Our tour started in Vancouver boarding Air Canada for Whitehorse. With a little time in hand on arrival we drove into "downtown" Whitehorse and stopped at the "roundhouse", actually a two-stall engine shed well preserved from the WP&YR days of operation. The building currently stores the Portuguese four-wheel trolley car that runs back and forth (towing its own generator unit) on about a mile of original track past the beautifully restored WP&YR station. Then it was off to Carcross by bus through the beautiful Southern Lakes, unspoiled by man and stunning in their pristine wilderness.

RIGHT: Waiting at "Cariboo Crossing" – as it once was, MP 67.5, was steam loco #73 and a string of vintage coaches; namely #224 Lake Marsh, #214 Lake Spirit, #222 Lake Linderman, #220 Lake Dewey and #218 Lake Atlin.

It took the rest of the afternoon to get to Skagway with numerous run-bys at the best scenic spots all the way to Fraser, MP 27.7. Lake Bennett provided the stunning backdrop to most run-bys that day.

Day two featured our steam charter to Lake Bennett and return, a total distance of some 80 miles. In the consist was #73 and tender, followed by #708 and #782 boxcars, followed by the previous day’s string of vintage coaches less "Lake Atlin". We covered more excellent days of railroading mainly north of Fraser and all the way to Bennett.

Day three started with a visit to the shops in Skagway being transferred the 1.7 miles with the two-car diesel set used for the hikers’ special transfers from Fraser. From the shops we enjoyed the spectacle of two trains performing for us. Number 73 was on the point of a small freight consist, (the two box cars noted above, two tanks cars - #55 and #10, a flat car, and caboose #909.). (photo below)

After some time at the White Pass summit waiting for a meet, both trains continued on to Fraser where they turned on the loop, and after waiting for the scheduled service to depart, performed again for the well-behaved photo-lines. Total return distance 56 miles. Every photo run-by that day featured both the steam-hauled freight and our vintage diesel-hauled passenger string. Numbers 99 and 93 pulled the same string of coaches used on day 1. The Tunnel Mountain run-by featured both trains as usual, but because space trackside was so limited at the top of a steep cliff each run-by had to be performed twice using half the group reversing positions each time. The cover photo shows the results.

This trip was a joy for the hard-core rail-fans who came from the UK, Scandinavia, and the Continent as well as all over the USA and Canada. The White Pass and Yukon Route people were very accommodating and understanding of this type of customer and treated all to a dinner and slide show on our last night in Skagway. They did a good job.

Our last day began with a 6:00 AM start by motorcoach along the South Klondike Highway over the White Pass, and through the Southern Lakes to Whitehorse with a brief stop at Carcross to sample some home baked pastry and coffee. We were back in Vancouver, courtesy of Air Canada, by mid-afternoon.

Despite the current downturn in the tourism business WP&YR is doing reasonably well. Their fleet of 62 coaches is well utilized running mid-May to mid-September. There are four basic services. 1. White Pass Summit and return. This is basic fare for the cruise ship passenger and is a 3.5-hour roundtrip with two to three daily departures. 2. The Lake Bennett Steam Adventure runs Saturdays only on an 8.5 hour round trip featuring photo run-bys, lunch and a walking tour at Bennett. 3. The Chilkoot Trail Hikers’ Service uses the diesel rail car from Bennett to Fraser and on to Skagway daily. 4. The daily through-service to/from Whitehorse uses coach and train transfers at Fraser, also the Canada Customs post. The railway and highway are alongside each other here, making it easy for one of the two customs and immigration officers to stroll over to the train for the mandatory – but casual – check of documents. The USA customs post is some 10 miles south of Fraser, BC and is in fact just a few miles north of Skagway. This railway operation is a must for all rail fans and without the cruise ship business wouldn’t exist in this form – if at all.

News Note: The White Pass & Yukon set a new one day record for passengers hauled on Wednesday, June 11, when it carried a total of 4,888 passengers in one day. It took seven train crews, 14 trains and every available diesel locomotive and passenger coach the railroad has to do it. Skagway had five cruise ships in port that day! (TOL)

West Coast Rail Tours are agents for the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and booking with us saves you money over what you would pay the cruise ship operators who take at least US$10 commission in addition to the regular fare. Phone the tours office at 604-524-1011 to book your tickets if you are taking an Alaska cruise or getting to Skagway on our own. WCRA gets the commission!