7/17/2014 Hurricane Turn Train (Talkeetna to Hurricane and back)

The eight of us boarded the Hurricane Turn Train of the Alaska Railroad at Talkeetna, going north to Hurricane Turn.  The Hurricane Turn Train is "one of America's last flagstop trains."

This means that those people living off the grid, miles from anyplace, and needing train transportation because there are no roads, are able to flag or otherwise signal the train to stop so they can board.

We saw several with supplies in the freight car depart the train.  They unloaded their supplies, and headed off into the wilderness forest.  We also saw several "flag" down the train, board, ride a distance, and depart again.  Most of these were fishermen going from one stream to another.  Some rode all the way to Talkeetna.  It definitely is a different way of life.  I must say we like our creature comforts to much to live off the grid for any length of time.

Here are a few pictures from the ride.

 Jeff and Marcella boarding the Hurricane Turn Train at Talkeetna.

Gary and Evelyn.

 Jim and Dee.

 The Susitna River.

Fiddle ferns grow in abundance in this area.

A passenger has unloaded supplies at the edge of the tracks.  His cabin is at the top of a hill.  He and his wife were going to hand carry them to their home.

Glen and Gayla at the Hurricane Turn Train.

Glen thinks this mosquito may have been banded! It was huge.

An example of a flag at the edge of the track.

The 928' long trestle at Hurricane.  The train engineer changes ends of the train to drive. The train doesn't really turn around.

The Hurricane Creek under the trestle.  297" from trestle to the water.

The shadow of the trestle and train!

King salmon fighting the current in Indian Creek.  The kings are heading "home" to spawn and die.

Evelyn enjoying the scenery at one of the stops.

Fish and Wildlife Dept set up a fish wheel to count salmon going upstream.

It was a six hour ride, filled with tidbits of info from the conductor.  I was a winner of a
2014 The Alaska Railroad" calender in a drawing.  The scenery wasn't particularly spectacular, but was an enjoyable day.