Photos White Pass & Yukon Route Railway

This trip was noteworthy because the GE Diesel engines were built in the 1950's in Erie which means that my father was intimately involved in their design.

At the foot of these cliffs is Dead Horse Gulch. More than 300 horses were sacrificed during the Yuon gold rush.





This is Brackett's Trail. Brackett was an industrious gentleman, and I use that term loosely. He forged a path from Skagway through the pass into the Yukon. He would charge $1 per person of $10 per wagon for the use of the trail. In those days that was highway robbery especially for those men that hadn't found the gold. He was eventually bought out for $60,000 so that the railway could be built.

Last summer a friend of mine, Deb O'Loane, led 6 women through the Chilkoot Trail following in the footsteps to those brave men in search of the gold. When they reached the summit a Yukon Mounted Police Officer if she would do it again she heartly responded "YES...with a sherpa." You see these women carried fully loaded packs and camped all the way to the summit. Way to go Deb!


This is Bridal Veil Falls, It's vertical drop is 5000'. You can only observe this waterfall from the railroad.










View from Inspiration Point back towards the Skagway Harbor (lost in the mist).












Just a small section of the visious white water that the gold seekers had to contend with.