direct to wilderness train

[azbirdmom]

3 hours ago, lstone19 said:

From my experience last year and talking to the people on the train, there are two distinctly different trains used for the Direct to the Wilderness trains. If you're going to or from Talkeetna, they use the Alaska RR cruise train that is based in Seward. When it runs out of Seward (for the lines that dock in Seward), it just runs Seward to Anchorage and back. But on Saturdays and Wednesdays for Princess, it deadheads from Seward to Whittier, then runs up to Talkeetna and back to Whittier, then deadheads back to Seward. There are no facilities to turn the train in Talkeetna so it reverses there (there are locomotives on both end) and with fixed seats, what's forward one direction is faces backwards the other direction.

 

If you're going to or from Denali, Princess and/or Holland America owned cars are used. These trains only operate one-way in a day and I was told they overnight just north of Denali in Healy where the train can be turned which makes seats that face only one way usable.

 

From what I learned, in addition to the Sat/Wed Whittier-Denali trains, Princess/HAL also runs a daily Anchorage-Talkeetna-Denali train used to move people on cruise tours when not going to/from a ship that day. And of course there is also the daily Alaska RR Anchorage-Fairbanks train.

 

Putting together the schedules for all took some effort but I believe it to be (24-hour clock):

Northbound:

Anchorage (0815) - Talkeetna (1120) - Denali (1600) - Fairbanks (2000) - Alaska RR public train

Anchorage (0915) - Talkeetna (1215) - Denali (1640)

Whittier (0715) - Talkeetna (1245) - W/Sa only
Whittier (0815) - Denali (1745) - W/Sa only

Trains from Whittier pass through Anchorage 2:30 after leaving Whittier

 

Southbound:

Denali (0800) - Whittier (1730) - W/Sa only

Talkeetna (1345) - Whittier (1845) - W/Sa only - waits at Talkeetna until Whittier-Denali train passes northbound

Denali (0915) - Talkeetna (1355) - Anchorage (1700)

Fairbanks (0815) - Denali (1230) - Talkeetna (1700) - Anchorage (2000) - Alaska RR public train

Trains to Whittier pass through Anchorage 2:15 before arriving Whittier

 

Thanks for the info.  Since the OP was asking about Denali to Whittier, it didn't occur to me that folks may have been responding with experiences on some of the shorter runs.  Even the Alaska Railroad has different classes of service depending on where the trains are coming from / going to.  Sounds like the OP will be assured of getting the two seat configuration on her cruise tour.

[ciocinina]

We are doing an Alaskan land cruise in July of 2022.  On the rail ride from Denali to Whittier we would like to be on the top observation deck.  Does anyone know if we can reserve this, possibly through the this goldstar?  Has anyone ridden on the observation deck?   When we did the land cruise in 2012, the rail ride was like a free for all and the observation deck was already full when we got on.

 

[John99]

@ciocininaYou can also post your Wilderness train question(s) on Ports of Call – Alaska forum.  This Alaskan forum will provide a more robust functionality for your questions, comments and/or suggestions.  What cruise line are you sailing on -- Princess?  Looks like your traveling independent versus using the cruise ship Wilderness train.

 

The comments below are from Alaska Railroad Goldstar web-site.  For access use web-site below.

 

In Alaska the landscapes are big, so big sometimes that seeing them requires a big window. For this the Alaska Railroad offers the GoldStar Dome service, an upgraded train experience that includes reserved seating beneath full-length dome windows that offer unimpeded 360-degree views.

GoldStar train cars have two levels, with that noteworthy seating on the upper level. Seats are wide and comfortable, set in rows of four with an aisle running down the middle. They're equipped with fold-down tray tables. All seats face forward and, most importantly, all seats have a great view. The upper level also houses an outdoor viewing platform and bar area. GoldStar cars are private, meaning that only passengers with ticketed seats can access the upper dome area. While underway, each GoldStar dome car has a dedicated host who provides narration throughout the route.

 

 Alaska Railroad GoldStar Dome Service | AlaskaTravel.com

John

Edited September 30, 2021 by John99

[JaxonT]

how is seating on the trains assigned? we have 8 travelers in our party(4 separate rooms no kids) and would like to sit next to each other 

Edited March 8 by JaxonT