
Daily
|
Operates seasonally.
|
Hurricane Turn (Summer)
|
Hurricane
|
Talkeetna
|
Thursday-Monday
|
Flagstop Train
|
Hurricane Turn (Winter)
|
Hurricane
|
Anchorage
|
1st Thursday each month
|
Flagstop Train
|
Coastal Classic (Winter)
|
Anchorage
|
Fairbanks
|
Tuesday-Sunday
|
Operates seasonally
|
|
Alaska Railroad Customers
Anchorage Division
|
City/Town
|
Customer
|
Ships/Recieves
|
Notes
|
Anchorage
|
Anchorage Sand and Gravel
|
I/B aggregates (open hoppers) from Palmer Pit
|
Anchorage
|
Galco
|
O/B metal building supplies (flat cars)
|
Anchorage
|
Univar
|
I/B chemicals (tank cars)
|
Anchorage
|
Alaska Metal Recyling
|
O/B scrap metal (gondolas)
|
Anchorage
|
Quality Asphalt Products
|
I/B aggregates (open hoppers) from Palmer Pit
|
Anchorage
|
NC Machinery
|
I/B or O/B heavy equipment and parts (flat cars)
|
Anchorage
|
Air Liquide
|
I/B refrigerated carbon dioxide and gases (tank cars)
|
Anchorage
|
Central Paving Products
|
I/B aggregates (open hoppers) from Palmer Pit
|
Anchorage
|
Alaska Steel
|
I/B steel products (flat cars)
|
Anchorage
|
Spenard Builders Supply
|
I/B lumber and building products (flat and boxcars)
|
Anchorage
|
United Freight Transport
|
I/B or O/B misc. goods (boxcars)
|
Anchorage
|
Anchorage Ocean Dock
|
I/B and O/B containers and trailers (flatcars)
|
Anchorage
|
Insulfoam
|
O/B foam insulation (flat and boxcars)
|
Anchorage
|
Lyden
|
I/B and O/B containers and trailers (flatcars)
|
Anchorage
|
Totem Ocean Trailer
|
I/B and O/B containers and trailers (flatcars)
|
Anchorage
|
Port of Anchorage
|
I/B and O/B misc goods and asphalt (various)
|
Anchorage
|
Alaska Railroad
|
I/B heavy equipment and supplies (various)
|
Anchorage
|
Alaska Railroad Transload
|
I/B misc. goods and lumber (various)
|
Anchorage
|
Craig Taylor Equipment
|
I/B heavy equipment and parts (flatcars)
|
Anchorage
|
Chevron
|
I/B Petroleum products/fuel(tankcars) uses CLCX 2113 (S2)
|
Anchorage
|
Tesoro
|
I/B Petroleum products/fuel(tankcars) uses CLCX 2113 (S2)
|
Anchorage
|
Flint Hills Resources
|
I/B Petroleum products/fuel(tankcars) uses CLCX 2113 (S2)
|
Anchorage
|
Alaska Basic Industires
|
I/B cement (covered hoppers
|
|
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