Alaska Railroad-Fairbanks to Anchorage

Taking a trip on the Alaska Railroad means taking a trip through part of Alaska’s history.

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The view while getting on to the train first thing in the morning.

The Alaska Railroad has a long history of moving people and freight across the state. For those who are visiting and don’t want to rent a car, the Alaska Railroad is a great way to see Alaska from a different perspective. My father is a huge fan of the railroad (he was the former president of the Montana Museum of Railroad History) therefore, it was a necessity to take the train from Fairbanks to Anchorage during their visit. We had heard good things about the Alaska Railroad, so we needed to check it out for ourselves.

The front engine of our train. There were four cars and two engines in total. Photo credit: Michael O'Brien, my amazing father

Our trip started with a flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks. During the hour long flight, we saw the tops of several mountain ranges, including the Alaska range and the Denali range. We were even able to see Denali itself while we were flying by. We were stunned to find a mountain in our view that was as tall as we were flying at 20,000 feet. It erupted from the clouds and felt utterly enormous to us. We were only seeing the top half.

We stayed in a hotel in downtown Fairbanks, which had several great restaurants within walking distance. Our favorite place to eat was the Bahn Thai Restaurant. The wait staff was incredibly friendly, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Next time I am in Fairbanks, I am going to make sure I eat there again. I would also recommend Soba, a Moldovan restaurant we visited for lunch. None of our party had ever tried Moldovan food before, but we each really enjoyed it.

The weather did not cooperate with us enough to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Therefore, in a couple months we are going to be making another trip north. (Be sure to check back for that blog this winter!) We were all a little tired, but excited to catch the train back to Anchorage in the morning. Upon arriving at the train station, we checked in and received our tickets. Along some of the inside walls of the depot, they have some old photos along with the history around those photographs. There is even a model train setup that is open during the summer.

The view from the back of our rail car. Everyone is settled in for the long ride back to Anchorage. Photo credit: Michael O'Brien

After boarding the train and getting to our assigned seat, we settled in for the twelve-hour journey. The seats were comfortable with plenty of leg room. The train left the station and we were on our way back to Anchorage! The train tracks wind through several mountain ranges and briefly into Denali National Park. The large picture windows ensured people on both sides of the train have views out the windows. The views were spectacular, despite a very cloudy and foggy day. We also got the chance to visit with the people around us. Chatting with the other passengers is a great way to learn about other things to try as well as make some new friends. It’s also a great opportunity to trade pictures and stories about your travels. The people we had around us were amazing and certainly made the whole experience more enjoyable.

The view when you get off the train in Denali National Park. We were able to step out briefly to take some pictures and get some fresh air. Photo credit: Michael O'Brien

Besides the stunning mountain vistas, the crew we had was fantastic. You can tell how passionate they are to share their knowledge of the railroad as well as tips and tricks for the best Alaska experiences. Our conductor Darren took many pictures with guests and chatted with us about Anchorage. He really helped make the trip fun and educational for all of the passengers. One of the other crew members, Dan, was constantly pointing out interesting landmarks, telling railroad histories, and ensuring we were able to fully appreciate our trip. They made a huge difference in our experience. They also slowed the train down so we could see animals along the way. It was amazing to see multiple black bears, dall sheep (picture below), and a couple moose.

We had the opportunity to see these Dall Sheep, even though they were quite a long distance away. 

Another interesting thing we experienced on this trip is flag stops. The stretch of rail between Denali National Park and Talkeetna is the only place in North America that people alongside the train can flag stop the train. Flag stopping is when a person along the tracks flags the train, which prompts the train to stop so that they may board the train. No train depot necessary. People that live in rural Alaska, with no access to roads, are able to get on the train and go into town to get supplies. Due to the flag stopping, it could potentially add a good amount of time to the trip. Our train hit the depot a little late, so plan accordingly. One of the people that got on at one of the flag stops is a children’s book illustrator. We were able to get a signed copy of one of her books! It was a really interesting experience! This stretch of railway services many groups of subsistence farmers deep into the Alaskan bush much like the illustrator we met. It was amazing to consider the lifestyle these people choose day in and day out. Undoubtably harsh, but filled with great beauty and an intense relationship with nature, these people truly understand there own capabilities as they carve out their place amongst the mountains.

The tracks run alongside many beautiful lakes. Luckily they were like glass so we could see a perfect reflection.

Between the beautiful scenery and the amazing crew, we would absolutely take the train again. A winter ride would be amazing and came highly recommended by some of the crew members. Specifically, a February trip as we were told the route is particularly beautiful when covered in snow. They also spoke of amazing Aurora experiences along the way as the railway follows a much more remote path through the mountains and Denali National Park, all but eliminating the threat of light pollution. The train trip to Seward is also supposed to be fantastic, and the crew told us that they often prefer the views along that route. We also plan on taking that trip when it is available again in the spring/summer season.

Happy Traveling!

Kat