Alaska Railroad History

Mar. 12, 1914	The U.S. Congress agrees to fund construction and operation of a railroad from Seward to Fairbanks. Estimated construction cost - $35 million.
June 1915	Anchorage is created as a railroad construction town along Ship Creek where the railroad moves its headquarters from Seward.
1917	Railroad construction crews peak at 4,500 workers.
July 15, 1923	President Warren G. Harding drives the golden spike in ceremonies in Nenana, one of the state's largest cities.
1927	Annual deficits decline to less than $1 million for the first time.
1930	A combined population of 5,4000 people in Seward, Anchorage and Fairbanks, the three towns of any size along the railbelt, is unable to generate enough business to make the railroad profitable.
1938	Under the management of Col. Otto F. Ohlson, the Alaska Railroad operates its first profitable year.
1940-43	World War II brings large profits from hauling military and civilian supplies and materials. In 1941 two tunnels are built through the Chugach Mountains to allow rail access from the port of Whittier, a military fuel depot necessary to the war effort. A new Anchorage passenger depot is completed in December 1941.
1944	Whittier opens as a second port. Diesel locomotives begin to replace steam engines, a process completed in 1966 when the last steam engine was sold.
Post-War	Congress approves $100 million rehabilitation program.
June 15, 1947	First one day service between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The original schedule was 14 hours, but following track improvements, reduced it to 11 hours by the mid 1950s.
Oct 18, 1947	The inaugural run of the AuRoRa, a blue and gold streamliner, marks upgraded passenger service between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
1953	Competition from roads forces Seward passenger service to be discontinued. Extensive track rehabilitation completed.
Summer 1956	Began Midnight Sun operation which featured overnight sleeper car service. This was discontinued in the mid-1960s.
May 1962	First car-barge service established at Whittier, followed by train-ship service in June 1964. These services enable rail cars from any rail point in the lower 48 to be shipped to any point along the Alaska Railroad.
Apr 25, 1963	President John F. Kennedy signs executive order making the Alaska Railroad tariff rates subject to the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Mar 27, 1964	Railroad damage from the earthquake is estimated at $30 million. Freight service from Anchorage to Fairbanks is restored April 6, passenger service is back on line April 11, and freight service to Whittier resumes April 20.
Apr 1967	Control of the Alaska Railroad passes from the Secretary o the Interior to the Secretary of Transportation.
Jan. 14, 1983	President Ronald Reagan signs into law legislation authorizing transfer of the Alaska Railroad to the state of Alaska.
Apr 20, 1983	Dedication of a new rail barge doubles the Canadian National Aqua-Train rail capacity to Alaska from Prince Rupert, B.C. The new barge carries 56 cars per trip.
July 15, 1983	Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole and Gov. Bill Sheffield sign a report detailing the Alaska Railroad's property, assets and liabilities to be transferred to the state.
Sep 23, 1983	The U.S. Railway Association sets the fair market value of the Alaska Railroad at $23 million.
May 1984	Alaska legislature authorizes Gov. Bill Sheffield to negotiate with the federal government on the Railroad's transfer to the state. Tour Alaska attached the first three private dome railcars to the Anchorage/Fairbanks daily train service.
July 5, 1984	Gov. Bill Sheffield signs legislation establishing the quasi-public Alaska Railroad Corporation and its seven-member board of directors.
Jan. 5, 1985	The Alaska Railroad becomes the property of the state of Alaska n transfer ceremonies held in Nenana and Seward.
1985	The Alaska Railroad nets $7.1 million after its first year under new management. Groundwork is set to increase revenues from petroleum products and piggyback trailer service by operating overnight priority trains between Anchorage and Fairbanks, and reduce losses from passenger service through purchase of more efficient equipment. The Corporation purchases five new locomotives and 45 new railcars for $9 million. More miles of rail are replaced than following the 1964 earthquake.
Mar 3, 1986	A leaking chemical tank car at Crown Point causes the evacuation of local residents and costs the railroad about $650,000 to clean affected homes and reimburse expenses of those displaced by the incident.
Apr 7, 1986	A coal train derails near Curry, spilling 22 carloads of coal on the ground and forcing closure of the line for three days. Repair cost the corporation about $350,000 for the repairs.
Oct 12, 1986	A once-in-100-years flood knocks out two major bridges and several smaller bridges and covers the tracks in mud, causing nearly $3 million in damage. Service is restored within 13 days.
1986	Expenses associated with Crown Point, the coal train derailment and the flood result in a net loss for the year of $985,000.
1987	The corporation nets $3 million though budget cutting, personnel reductions and wage negotiations.
May 1987	After 18 months of talks, employees and the Corporation agree to one master labor contract that provides equal benefits and policies for all represented employees.
	Westours attaches its first six private dome railcars to the daily summer express train between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
1988	The railroad hits a near record $5.8 million in profits.
	Shipments of petroleum products and pipe for the oil fields nearby double, indicating a rebound in the local economy, and after a 10-year hiatus, logs are hauled on the Alaska Railroad. Export shipments from the Matanuska Valley and the Interior total 2.8 million board feet.
	A new depot is constructed at Denali Park, ultimate destination of thousands of summer visitors.
1989	Capital improvements total $20.2 million including $5.5 million for installation of more than 122,000 cross ties and $1.2 million for construction of a new Engineering Shop Building in Anchorage.
	Six new passenger coaches and two new food service cars arrive from Korea. Built at a cost of $4.5 million, the new cars will be used on daily trains between Anchorage and Fairbanks starting in 1990.
	An agreement is reached with six bargaining units and management to extend for one year the existing collective bargaining agreement.
Winter 1989-1990	A severe winter of extended cold periods and heavy snowfall causes delays to train operations. A record 722 moose weakened by hunger and walking through deep snow, are killed by trains. Attempts to deter moose from the tracks include a pilot car which runs in front of freight trains to shoo moose away and noise-making shotgun shells.
May 19, 1990	Passenger service begins using new passenger equipment for daily express service between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
May 28, 1990	An Alaska Railroad train of 70 cars derails near Dunbar with 19 tank cars leaving the tracks and at least seven rupturing. Some 170,000 gallons of diesel and jet fuel spill, prompting a massive response by the railroad, contractors and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Within three weeks, the railroad has the majority of the spill cleaned up and has prepared a long-range plan for ADEC approval. Total bill for the cleanup operation reached $6 million.
Dec 31, 1990	Freight revenue increases overall by 10%. Net income for the year is $4.5 million. Ridership increased 16% over 1989, totaling 436,964 passengers.
Jan. 2, 1991	Frank G. Turpin retires as the first president and CEO of the Alaska Railroad Corporation, The board of directors hires Robert S. Hatfield Jr., a 17-year veteran of the Southern Pacific Transportation Co., to head the operation.
Feb 4, 1991	Environmental Protection Agency assesses a $1.8 million fine for alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act storing hazardous wastes at the Anchorage rail yard.
Dec 31, 1991	Freight revenues drop 3%. Corporation earns $68.4 million in revenue; 2% below 1990 reflecting a flat Alaska economy. Net income totals $4.4 million after accruing for EPA fine which remains in dispute at the of the year.
May 1992	Employees in Anchorage move into a new headquarters building constructed along Ship Creek. The 38,700 square-foot building built by Matrix Construction, is owned by Railroad Townsite Company. Cost of construction totals $6 million . Alaska Railroad Corporations is the sole tenant.
Dec 1992	Revenue totals $68.1 million and expenses total $65.7, for a net income of $2.3 million, or about 50% less than 1991. Increased expenses are attributed to new and one-time expense such as lease payments for new headquarters building, post-retirement benefits for employees, incentive payments for an early retirement program and funds accrued for payment of an EPA fine.
FEb 5, 1993	A snow fleet consisting of two locomotives and a Jordan spreader derail at Eklutna and roll down an embankment along Knik Arm. Crews use bulldozers and cranes to hoist equipment up the bank and rerail.
April 27, 1993	Four locomotives and 11 cars on a 55-car freight train derail near Chase when the train hits a mud slide. The mainline is closed 2.5 days.
Dec 1993	The railroad showed a loss for the second time since its transfer from federal ownership. The loss amounted to $862,000 on revenue of $63.9 million. A one-time charge of $18 million against earnings was taken to finance restructuring in 1994, for a total loss of $2.66 million.
Jan. 28, 1994	The Alaska Railroad Corporation and MAPCO Alaska Petroleum Inc. announced that they reached an accord extending to the year 2013, the contract for the transportation of refined petroleum products.
Sep 21, 1994	A tractor-trailer runs through a grade crossing hitting a caboose injuring four railroad employees, one fatally.
Nov 30, 1994	The railroad brings up a 700-foot long rail grinder to remove imperfections on the rail. Cost is $1.2 million to realize a cost savings of $5.3 million over 10 years.
Dec 1994	The railroad records its third loss since its transfer from federal ownership. The company showed a net loss of $3.2 million on revenues of $59.6 million.
1995	Alaska Railroad shows a record profit of $7.9 million. The increase in profit is largely due to a 9 percent increase in petroleum shipment from MAPCO Alaska Petroleum, INC. The gain may also be attributed to an uncharacteristically long season due to mild weather conditions, which allowed for gravel shipments well into October.
1995	Purchase aluminum hoppers cars.
April 1995	Former Gov. Bill Sheffield is appointed to Board and elected chairman.
Nov 1995	An agreement with Alaska Cargo Transport (ACT) is signed. It allows ACT to jointly use deck space on the railroad's Alaska Rail-Marine Service barge. ACT uses the space to transport containerized and break bulk cargo between Seattle and Whittier.
Dec 1995	Ridership hits a new high with 492,528 passengers riding the train during 1995.
1996	The Alaska Railroad shows a record profit of $8.0 million, surpassing the previous record profit of $7.9 million in 1995.
1996	Passenger ridership record: 512,000
1996	Railroad receives $10 million in federal grants and installs 87,000 railroad ties.
1996	Alaska Legislature passes a bill to appraise the railroad for sale. The bill is vetoed by Gov. Tony Knowles.
1997	Alaska Railroad invests over $800,000 in new depots and depot improvements
1997	Former Governor Bill Sheffield becomes CEO and President of the Alaska Railroad and Johne Binkley is named Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Apr 1997	John's Alaska Railroad Web Page is first posted on the Internet
May 1997	An iron rail rolls over and causes one of the largest passenger train derailments. One locomotive and nine passenger cars fall sideways. No one was injured, but the track is closed for four days.
Sept. 1997	The Board of Directors authorizes the purchase of eight new EMD SD70MACs locomotives at an estimated cost of $1.9 each. Delivery is scheduled for early 1999.
July 1998	The Alaska Railroad celebrates its 75th anniversary
July 1998	An Alaska Railroad train of 79 cars derails near Elemendorf AFB with 16 cars leaving the tracks and dumping some 600 tons of gravel. No one was injured, but the track was closed for two days.
Oct 1998	A $28 million spending bill is approved which will provide an elevated train station at the Anchorage International Airport.
July 1999	The Alaska Railroad purchased nine coaches from the former Florida Fun Train for use by cruise ship passengers traveling from Seward to Anchorage.
Oct 1999	Tank cars derail at Canyon, just south of Hurricane, and spilled 12,450 gallons of fuel.
Dec 1999	A tank train derails at Gold Creek. Fifteen tank cars leave the track and 5 of them spill 120,516 gallons of JP 8 jet fuel.
2000	Railroad initiates the Grandview passenger train to serve cruise ship passengers traveling between Seward and Anchorage. Computer Aided Dispatch introduced to Railroad to replace manual method of tracking trains on handwritten log sheets.
FEb 2000	An avalanche on the Seward Highway near Bird Flats kills Alaska Railroad bulldozer operator Kerry Brookman.
FEb 2000	The first of 16 SD70MAC locomotives arrives in Whittier.
June 2000	An $80 million expansion to Whittier tunnel opens it to automotive traffic thus allowing it to be shared with train traffic. The Whittier Shuttle which hauled passengers and their automobiles is discontinued after 35 years.
Oct 2000	A 32 car passenger train ran from Anchorage to Indian making it the longest passenger train in the Alaska Railroad's history.
Oct 2000	The first of three rail barges is launched by Alaska Railbelt Marine (a subsidiary of Lynden) under a new 10 year contract.
2001	Former Governor Bill Sheffield retires from the Railroad. Patrick K. Gamble, former Four Star Air Force general, named new CEO and President of the Alaska Railroad Corporation.
2001	Railroad completes new freight dock in Seward and upgrades the existing dock to a passenger-only facility. Improved avalanche detection and prevention system installed. Railroad joins new partnership with Lynden to operate the rail barge service between Whittier and the Lower 48. The new tug boats and barges increase efficiency.
2001	Railroad begins construction on track straightening program between Anchorage and Wasilla to improve safety and efficiency and reduce the transit time by 40 minutes.
2002	Real estate revenues exceed $11 million for the first time. New web-based passenger reservation system implemented. Railroad initiates program to install auxiliary power units and software technology on locomotives to reduce diesel emissions and noise.
April 2002	New web-based passenger reservation system implemented spiking reservations.
Oct 2002	On Sept. 26 the last load of Healy coal was hauled via contract between Usibelli Coal Mine and South Korea-based Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Usibelli had used the railroad two or three times a week for 18 years to ship $250 million of Alaska coal.
May 2003	Grand opening of the new airport railroad depot to regular passenger service.
July 2003	Heavy rains cause a washout at milepost 288 thus bringing rail traffic to a halt for several days.
July 2003	Radar Railcar provides a demonstration of a self-propelled passenger car (Diesel Multiple Unit).
Sep 2003	New contracts between the railroad, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Usibelli Coal Mine paved the way for a revival of the export of coal from Healy to south Korea.
Apr 2004	Railroad takes delivery of eight new SD70MACs.
Aug 2004	Railroad implements distributed locomotive power (DP) to improve train handling and service.
Aug 2004	The South Palmer Station opens at the Alaska State Fair grounds in Palmer. The new park-and-ride facility, initiated by the State Fair, includes a new rail station, rest rooms, handicap parking and convenient and safe drop-off traffic flow through a new fair gate.
Oct 2004	SD70MACs begin receiving head end power (HEP)
April 2005	The Alaska Railroad dedicates its new Anchorage Operations Center. The new state-of-the-art facility serves as the nerve center of the Alaska Railroad, bringing dispatch, transportation, safety, and operations together under one roof.
May 2005	Completion of a new depot in Fairbanks. The depot's timber frame design, clock tower and timeless roof line are characteristics borrowed from some of the Alaska Railroad’s original depots.
May 2005	The Alaska Railroad introduces its new GoldStar first class rail service by adding two new double-deck luxury cars built by Colorado Railcar to the Denali Star Train consists that operate daily mid-May through mid-September.
June 1, 2005	Passengers on the Alaska Railroad can choose to travel in first-class luxury in two new, custom-designed railcars.
June 6, 2005	A forklift on a flatcar strikes a wooden support beam in Moody tunnel which later collapses, closing the line for three days.
May 2006	ARRC employee Dwight West wins Safety Person of the Year Award presented by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Associations. The ASLRRA is a national organization representing over 400 railroads across the United States.
August 2006	The Alaska Railroad, for the first time ever, issues the first round of tax-exempt bonds to fund an aggressive track refurbishment program.
Sep 2006	The railroad issued $76.4 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to speed up its program of replacing track on its main Anchorage-Fairbanks corridor
Sep 2006	Congress approves $16 million to buy four locomotives and about 50 rail cars to enhance the transportation of the Army's Alaska Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Another $2 million is approved to study relocating Alaska Railroad track at Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks.
June 2007	A partnership between the Alaska Railroad and the National Forest Service provide guests with whistle stop service in the Chugach National Forest. Five whistle stops will provide access to 32 miles of new trails, including an 18-mile point-to-point backpack trip and a rafting trip which starts at Spencer Glacier.
Jan 2008	Railroad takes delivery of four new SD70MACs.
April 2008	Historic Moody tunnel is imploded to facilitate better safety
June 2008	The Alaska Railroad Corporation and the U.S. Forest Service held a dedication ceremony for a new self propelled rail car the, "Chugach Explorer." The Chugach Explorer is a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) offering the traveling public a distinctive travel experience into the Chugach National Forest Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop.
June 2009	The state's congressional delegation announced the Alaska Railroad is getting a $25.8 million grant of federal stimulus money.
Aug 2009	First revenue gravel train to load at the new Granite Birchwood pit
Oct 2009	The tour guide program where high school students take a class and vie for a chance to work for the AK RR in the summer was suspended.
Jan 2010	A lawsuit was filed in federal court over the problem of stockpiled coal dust blowing into Seward.
Jan 2010	The Alaska Railroad celebrates 25 years of state ownership.
July 2010	A 200-foot section of the Alaska Railroad’s main line through Elmendorf Air Force Base was damaged when a military C-17 cargo aircraft crashed.
August 2010	The Alaska Railroad selected the management contractor for the Northern Rail Extension project construction for an extension to Delta Junction. Alaska is pushing the extension primarily to serve military bases at Fort Greely and the Joint Tanana Training Complex.
Sep 2011	Twenty-one ceremonial shovels were wielded at the ground breaking for the $188 million Tanana River Bridge. The project will allow for year-round access by the military to the largest training grounds in the country.
Nov 2011	The Surface Transportation Board approved the construction of a new 25 miles line between Port MacKenzie and the existing mainline at Houston.
Dec 2011	Steam locomotive #557 returned to Alaska to begin a full blown restoration program and eventual excursions as a tourism train.
Oct 2013	The Railroad’s own Bill O’Leary is named CEO, becoming the first lifelong Alaskan to lead the railroad.
Aug 2014	The Tanana River Crossing is officially completed.
May 2015	ARRC earns a Silver LEED Certification award for renovation of the Historic Freight Shed.
Oct 2015	The Alaska Railroad Corporation became the first railroad to gain approval for transporting liquefied natural gas by railcar.
Fall 2016	Fairbanks Natural Gas and Hitachi High-Tech AW Cryo, Inc. of Japan work with the railroad to employ two intermodal cryogenic tank containers (ISO tanks) in demonstrating intermodal transportation of LNG from Anchorage to Fairbanks. This was the first transportation of LNG by rail in the United States.
Dec 2016	The Alaska Railroad offers midweek service on the Aurora Winter Train during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
May 2017	Webmaster John Combs was honored in a ceremony celebrating the 20th year of alaskarails.org. Doug Engebretson, ARRC Vice President for Operations read a letter of congratulations from ARRC President, Bill O’Leary. Doug presented a gold nugget encrusted switch key to John Combs. While unofficial, alaskarails.org is the touch stone for rail fans, the general public and employees in search of information on their favorite railroad.
Jan 2018	The Governor ordered a commuter rail study for Valley-Anchorage commuters.
Aug 2018	ARRC receives $10 million for Vital Functions for PTC to Improve Safety and Velocity
Dec 2018	FRA Awards More Than $46 Million for PTC Implementation
Jan 2019	Alaska Railroad installs winter shelter at Denali National Park depot to accommodate a growing number of winter visitors
Spring 2020	A new business comes on line as the railroad hauls fuel for PetroStar’s fuel distribution service. This follows 2019 completion of new infrastructure on railroad land in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Mar 2020	The Alaska Railroad suspends all passenger train service until July 1 amid coronavirus concerns
Jul 2020	The Alaska Railroad resumes all passenger train service using new Onboard Safety Guidelines.
Dec 2020	ARRC fully implements Positive Train Control (PTC), meeting the federal mandate and deadline for the safety overlay system for train operations.
Spring 2021	The railroad’s audited financial statements for 2020 reflect a nearly $8 million net loss. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic causes steep declines — particularly for the passenger business, which saw ridership plummet from more than 500,000 in 2019 to just over 32,000 passengers in 2020. Ridership began to rebound in summer 2021.
Mar 2021	Last Aqua train arrives in Whittier
July 2022	Gov. Dunleavy signs HB 127, marking major milestone for ARRC Seward Dock update
Summer 2022	ARRC adopts a centennial year logo in anticipation of celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2023
Jan 17, 2023	A 3,144-foot long freight train hauling 6,091 tons of freight stuck an avalanche at MP 71.5 on January 17, 2003 just before 2:00am. The line reopened on January 20 at 4:30pm.
May 2023	The Railroad Days open house makes a comeback at the Alaska Railroad Corporation.
July 15, 2023	The Alaska Railroad celebrated their 100th anniversary with a block party in Nenana as well as the driving of the Golden Spike
July 29, 2024	Two purchased ex-KCS SD70MACs numbers 3909 and 3946 arrived in Whitrier.

Page was created 4/28/97 and last updated 7/31/24