Welcome to my White Pass Fan Website
Welcome to my new update of my personal White Pass web site. I hope you enjoy the page. Here you'll find a lot of information from the past as well as todays operation.
WELCOME 2008 SEASON
START OF THE SEASON
Come to the North. The White Pass & Yukon Route season start now, Monday May 5, 2008.
Wold War II Vet Recalled To Active Duty
Some WP&YR Rolling Stock History
Former World War II Army Caboose 911, has been recalled from semiretirement to active duty to meet the demands of the increased freight service to the expanding Yukon.
In 1943 this caboose was rebuilt from a Colorado & Southern box car for the U.S. Army, who leased the White Pass & Yukon Route during World War II. It served in the Military Rail Service 770th Railway Operating Battalion's northern campaign, constructing the Alaska Highway, Whitehorse Air Base and several air fields along the Highway. Also involved in the wartime buildup was the Canol Project, which involved development of oil wells at Norma Wells, N.W.T., a crude oil pipeline to Whitehorse where a complete oil refinery had been transferred from Corpus Christi, Texas, and subsequent pipelines to Fairbanks, Skagway and Watson. 37 Trains in One Day!
During this period, trains were run around the clock hauling thousand of tons of war material, 14 northbound trains and 23 southbound trains operated. On August 4th, 1943, a record of 2085 net tons were hauled over the grueling White Pass Summit to Whitehorse.
By the end of 1944 the invasion threat had been successfully combated. The Army gradually pulled out of Skagway, returning the operation of the railroad to civilian control. At the end of the War, the White Pass purchased much of the railway equipment and locomotives, including Caboose No. 911. The caboose lay in the Skagway yards until 1955 when it resurrected as a bunk car for the maintenance of way forces.
By 1967, increased traffic demands required additional freight trains, so the veteran caboose was brought back to Skagway for reconversion to a caboose again. Completing the conversion, the old box car red color scheme was changed to the modern high-visibility White Pass green and yellow.
Today you may see caboose 911 in the Skagway yard, waiting for restoration. The sister caboose 909 is still active and you may spot here in front of the White Pass depot at Broadway.
909
Caboose 909 (2006)
The former WWII veteran in front of the Skagway depot. Image by Boerries Burkhardt, Skagway June 2006.
Rotary ON
Rotary ON and caboose 909 in Rotary Service 1966
In the background behind Ralston Dump Car 663 you'll see the former D&RGW rotary ON and caboose 909, rebuilt from a C&S box car at Skagway yards. The Rotary is gone, Caboose 909 and gon 663 are still active. Caboose 909 is wearing the Rotary service colors. Collection of Boerries Burkhardt
