The pride of the line for the White Pass and Yukon Route is their Steam Locomotive #73
Built in 1947 #73 was the very last Narrow Gauge Steam Locomotive built to operate in the United States/Canada.
She was retired in the 1960s and put on display at the Bennett Depot/Eating House. However in the 1980s she was restored to fully operating condition by the team at the WP&YR.
73 Is currently the only Steam Locomotive operating in the entire State of Alaska, and a ride behind her is like stepping back in time. Not very many steam locomotives in the United States still operate on their home rails, doing the same job they were built to do 80 years ago!
#73 showing what she's made of as she turns one of several hairpin curves departing Glacier Station and beginning the arduous climb up the White Pass highline.
#73 Arrives at Lake Bennett Depot before turning around to return to Skagway.
Lake Bennett BC has always been an important stop on the WP&YR. In the old days, Bennett was the meeting point for South Bound and North Bound trains. The crew and passengers would disembark at Bennett to have lunch in the Depot "Eating House". Where Job briefings would be given over pots of Moose stew and Poutine. Before the Whitehorse and Skagway crews would mount their engines swap consists, and return home.
The #73 Crew Lead by Cap Raia, and Brakeman Danielson a veteran of the Colorado Narrow Gauge make plans to return to Skagway with a brief stop to disembark passengers in "Downtown Fraser".
#73 After Having been turned on the wye at Bennett is facing south, ready for the trip back down the White Pass.
