Tanana Valley Railroad facts for kids
Train of the Tanana Valley Railroad at the station in Chatanika, Alaska, 1916.
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Fairbanks |
| Locale | Fairbanks to Chatanika |
| Dates of operation | 1904/1905–1917 AEC purchased TVRR assets and operated the Chatanika Branch line until decommissioning it in 1930 |
| Predecessor | Tanana Mines Railway |
| Successor | Alaskan Engineering Commission Railroad, a.k.a. Alaska Railroad |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Length | 45 miles (72 km) |
The Tanana Valley Railroad (TVRR) was a special kind of train line. It used a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge track. This means the tracks were closer together than regular train tracks. The TVRR operated in the Tanana Valley of Alaska from 1905 to about 1917. Later, a part of this railroad became a section of the famous Alaska Railroad.
Contents
The TVRR: A Railroad's Journey
The Tanana Valley Railroad had an interesting start and an important role in Alaska's history.
Building the Tanana Valley Railroad
The railroad first began in 1904. It was called the Tanana Mines Railway back then. Construction on the first part of the railway started and finished in 1905. A big celebration was held to mark its completion. At this "golden spike" ceremony, Judge Wickersham was the main speaker. Mrs. Isabelle Barnett had the honor of accepting the golden spike. The person who built this railway was Falcon Joslin. People even called him the "Harriman of the North." This was a big compliment, comparing him to a famous railroad builder. In 1907, the company changed its name to the Tanana Valley Railroad.
Changes and New Ownership
Around 1917, the company faced financial trouble and had to close down. But the story of the tracks didn't end there! The United States government bought the railroad in June 1917. They wanted to connect different parts of Alaska.
The section of the TVRR between Fairbanks and Happy was changed. It became a dual gauge track. This meant it could handle both narrow gauge trains and wider, standard gauge trains. This change was made by the Alaskan Engineering Commission. Their goal was to create a 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge railroad line. This new line would stretch all the way from Seward to Fairbanks.
This larger train line became known as the Alaska Railroad in 1923. The Alaska Railroad continued to use the old TVRR narrow-gauge line. They called it the Chatanika Branch. However, this branch line was eventually closed down in 1930.
Preserving a Piece of History
Even though the railroad stopped running, a special part of its history was saved.
Engine No. 1: A Historic Locomotive
In 1922, the railroad's Engine No. 1 was retired. This was a very important steam locomotive. It was the first steam train ever used in Fairbanks and the wider Yukon area.
Work to restore Engine No. 1 began in 1997. It was completed in 2000. This amazing engine can still be seen in action today! It is steamed up several times each year. This lets people see and hear what an old steam train was like.
A Museum for the Engine
A small museum was built in 2005 just for Engine No. 1. It is located in Pioneer Park in Fairbanks. On July 20, 2019, Engine #1 was a big star. It operated on its 120th birthday! This special event was a reenactment of the TVRR's original Golden Spike ceremony. It was a great way to remember the railroad's beginnings.
