Miller Engineering - 44-5052 - Structure, Billboard, Railroad - Alaska Railroad

Specific Item Information: In 1914, the government bought the Alaska Northern Railroad and moved its headquarters to "Ship Creek," later called Anchorage. The government began to extend the rail line northward. The Alaska Railroad’s trackage has remained largely unchanged since completion in 1923, and it has never gained a direct outside connection. For much of its early existence, it relied on transporting lumber and other materials within Alaska, or other commodities via ship from the ports at Seward and Anchorage. While these materials remain important commodities for the railroad today, service was greatly expanded with the opening of a railcar barge connection at Whittier in the 1960s. Available in two sizes, large version comes with supports
44-5052 Sm. Alaska Billboard Size: 1.8” W x 2.3 T, suitable for HO/N scales

Model Information: Add visual interest and excitement to any layout with unique, incredibly realistic animated billboards. These paper-thin light-up signs produce no heat and incorporate many new design features, including improved connectors, no painting required, longer life, and stiffer laminations. All billboards include a 3-cell AAA battery pack (batteries are not included). Current draw: 95 ma.

Road Name History: Born in 1923 with the consolidation and connection of the Tanana Valley and Alaska Northern railroads, the line was owned by the Federal Government (under the Department of the Interior) from the outset, later becoming the responsibility of the Department of Transportation in 1967. In the mid-80s it was sold to the State of Alaska.

The Alaska Railroad links Anchorage with the port of Whittier and Seward to the south, and Fairbanks and environs to the north. Total mileage is about 525 putting it between Bangor & Aroostook and New York Ontario & Western in relative size. Alaska does run its own passenger service over the length of the railroad. Although the Alaska Railroad is disconnected from the rest of the North American rail network, they do interchange with other railroads. A trio of sea-going barges ferry rail cars from the port of Whittier to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and Seattle, Washington. ARR had collected a fleet of Alco RS-1s (and a few RSD-1’s) with cowls, effectively making them cab units unique to this line. These were later replaced by second generation EMD power. The big power on the line is a fleet of 28 SD70MACs. A dozen of these are equipped with HEP for use in passenger service.

The port of Whittier is hemmed in by the ocean on one side and mountains on the other. A 2.5 mile single track tunnel is the only way out of the port. The line through the tunnel is paved like street trackage so that highway traffic can use the tunnel. It is a single lane so highway traffic going south enters from the top of the hour until quarter after. Northbound traffic enters from the bottom of the hour until 45 after the hour. Trains get priority and proceed as soon as traffic has cleared.