30-Class Locomotives

The arrival of the 30-class locomotives in 2020 marked the next generation of our motive power and gave the White Pass & Yukon Route the strength it needed to provide reliable service to the many guests visiting Skagway. With six engines currently in Skagway, we will receive delivery of the seventh and eighth in 2026.

The purchase of these workhorses marks the first influx of new equipment to our engine fleet since the 1970s. Produced at National Railway Equipment in Illinois, each of the engines arrived from their cross-country journey via barge from Seattle. Two of the six engines are painted in our classic green and yellow livery while the remaining four feature a black and red motif that pays homage to our original steam locomotive fleet. These new engines are instrumental in the continuation of our growing operations into the future.

Steam Engine Revitalization

#73 has been the Pride of the White Pass fleet for decades. The engine serves as a reminder of our steam era and provides a nostalgic ride for guests participating in rides behind the locomotive. In recent years, the engine went through a heavy overhaul, dismantling it piece by piece, inspecting each element, replacing what needed to be replaced and putting it back together to ensure its life into the future. The next generation of caretakers is in place, and we plan to use the engine for many more runs to the Summit and beyond to Lake Bennett.

30-Heritage Cars

A special number of cars from the oldest in our fleet have been brought back to life to be pulled behind #73 Steam Engine for trips up the pass. Our heritage fleet, consisting of the Lake Atlin (Car #218), Lake Dewey (Car #220), Lake Lindeman (Car#222) and Lake Marsh (Car #224). These cars predate the railroads construction from 1889 and 1891. All originating from Jackson & Sharp in Wilmington, Delaware and potentially used on the Ilwaco Railroad & Navigation Company before being sold to the WP&YR in 1901.

Refurbishment Program

Relationship with Hamilton Construction continues, and new work has been established with Cobalt Construction in Whitehorse to help maintain the car fleet. So far, we have reskinned and repainted 52 cars. Interior refurbishment will be prioritized over the coming years with new floors, restrooms, siding and reupholstered seating.

Paint Booth

The finalization of the on-site paint booth has allowed our local crews to take on larger car restoration projects and custom design work. The ability to spruce up our fleet in house has added to success of our constant repainting schedule for our 85 passenger cars.

New Rail Cars

As we continue to grow our operations, new rail cars are a key to making that happen. Over the past 7 years, we have added 10 cars to the fleet. We honor the tradition of naming each after a lake or river in southeast Alaska, northern BC and the Yukon.

Finished Marine Dolphin
Work Completion

White Pass installed two high-capacity dolphins at the south end of the railroad dock to increase the capacity for the largest vessels in the region to call on Skagway. This has helped increase our passenger counts over the years.

Summit Loop and Extended Sidings Completion

The completion of the Summit Loop project in 2019, marked the largest rail construction project since the start of the railroad in 1898 and changed our operation of the Summit Excursion. With up to four summit trains departing from Skagway in fleet, and all waiting at the summit of the pass to switch engines to head south, the implementation of the new loop allows faster turnaround times and almost hourly departures from Skagway. Tour timing went from 3.5 hours to 2.75 hours, making the trip more enticing for families and those wanting to see as much of the port as possible throughout the day.

Adding 7 miles of extended siding and the new track at the loop has allowed for passing trains at Boulder, Glacier and the Summit. Guests enjoy the passing trains and photo opportunities it allows.

New Track & Welded
Rail Installation

Welded Rail installation continues with 15 track miles of new rail throughout the corridor. The smoother ride is an improvement for the guest experience, making for a quieter environment in the rail cars.

New Surfacing Fleet

A new tamper, regulator, tie inserter, tie crane, and flat cars have added to the success of the rail replacement program. These upgrades in technology and machinery have improved timing and efficiencies of all the necessary maintenance work required on a busy mountain railroad.

Housing

White Pass is undertaking a large construction project during the winter of 2025/2026 to complete a 20-person housing facility on our property adjacent to the Spring Street Platform. This will allow our workforce to grow while investing in the community and finding positive solutions to Skagway’s housing needs.

New Management Team

The people of White Pass are our most important asset. We are pleased to hire on numerous management positions in recent months to help fill the gaps left by our recent retirements and growth needs. The new staff includes a Train Operations Manager, Car Shop Manager, Safety and Compliance Officer, Chief Dispatcher, Director of Lands and Environment in Carcross and Administrative Support Supervisor. Our front-line team as also increased to include tram drivers for our Railroad Dock facility and Community Support Aides to help provide safe road crossings for the public and our trains.

The massive investment over the past 7 years has amounted to higher passenger counts, more efficient operations, and the ability to take the largest ships on the Railroad Dock. The acquisition of the new locomotive fleet has ensured our operations into the future as we tackle the growth in the cruise industry in Alaska. The preservation of the #73 Steam Engine has continued our commitment to our past. We look forward sharing the stories of the White Pass & Yukon Route with each and every guest that rides the rails with us and we are proud to showcase the 125 years of history that has brought us to present day.