Alaska Train Ride

"The best way to see Alaska is on the RailRoad"

There are LIMITED train rides in winter. The only trains available at winter are 1)Aurora Winter train scheduled to travel Anchorage to Fairbanks on Saturdays and Fairbanks to Anchorage on Sundays only. 2) Anchorage Hurricane train on 1st Thursdays of each month during winter. Adventure Class is the ONLY class available on this train.It stops at different stations like Talkeetna,Denali, Healy for people to board/disembark.

True to their motto, we had a great train ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks departing at 830 AM and reaching by 830 PM. Bring in lot of food and snacks as they run out in the dining section quicker.

We reported at the train station 1 hour in prior (by 730 AM) and headed to the ticket counter to show our IDs and collect the tickets. At this time,they provide luggage tags marked with our destination for our checked in luggages. We checked in our infant's stroller too (which was a good thing to do. Oh and, Infants do not need a carseat on the train either). Then we left our luggage at the appropriate designated area where the attendants would collect it and load into train. We then had the next 45 minutes all for ourselves as we watched the train models setup and running in the main hall. We also visited the giftshop.

They started boarding us around 30 minutes prior to departure. Each car has 2 table seats on each side that could accomodate 4 people around the rectangular foldable tables. The rest of the seats are arranged just like in a bus/plane. We were lucky to get a table sear as we are a family of 3. The seats were assigned by the reservation system itself I guess. There were 3 such cars and each one has a walkway connecting to the other and 2 restrooms in each car with a diaper changing station too.

The journey takes you through wilderness of Alaska. Dan's commentary was informative. We were able to see spot moose. They try to stop/slowdown the train for photoshoots too. Hurricane gulch of 120 feet deep, the land of fairy(I guess I remember the name correctly) with just 8 households and self declared mayor :-) , travelling along the nenana river, Mt.Mickenly and Alaskan ranges glistening in the sunset,spotting moose are some of the best memories.

Do not forget to charge your camera batteries quite ahead of the trip. There is a power outlet on the train located at a seat midway of each car per car and you may not be in luck if you don't get that seat.The dining car is located at the front near to the engine. The hostesses will invite us to the dining car one family at a time coming to our seats so as to give everyone a fair chance to sit and dine at the tables. There is a seating lounge next to the dining area where we can walk to at will though. This seating arrangement on invitation only is until 2 pm after which it is free.You can walk in and take a table if it is free.

The food was good but tends to run out quickly. We had veggie burgers for lunch and dinner as well with that being the only vegeterian option available as they ran out of pasta by dinnertime. We were lucky to get the last cup of milk available for our infant. They have icecreams for $3 which was cool. They provide free maps of the train's scheduled route.Oh, you could also request for one of the scenic posters available for free in one of the cars where they have all these stocked up.

There is no limit of the liquids to be carried on train like the tsa regulations on Air travel. Hence, we loaded our backpacks with water, winter lotions, baby food packs, baby diaper rash cream of 3.4 Oz, a blanket, and lot of snacks. It was pretty warm on the train (considering that I am pretty sensitive to cold weather). Children under the age of 2 doesn't need a ticket to be purchased. (I was unaware of this and bought 3 tickets for family which I guess helped as we got the table with 4 seats.)

After disembarking the train at Fairbanks, we headed into the station.The Fairbanks station is pretty neat with plenty of benches to sit as you wait for the lugguage to showup at the carousel. Though there were plenty of cabs available outside, it is a good idea to engage a cab as quickly as possible because those might all be hired and gone by the time you head out collecting your checkedin baggage (there is a heavy rush of people heading out from the train) and you might have to wait before an empty one shows up.

The cellphone signals are available through the journey except for a few places/times.

Tips

We are allowed to take photos from open window located on the train doors.Be prepared with gloves and warm wear for the same.

check out the different train models set up at the Anchorage train station ( Harrypotter setup, circus setup etc.)