Large Scale Central

Skagway, AK

Videos
#1

It was time to get cracking …

Three Cruise ships meant extra trains and I have a very hard time shooting a train coming by when I’m on said train. It was get up at 06:00, get breakfast and then head over to the station. It just so happened that we were closest to town - Broadway Dock. And were on the noon trip up to summit (good planning, eh? :wink: :))

The consists, split up where necessary, where already in place, the ALCOs were gurgling in idle and the compressors were clicking away. But why explain all that, watch the video!

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/43222798[/vimeo]

Four trains in quick succession while the rain held off (just barely). :slight_smile:

#2

Nice!

#3

Absolutely fantastic, HJ!
You are a pro. The WP&Y is probably the best organized and maintained tourist line in North America.
Love those last three Alcos. Makes me want to get some of the LGB models. :slight_smile: :slight_smile:
Would it be possible to purchase a copy of this DVD from you?
And others you shot on the train ride? I know they’ll be great.

#4

Thank you, Gentlemen!

JB, I’ll be in touch once I have the rest edited and assembled. :wink: :slight_smile:

#5

Next installment.

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/43289631[/vimeo]

Northbound on the excursion train to White Pass, BC Canada :wink: :). As mentioned in another thread it was the typical “tourist thing” with the platforms of the cars being crowded. It took a bit of editing to get the stray arms, flying hair and still photo equipment out of the segments. It was also a reminder why I prefer my own company on rail fanning trips. :open_mouth: :open_mouth: No running commentary - inane or otherwise.

There will be a lot more shots from the westside of the platform in Part Three. WP&YR has this nifty rule: You ride on whichever side on the way up and then switch to the other side on the way down. Keeps the inevitable space hogs in check. :wink: :smiley: :smiley: And that’s a good thing!

#6

Great video HJ. Did you guys go over that long steel bridge that was near the end of the video? Love all the snow at the end.

Chuck

#7

Thank you H-J, that brought back many memories. Been on the ride twice and would like to go one more time. Have enough cars to run my own on the SVRR!

Paul

#8

Great video HJ,

We took the ride in May of 09 and looking back at our pictures we had a lot nicer weather than your video shows
and not nearly as much snow up on top.
AND we are going back this August and doing it again :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

It is a great rule, changing sides of the car, gives everyone that wants it a good view of the canyon.

Did they have #73 out doing switching operations while you were there? In 09 we were lucky enough to enjoy her for several hours playing yard goat.

Chuck,
Not to steel HJ’s post but the steel cantilever bridge over Dead Horse Gulch was abandoned in 1969 when the new shorter bridge and tunnel were completed. The bridge you are talking about was built in 1901 and was the highest steel cantilever bridge in the world at the time. This bridge was also the target of saboteurs during WWII but they were foiled before any damage was done.

#9

Thank you, Gentlemen!

Yes, the weather could have been better. :slight_smile: I asked the tour director “who ordered this stuff?” and two days later we woke to very fine weather, which held all the way back to Vancouver. I got to film two very nice sunsets.

The cantilever bridge is in pretty bad shape - at least the approach portion that is close to the track.

Here comes Part 3 of the train stuff.

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/43325118[/vimeo]

#10

Tks. for the video… I had to wait for the last one to say… that was a real nice trip you took and to show us what it looks like up there. Only way we would of seen that area at our age. tk’s again.

#11

Thanks Noel,

But we’re not done yet, there will be a quirky mini-tour of Skagway. An interesting little town overrun by too many jewellery stores, but the old buildings are still there even if the tenants changed.

#12

The only other thing is looking at all that snow makes me cold! H-J if you ever do it again, take the car right behind the engines, that way you on the tail end on the way down and get some good shots comeing back down! I have over 200 stills of teh ride to the top and back. The one I would go for again is all the way to Carcross!

Paul

#13

Paul,

That was the intention, but … SWMBO wasn’t quite ready and you know how it is … you snooze, you loose. :open_mouth: :open_mouth:

PS regarding the cold snow; the ovens in the coaches were going nicely and while it was too hot down at Skagway - operation “open the window” should have been filmed, too :lol: - it was appreciated up on the Summit.

Next trip to Skagway will be on the road to Rupert and then the ferry. Then on the road to Whitehorse with a lot of stops and filming along the way.

#14

Very nice HJ. I enjoyed the ride :slight_smile: Nice move being on the middle train - Got to see one below and one above!

#15

Thanks Jon,

Can’t take credit for the sequence of the trains since our group (Wells Gray Tours 40th anniversary - 550 people!) were assigned to the Broadway train. Sheer luck!

Had some “fun” uploading to VIMEO; hadn’t uploaded anything since they dropped the desktop app (that worked very well) and changed a few things.