Copper River and Northwestern Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Copper River and Northwestern Railway
|
|
A disused CR&NW bridge along McCarthy Road
|
|
 Location in Alaska
|
|
| Location | Chitina, Alaska to Tasnuna River, along western bank of Copper River |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Chitina, Alaska |
| Architect | Michael J. Heney |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002275 |
| Added to NRHP | April 24, 1973 |
The Copper River and Northwestern Railway (CR&NW) was a railroad in Alaska. It had two main parts: the Copper River line and the Northwestern line. This railway was built to transport valuable copper ore. Today, most of it is gone, and only a few things remain. One piece of equipment left is a small train engine called "Ole." It is near Goose City. People in Cordova, Alaska, want to move Ole to a special memorial. This would celebrate the railway's history. Ole was recognized as important for history in 1988.
Building the Railway: Early Plans
In 1904, a man named Michael James Heney got permission to build a railway along the Copper River. He started building from Cordova, Alaska in 1906. Heney actually named the town of Cordova himself.
In 1905, Myron K. Rodgers got a job to help the Guggenheim family. They wanted to find coal in the Bering River area. They also wanted to build a railroad (the Northwestern line) to carry the coal. Myron's brother, Wesley P. Rodgers, helped survey the land in 1906. He started building the railroad in 1907.
This Northwestern line began at Palm Point. It went northeast past Katalla towards the coal fields. A loading dock was built at Palm Point. A side track was added to connect to the Copper River railroad. But a big winter storm in 1907 destroyed everything. This included the train shed and other buildings.
The Alaska Syndicate Takes Over
By October 1906, Heney decided to sell his Copper River railway rights. He sold them to the Alaska Syndicate. This group included powerful companies like M. Guggenheim & Sons and J.P. Morgan & Co.
After the storm, Heney returned to work for Daniel Guggenheim. They decided that Cordova was a better starting point for the railway. The Kennecott Corporation, which was part of the Alaska Syndicate, built the main railway. This happened between 1908 and 1911. Its purpose was to move copper ore from Kennecott, Alaska, to Cordova. This journey was about 315 kilometers (196 miles) long.
The Alaska Syndicate also included investments from J.P. Morgan. He had bought another company called Northwestern Commercial Company. This company owned many businesses, shipping lines, and a railroad.
Big Challenges and Milestones
Building the railway was very difficult. Workers had to build bridges over tough places. These included the Kuskulana River canyon and the Copper River. The bridge over the Copper River was called the Million Dollar Bridge. This bridge was finished in the summer of 1910. Its completion helped make sure the railway project would succeed. The first copper ore was shipped in early 1911.
In 1909, Heney traveled to New York to discuss the railway's progress. On his way back, his ship, the Ohio, hit a hidden rock and sank. Heney finally reached Cordova in September. By November 1909, the railway reached the Tiekel River. This finished the first part of the building contract.
Heney made another trip to New York. He handed over that part of the railway to the Katalla Company. On his return, he stayed in Seattle for the winter. Sadly, Heney's health got worse, and he passed away on October 4, 1910.
The very last spike for the railway was driven on March 29, 1911. It was a special "copper spike." Chief Engineer E. C. Hawkins and Superintendent Samuel Murchison drove it in at Kennicott.
Cost and Impact
The railway cost about $25 million to build. This was a huge amount of money. However, the mines produced $200 million worth of copper ore. At least half of this was pure profit. So, the railway was a very good investment. There were 129 bridges built between Cordova and Chitina.
The Copper River and Northwestern Railway was special for another reason. It was the only railway in Alaska to use "wigwags." These were special signals at railroad crossings to warn people about trains.
End of an Era and New Beginnings
Eventually, the good copper ore in the mines ran out. The last train ran on November 11, 1938. In 1941, the Kennecott Corporation gave the railway land to the United States. It was to be used as a public highway.
Work to turn the railway into a highway began in 1953. By 1964, the Alaska Department of Highways had extended the Copper River Highway. It went from Cordova to the Million Dollar Bridge (Mile 59). However, the Good Friday earthquake in 1964 damaged 28 bridges. This stopped further construction. By 1972, the highway reached Mile 72. It also extended 20 miles south from Chitina.
The Million Dollar Bridge was repaired in 2005. But in 2012, Bridge 339 washed out. This cut off access to the Million Dollar Bridge. Today, the old railway path from Chitina to McCarthy is now known as the McCarthy Road.
Historic Designations
The remains of the railway are considered very important historically. On April 24, 1973, the railway was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This included 11 bridges, an old village, and the Tiekel Station.
The railway's bunkhouse and mess hall in Chitina were also added to the register. This happened on December 5, 2002. The small train engine, Number 3, "Ole," was recognized as eligible for the National Register in 1988.
Images for kids
-
Southern portion of the Copper River showing the location of the railway from Cordova to Kennicott
