The WP & YR Railway

The gold rush in the Yukon late 19th century drew thousands of adventurers in the northern United States and Canada. The rough terrain required the construction of a railroad – a narrow gauge railway with a 914mm gauge. Between 1898 and 1900, the railway line was driven through the mountains under the most difficult conditions, an average of 2,000 workers per day were used.

The White Pass and Yukon Route with a track width of 914mm is really a route of superlatives and leads from Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse the capital of Yukon. The highlight of the WP & YR Railway days is the use of the locomotive 69 which was built in 1908. The total length from Skagway in Alaska over the White Pass in British Columbia (CA) to Whitehorse in Yukon Territory is 110 miles (165 km).

The WP & YR has experienced a beautiful and rich time. During the Second World War, the railroad served as a “major supplier” for the US Army. Until 1954 steam locomotives were used and were replaced by diesel. 1982 sank the world of metal transport and the White Pass & Yukon Road was closed. In 1988 it was reopened and prepared for excursion trips.

After the main business collapsed in the 1980s, the WP & YR has since focused on the tourist traffic following the numerous cruise ships in Skagway. From May to September one of the last active narrow gauge railways in North America is really busy, approximately 1.8 million passengers use the trains for leisure and tourism. One hundred and fifty employees take care of the railway during this period. In the winter only 15 employees maintain the track.

Official website.