White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

Born during the Klondike Gold Rush, the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad was built to provide an easier mode of transportation to the gold fields in the north.  The route starts at sea level in Skagway, Alaska and climbs to almost 3000 ft at the White Pass summit
just 20 miles away.  Tight curves of White Pass called for a narrow gauge track (rails only 3 ft apart).  Construction meant 110 miles of cliff hanging curves, two tunnels, and numerous bridges and trestles.
Construction crews worked from two directions: north from Skagway across White Pass Summit, and south from the Klondike gold fields.  They met in Caribou Crossing (now called Carcross).  A gold spike was driven there in July, 1900.  For decades the WP&YR carried ore, supplies during WWII, and fortune seekers to the Klondike.  In 1982 mines closed, and the railway suspended operations.  In 1988 WP&YR was reinvented as a tourist attraction.

From Whitehorse, we took a bus to the town of Fraser to board the train.

En route we had a short stop at the
town of Carcross.   This little town of about 500 is brightly decorated with First Nation native painting and carvings.


Once on the train we had a guided tour through the curves and tunnels, over canyons and trestles, until we departed at Skagway, Alaska.

At Skagway, we had some time to look around and have lunch before returning to Whitehorse via bus.

Skagway is also a port for Alaska cruise ships; one was on dock while we were there.