Railroads & Tramways - Part-3

RAILROADS
& TRAMWAYS
Of Southeast AlaskaBy: Dave Henderson
Updated April 2020
Part
Three
S Thru Y
With much thanks to Gabe Emerson
and his “SaveItForParts” website,
where many of these photos were
obtained.

Salt Chuck Mine Tramway
 The Salt Chuck mine, previously known as the
Goodro Mine, was located at the head of Kasaan
Bay, and operated up to WWII.
 The ¾-mile tramway was initially horse-drawn, but
later had a 4.5-ton battery powered locomotive. It
pulled 40-cu.ft. gable-bottom ore cars.
Topo MapChart
2
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links
Been
There
ADECSalt Chuck
Mine
Salt Chuck
Mine
Salt Chuck
Mine USFS

Salt Chuck Platinum Palladium Mine, POW Is Island, AK
4

1970’s
5

Saxman Rail Barge Terminal
 Saxman Seaport was a small rail barge terminal in
Saxman, a suburb of Ketchikan. It was built in
1967 to be a shipping container port.
 Motive power was something like a “trackmobile.”
In 1977 the site was known as Ketchikan & Northern
Terminal and handled 25% of SE Alaska’s freight.
Topo MapChart
9
Been
There
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Saxman
History
Saxman
Terminal
Port of
Saxman
Links

Courtesy of Gabe Emerson & the “www.Saveitforparts.com” website -
10

11

Shakan Mine Tramway
 The town of Shakan, just a few miles south of
Calder, had a mine tramway built between 1912
and 1916. This mine was a molybdenum discovery.
 The town also had a sawmill and a cannery, and
was the site of a Tlingit native village.
 The tramway ran from the wharf to the mine, about
3/5-mile inland.
Topo MapChart
12
Mindat.org
Links
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite

Shakan Mine Tramway
14

Sheep Creek Railroad
 Sheep Creek Basin is on the opposite side of
Roberts Peak from Silverbow Basin. Some lesser
known mines operated in this area, including the
Glacier and Silver Queen.
 At various times, two railroads ran from near the
beach to these mines. They used several small
steam locomotives.
Topo MapChart
17
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links

1916Courtesy of Gabe Emerson & the “www.Saveitforparts.com” website -
18

Alaska Gastineau Mining Co. Railroad
Locomotive & Ore Cars
Courtesy of Gabe Emerson & the “www.Saveitforparts.com” website –
From the Alaska State Archives, Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Co. (MS999)
19

H.K. Porter 0-4-0T
Gold Creek Valley
From Bob DeArmond collection, courtesy of Pat Roppel.
Courtesy of Gabe Emerson & the
“www.Saveitforparts.com” website -
20

Risdon 0-4-0
Sheep Creek Locomotive
From the Juneau-Douglas Museum (JDCM 2005_01_023B)
21

Sheep Creek Division
22

Sheep Creek Division Railway
Leading to Perseverance Mine
23

Sheep Creek Division RR
Sheep Creek Mine
24

1915
Tipple dumping 40-tons of ore
in one evolution.
Portal Camp,
Sheep Creek, AK
25

Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Silverbow Basin Railroad
 Thomas Nowell consolidated a number of placer
claims and formed the Silverbow Basin Mining Co.
 He also built an aerial tram to his Groundhog claims
above the Perserverance Mine.
 By 1891 he built a mill near the lower end of the
placer tunnel and used a railroad thru the tunnel to
haul ore out.
Topo MapChart
26
Links
Silver Bow
Basin
Surface
Topography

Silver Bow Placer Mines
Hydraulic mining in Silver Bow Basin
28

Hydraulic mining of placer
mines, Silver Bow Basin – 1920’s
29

Sitka Coaling Station Tram
 The US Navy Coaling Station on Japonski Island
had a trestle tramway from the coal sheds to the
wharf.
 Coal was delivered to/from ships by cable-drawn
cars running on steel rails. The station was built in
1902. One coal warehouse is still standing.
Topo MapChart
30
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links

1920’s
31

33

Sitka Ice Plant Tramway
 One of the earliest tramways in Alaska was built in
New Archangel (Sitka) by the Russian-American
company around 1853.
 This was a horse-drawn wooden-railed line used to
haul blocks of ice. The blocks were cut from Swan
Lake and packed in sawdust for shipment to
California.
Topo MapChart
34
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Sitka Ice
Company
Links
Google
Books

Sitka Ice Plant Tramway
35

Sitka Pulp Co. Railroad
 The Alaska Pulp Co. in Sitka had a stub rail yard
with barge access only. This allowed efficient bulk
transport via train cars of product and chemicals to
be shipped to and from the facility.
 At least one diesel switcher stayed on-site. It was
reported that it was a 400 hp, 65-ton GE center
cab locomotive built in 1943.
Topo MapChart
37
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links

Sitka Pulp Mill Railroad
1940’s Dairy Farm
Early 1960’s Pulp Mill
39

Sitka Pulp Mill Railroad
1980’s
2010
40

Skagway-Lake Bennett Tram
 The Skagway & Lake Bennett Tramway Co. was a
short-lived predecessor to the WP&YRR, and
proposed to connect Skagway to Canada via horse
tram.
 The company incorporated in 1897 and began
construction. The WP&YR construction in 1998
made the tram obsolete.
Topo MapChart
41
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links
Historic
Transportation

Skagway-Lake Bennett Tram
“www.Saveitforparts.com” website -
43

Speel River Project Tram
 Around 1915, a mining engineer and entrepreneur
set out to build a hydroelectric and chemical plant
at Speel River.
 The 1.5-mile tramway was built to bypass extensive
mud and sand bars at the mouth of the Speel River,
giving access to the Glacier Creek area from
deeper water at Star Cove.
Topo MapChart
44
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links
Google
Books

The Airstrip &
Dredged
Channel from
1960’s
Snettisham
Hydro Project,
Built by the
Army Corps of
Engineers
The 1.5-mile
tramway is
from the
Speel River
Project in
order to
bypass the
mud and
sand bars at
the mouth of
the Speel
River
45

From the Alaska State Library, Eugene Patrick Kennedy Collection (P444)
46

From the Alaska State Library, Eugene Patrick Kennedy Collection (P444-089)
Speel River
Electro Plant
47

Sulzer Mine Tramway
 There appears to have been a tramway with
wooden rails built on a walkway for men and/or
horses at this mine site.
Topo MapChart
48
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links

Sulzer Mine Tramway
Sulzer, Alaska
49

Sumdum Railroad
 A rail line about 2-miles long led from Sanford
Cove in the Endicott Arm of Holkham Bay, to the
Sumdum Chief and Bald Eagle Mines.
 Wooden track was in place with horse-drawn carts
sometime before 1896, and a small steam
locomotive was in use sometime between 1896 and
1903.
Topo MapChart
50
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links

Sumdum Railroad
Track from Sanford Cove to
Sumdum Chief Mine, Endicott Arm
52

Sumdum Railroad
Mining Mill at Sumdum, AK
1896
53

Sumdum Railroad
Town of Sumdum, AK
1896
Sumdum Railroad Locomotive
From the Bob DeArmond collection, courtesy of Pat Roppel
54

Sumdum Railroad
The Sumdum
Chief Mine
(Photographed
by Moonlight)
The Bald Eagle
Mine Canyon
(Showing
Tunnels)
18961909
From T.A. Richard “Through the Yukon and Alaska”,
Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, 1909
55

Thorne Arm Tramways
 Near the head of Thorne Arm on Revillagigedo Island,
were several gold mines in close proximity. These
included the Sealevel, Goo Goo, Gold Banner, and
Burlesque properties.
 According to a USGS report, the Gold Banner Mine had
“significant improvements,” including a hydro-electric
plant, assay office, whart, rail system, and mill.
 A map shows about 2,000’ of rail line to the Gold
Banner claim, and shorter trams to nearby claims.
Topo MapChart
56
Mindat.org
Links
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Sea Level
Mine
Google
Books
Been
There

Thorne Arm Tramways
57

Tokeen Quarry Tramway
 Located on Marble Island, the Tokeen Quarry was
operated by the Vermont Marble Company. It
opened around 1909 and had various tracks for
transporting marble blocks to the wharf.
 The Tramway from the quarry to the wharf appears
to have been broader than standard-gauge,
allowing very large blocks to be transported.
Topo MapChart
58
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Tokeen
Marble
Links

59

61

Treadwell Mines Railway
 The Treawell group operated on Douglas Is. Across
from Juneau. They began as a series of open pits
around 1881.
 A 25” gauge surface railroad with several small
steam locomotives ran between mine buildings,
docks, mills, and other facilities.
Topo MapChart
64
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links
Treadwell Mine
Historic Trail
Treadwell
Mining Complex
Treadwell
Historic Site
Been
There

65

66

67

Treadwell Express - 1908
Image from Juneau-Douglas City Museum (90.42.011)
68

The Tredwell Mine Wharf c.1885-1895 - Photo by Jim Geraghty
69

70

Douglas, Alaska
71

Men working in undersea shaft - 1916
“www.Saveitforparts.com” website –
From the Juneau-Douglas City Museum
(90.42.010)
74

From the Juneau-Douglas City Museum
(90.42.010)
From the Juneau-Douglas City Museum (90.42.016)
From the Juneau-Douglas City Museum (90.42.008)
Treadwell Train & Dock
c.1916
Hank Graybill, on a Rail Bike
c.1917
75

Cave In! The Treadwell Disaster - 1917
76

Treadwell
Today
77

Tree Point Lighthouse Tram
 Lighthouses around Southeast Alaska often had
tramways for hauling boats out of the water and for
moving supplies and equipment around the facility.
 Tree Point Lighthouse had about a ½-mile long
tramway between the and station and boat launch
in a nearby cove. It included a small turntable to
switch loads to different tracks.
Topo MapChart
78
Alaska
Lighthouses
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite USCG
Links

Panoramic view of the
station and it’s “new”
lighthouse erected in
1935
The tramway to the
boathouse can be
seen to the right of
the lighthouse.
79

Lighthouse w/Tramway
Tramway as it looks today
80

Station Boathouse
Boat Hoist at small cove
81

View Cove Tramway
 A limestone quarry operated in View Cove on Dall
Island from 1938 to 1942.
 Limestone was moved from the quarry pit to a
crusher by a small Plymouth switcher engine built by
the Chrysler Corp.
 The quarry also had a cable-operated incline tram.
Topo MapChart
82
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
View Cove
Alaska
Links
Been
There

View Cove Tramway
View Cove Dock, Conveyor Tower and Powerhouse - 1937
From the Manley Kjonaas website –
“www.geocities.ws/mkjonaas2/”
83

View Cove Tramway
84

View Cove Tramway
View Cove Limestone Quarry
SS Diamond Cement Arriving - 1938
85

View Cove Tramway
View Cove
Limestone Quarry
Steam Shovel
86

View Cove Tramway
One of two gas powered locomotives
used to haul rocks from the quarry to the
crusher – 1937-1938.
One of the locomotives - 1985
87

View Cove Tramway
Electric Powered Steam Shovel - 1938
The shovel as it appeared in 1985
88

White Pass & Yukon RR
 On July 21, 1898, two months after construction began,
the railroad’s first engine went into service over the first
four miles of completed track. The WP&YR was the
northernmost railroad in the Western Hemisphere.
 The railroad was completed with a ceremonial golden
spike being driven at Carcross, YT, where the north and
south construction crews met, on July 29 1900.
Topo MapChart
89
Been
There
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links
VideoAmazing Railway
Routes (2)
Amazing Railway
Routes (1)

Tunnel Construction
Downtown Skagway
90

Tallest cantilever bridge in the world at the time
Bridge completed in 1901
Taken out of service in 1969
92

WP&YR Engine #2 (First Engine)
Acquired from U&N Ry in 1898
Renumbered #52 in 1900
Retired in 1936 (Stored in Atlin, BC)
Cosmetically Restored 2014
On Display in Skagway
Brooks 2-6-0 (#567)
Steam Locomotive
Built in 1881 for Utah & Northern Ry
93

Baldwin 4-4-0 (#4294)
Steam Locomotive
Built in 1878 for O&TRR
WP&YR Engine #4
Acquired by WP&YR in 1898
Sold to Tanana Mines 1905
Scrapped in 1930
94

WP&YR Engine #5
Acquired by WP&YR in 1898
Sold to Klondike Mines 1904
On Display Dawson City, YT
Baldwin 2-8-0 (#7597)
Steam Locomotive
Built in 1885 for C&PS Ry
95

WP&YR Engine #7
Purchased new in 1899
Sold to Klondike Mines 1906
Baldwin 2-8-2 (#16456)
Steam Locomotive
Built in 1899
96

WP&YR Engine #60
Retired in 1942
Used as riprap on Skagway River 1949
Retrieved, Stored at Skagway 1990
Baldwin 4-6-0 (#17750)
“Ten-Wheeler”
Steam Locomotive
Built in 1900 for WP&YR
97

WP&YR Engine #62
Retired in 1945
Used as riprap on Skagway River 1949
Baldwin 4-6-0 (#17895)
Steam Locomotive
98

WP&YR Engine #62
4-6-0 “Ten-Wheeler”
99

WP&YR Engine #70
Retired in 1963
Sold to Silver Dollar City 1977
Sold to Dollywood 1986
Nicknamed “Cinderella”
Baldwin “Mikado” 2-8-2
Steam Locomotive
1951
100

WP&YR Engines #80 & #81
Acquired from Sumpter Valley Railway 1940
Retired 1958, Sold back to Sumpter Valley Ry 1977
WP&YR #81 (#61981)
Originally Sumpter Valley #19
Built in 1920
by American Locomotive Co.
WP&YR #80 (#61980)
Originally Sumpter Valley #20
Built in 1920
by American Locomotive Co.
101

WP&YR Engine #192
US Army Class S118
Originally USA #192
Retired in 1946
Sold to WP&YR 1946
Retired in 1957
Sold to Rebel RR 1960
Sold to SDC 1977
Sold to Dollywood 1986
Nicknamed Klondike Katie
In Service
Baldwin “Mikado”
2-8-2 (#69427)
Steam Locomotive
Built 1943 for US Army
102

WP&YR Engine #195
US Army Class S118
Originally USA #195
Retired in 1946
Sold to WP&YR 1947
On Display in 1962
Baldwin “Mikado”
2-8-2 (#69430)
Steam Locomotive
Built 1943 for US Army
103

WP&YR Engine #73 (#73352)
Baldwin “Mikado” 2-8-2 Steam Locomotive
Retired in 1964
On Display in Bennett, BC in 1968
Moved to Whitehorse for Restoration 1979
Restored to Service 1982 – Currently in Use
WP&YR Engine #69 (#32962)
Baldwin “Mikado” 2-8-2 Steam Locomotive
Retired in 1954
Sold to BHC Ry in 1956
Re-Acquired by WP&YR in 2001
Returned to Service 2008 – Currently in use
104

WP&YR Engine #40
Loaned to WP&YR in 2000
From George Town Loop RR
Returned to GTLRR in 2001
Baldwin 2-8-0 (#53777)
Steam Locomotive
Built in 1920
GTLRR Transferred to
Colorado RR Museum
In 2004 - Inoperable
105

WP&YR Rail line between Carcross & Whitehorse no longer used
106

WP&YR Roundhouse
WP&YR Maintenance Shops & Yard
1966-68
107

WP&YR Skagway Shops
1973
Skagway Railroad Facility Today
108

William Henry Bay Tram
 The Alaska-Endicott Mine had a 30” gauge railway
from the adit to the beach.
 The mine opened around 1915. A report indicates
that a 1-mile long tram was installed in 1924.
 An article by Pat Roppel mentions that an electric
locomotive was used on a surface tram at the mine.
Topo MapChart
109
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links

William Henry Bay Tram
Explorers with “Juneau’s Hidden History” reported
five different types of rail on the line, all 30”
gauge.
This included girder rail, a type often found in
street tramways. The variety of track suggests that
the company salvaged or purchased abandoned
rail from other nearby mines as a cost-saving
measure.
So far no sign of rolling stock has been found.
They were likely removed or sold to other
company’s after the mine closed.
Photo by Mareta Bates Weed
111

Windham Bay Tramways
 A tramway ran up Spruce Creek from the town of
Windham to various mills and mining camps in the valley
to the east.
 Another light railroad or tram reported ran up the
Chuck (Shuck) River from Chuck Camp on Windham Bay
to various placer gold claims. Reports state that the
lines motive power was a Ford Model-A on flanged
wheels.
Topo MapChart
112
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links

Windham, AK
Spruce River
Shuck (Chuck) River
Chuck Camp
113

114

Red Wing Mine Mill,
Windham Bay, AK
115

Birdseye View of the
Windham Bay Mining Camp
1923
116

Wrangell Tramway
 At least one tram line ran along a wharf in
Wrangell. A photo predating 1896 shows tracks
(probably wood) and a switch, likely serving
cannery warehouses.
 This location was a US Army fort from 1868 to
1877, the tramway may have been originally
installed to support the fort.
Topo MapChart
117
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links
Wrangell
History

Wrangell Tramway
Town Wharf,
Fort Wrangell, AK
July 6, 1898
118

Yakutat & Southern RR
 The somewhat mysterious Y&SRR was unique in that
it was the only railroad of its time that had little or
no association with the mining industry – its principle
commodity being salmon in season.
 The rail line ran from the cannery at Yakutat to a
fish camp on the Situk River, approximately 10-miles
to the south.
Topo MapChart
121
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links
Y&SRR
History
Y&SRR
History
The
Trainmaster
Video Y&SRR
Route

Y&SRR Engine #0
09-4-2 Steam Locomotive
w/Rear Wooden Bunker
And Sliding Doors
Built by Porter (Yr. Unk.)
Narrow Gauge
It is believed that this
engine was used during
the initial construction
years of the cannery and
railroad,
Then, later, moved to the
Dry Bay cannery for
operations there.
122

Y&SRR Engine #1 (28-8-30 Steam Locomotive)
Built by Heisler in 1906 (#1092)
Standard Gauge (4’-8 1/2”)
Rebuilt & Converted to Diesel Power in 1940
From The Yakutat & Southern RR website –
“www.yakutat-southern.org”
123

Y&SRR Engine #2 (2-6-2 Steam Locomotive)
Built by Lima in 1907 (#1057)
Standard Gauge (4’-8 1/2”)
Retired in 1940
124

Arnold Israelson smiles from the engine
1931
125

126

Yes Bay Tramway
 A fish hatchery at Lake McDonald had a tramway to Yes
Bay. Built in 1905, it was used to haul supplies from
tidewater to the lakel
 The tram was between ½ and 1-mile long and included
a donkey engine for pulling carts on steeper sections.
 The hatchery was at the far end of the lake and had
additional tramways for moving supplies between
buildings
Topo MapChart
127
Save-it-for-Parts
WebSite
Links

Yes Bay Tramway
Map from Patricia Roppel’s book,
“Alaska Salmon Hatcheries”
The map shows the Cannery at Yes Bay,
the fish hatchery on the North end of
McDonald Lake, and the tramway
between the Back Bay Area of Yes Bay
and McDonald Lake
From the “mrhalliday.com” website
128

Yes Bay Tramway
McDonald Lake Fish Hatchery Residences (Front View)
129

Yes Bay Tramway
Hatchery Tramway at the tidewater end
In the Back Bay area of Yes Bay
131

Yes Bay Tramway
Flat Section
Incline Section
132

Railroads & Tramways
Of Southeast Alaska
By Dave Henderson, Ketchikan, Alaska
For much more thorough and detailed information on this
subject, visit the “Lesser Known and Obscure Railroads of
Alaska” section at www.Saveitforparts.com by Gabe Emerson
133
Of Part Three
(S Thru Y)

Railroads & Tramways - Part-3

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