Train pacing at 20 mile bridge. Riding the AKK from Fairbanks to Denali and back tomorrow, hope to catch some good pictures. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MTRbT0jm8sI/TiMwb6wtjvI/AAAAAAAAB4o/UsiXlxhnCEg/s1600/308.JPG
Wondered where you had been lately.... Background in your photo has me thinking of the east side, Marias Pass. Always pretty views, with big mountains and sky as a frame. :thumbs_up: Boxcab E50
Well the day ended up cloudy and rainy, which dampened the pictures but not our enthusiasm. Remember what it was like to travel by train when the railroad actually cared about the timetable and it's passengers? Remember eating in a dining car car where the service, the view and food was superb? I give you the Alaska Railroad. This was a simple day trip from Fairbanks to Denali and back, with about 3 hours in Denali between trains. Alaska Railroad offers two options, Gold Star Class and Adventure Class. The Gold Star offers a Dome coach with a viewing platform, free drinks (non alcohol) priority seating and access to the dining car. Adventure class offers basic seating, some access to a dome car and a great snack car. We chose Gold Star for the trip down and Adventure for the return. (Edit; Having issues linking my photos-will try again later)
i give up trying to post pictures here, the new software won't link to my pictures without me having to put in my own brackets. Funny how "new and improved" really means "sucks now only with a new look". My blog link to this trip is [URL]http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/2011/07/alaska.html[/URL] <throws up hands and walks away>
New system is a bit different but I don't think as bad as you feel right now. Like with the old, click on the little Picture Icon (Square Box w/ Tree in it) <Insert Image> Box opens, click on the "Insert from URL" tab Put the URL into the field UN-click the box for "Retrieve remote file and reference locally" Click OK and...
Darren I understand the steps of how to insert a picture. 3 different computers and 3 different browsers, no go. No pop blockers or anything else is activating. But this works, its just tedious. I get the box pop up, I insert the URL, but no picture appears. No worries, I'll figure out whats wrong sooner or later.
Yes, unlike before, the correct settings are not default. You need to select "From URL" and UNCHECK "Retrieve remote file and reference locally" in order for your picture to appear. Don't worry, you're not the only one who hates it. There is yet an even easier approach. Just drag and drop! Drag and drop only works from images already online. If you try to drag and drop an image from your desktop, the image will show in the preview, but will not work. By the way, awesome pictures!
OMG "Drag and Drop" It doesn't get any easier than that does it? LOL Thanks Mark :thumbs_up: Allow me to start over. -Going to Denali from Fairbanks. Gold Star Class ARR Style Waiting to board in Fairbanks The first 2 coaches are for the "Gold Star" passengers. It features all dome seating with a bartender (free non alchohol drinks) and priority seating to the dining car. The view showing the "Adventure Class cars", standard seating with some dome seats available first come, first serve. The snack car for the "Adventure Class" passengers is awesome. We chose the "Adventure Class" for the return trip., more on that later. ALL ABOARD!!!!
This picture shows the viwing deck on the Gold Star coaches. It's a great way to take in the views and get dome great camera shots. The seating accommodations in Gold Star cars. We were assigned the front seats
Hwy 2 bridge over the Nenana River at the port of Nenana. The annual summer tie gang camp in Nenana. All the workers waved as we went by. I wonder if it's AKK policy? LOL
Time for breakfast!! We were invited down to the dining car to eat. We were met with white table clothes flowers and excellent service from the staff. I wonder if how this is how it used to be back in the golden age of rail travel. If not it is probably as close as you can get to it. Breakfast was awesome, great views, food and service. I was quickly reminded how much I hate flying anymore, being herded like cattle onto an aluminum tube, sitting with my knees jammed into the seat in front of me.
The town at the entrance to Denali National Park. There several several nice restaurants here, and you can call them to pick you at the depot, take you to the restaurant, then take you back 3 hours later to catch the north bound back to Fairbanks. This is what we did, had some great pizza and beer.
Looks like it was raining off and on. Even so, by what I see here, I'd sure not hesitate to take this trip. Sure don't need sun to enjoy and appreciate spectacular scenes.
Thanks for the comments guys (and please excuse my whining about the software) Ken It was very enjoyable, perhaps the best scenery is between Denali south to Seward. In the "Denali Station" picture, those white cars belong to a cruise line. I believe you get off the cruise ship in Seward, board the train and ride it to Fairbanks and back. That to me would be the perfect trip, you actually see better vistas by train than driving.
