Rails to Riches
Railroads had been crucial to the development of Canada and the United States; despite the engineering difficulties, over 100 railroads were organized to tap the vast resources of the new frontier of Alaska and the Yukon.
Alaska Canada Rail Link
Discussed for over 80 years, this rail line is again in the news.
BC Rail, Dease Lake Extension
A photo of a large fill on the abandoned grade as of 1994.
A Brief History of Canadian Railroads, 1836 - 1937
The introduction to the industry in the 1938 Canadian government publication "A Statutory History of the Steam and Electric Railways of Canada".
My Favorite Train Rides in the United States
This lengthy (5,560 words) and exceptional article from 1961 goes far beyond what the title indicates, being a commentary on passenger rail travel by luxury train connoisseur Lucius Beebe.
Chilkoot Pass Railroad Company
A newspaper article from June 10, 1900 tells a bit of the story of the struggle to get a rail line across the Chilkoot Pass.
Great Northern Railroad
A huge 1891 map showing Great Northern as the access route to Alaska.
InterBering
This company is promoting Construction of an Interhemispheric Railroad from Canada, through Alaska to Russia, with a Bering Strait Tunnel.
Jernbaneverket (Norwegian National Rail Administration)
Current operational details on all 4087 km of line in the country.
Klondike Mines Railway
A huge photo gallery showing a model railroad based on the KMR and the Vancouver Westminster
and Yukon Railway (which was never built).
Klondike Alaska: A Rail History
Dozens of railroads laid track in Alaska, the Yukon, and northwest British Columbia. Klondike Alaska, a video production of KUAC charts the history of many of those railroads (1:30:00).
Model Railroading in Alaska
Marty Quaas' site is the place to keep up with what's going on. Be sure to check out his Mooselip, Alaska, display - there's a great story-line to go with it.
Northern Pacific Railroad
A huge 1891 map showing the Northern Pacific as the access route to Alaska.
Railroads in South-Central Alaska, 1914
As Alaska and the Yukon transitioned from the boom gold rush days, several major railroad projects were in the planning or construction stages.
Railways in Norway
Another excellent private site with extensive information on trams, model railways, tourist travel tips and current timetables.
Tanana Mines Railway/Tanana Valley Railroad
This compact site has a short history of the Tanana Valley Railroad, and an excellent series of photos of the
restoration of Engine No.1.
Trans-Siberian Railway
A look at the reasons for, and difficulties of construction of this legendary railroad, from "Engineering News" of March 28, 1901.
Trans-Siberian Railway
A brief look at the world's longest railway, and the major cities along it from the Russian National Tourist Office.
The Whitehorse Trolley
Although dreams of having a restored steam engine back on the tracks died, a little trolley from Portugal added charm and colour to the banks of the Yukon River for a few years.
Yakutat & Southern Railroad
This well-illustrated site tells the story of the only fish train in the world, at Yakutat, Alaska.
Pacific Great Eastern Railway pushing towards Fort St. John
A lengthy illustrated article from The Financial Post of March 22, 1958 describes progress, and the proposed next leg to the Yukon.
Ottawa Plans Railway to Yukon Resources, 1968
An article from The Whitehorse Star of July 25, 1968, says that an aerial survery of possible routes will be done shortly.
Yukon Railway Study, 1975
A study of railway expansion alternatives in the Yukon Territory, based on projected traffic requirements to the year 2004. A lengthy summary with maps is posted, with the entire 60-page report available for download.
