Steam & Excursion > WP&Y 73 @ Tunnel Mountain, Alaska; 9/25/2025

White Pass & Yukon #73 was spotted leading a Pete Lerro sponsored charter southbound at Tunnel Mountain, Alaska on September 25, 2025

MP 18, or Bridge 18A

There was a great deal of atmospheric variability

Jonathan Fischer
Seattle, WA

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WP&Y #73 was subsequently spotted leaving the tunnel southbound

Well worth the effort

Jonathan Fischer
Seattle, WA

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The overcast weather actually enhanced your fine images.  Very creative and gorgeous scenes, Jonathan.  Thanks for posting them.

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ

Very nice coverage! Glad the 73 is operating!

There have been a number of great videos of this event popping up on my FaceBook feed, including #73 and a second train on a parallel track with a pair of shovel nose units.  A search for Pete Lerro on FaceBook will get some of those videos and images.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/25 21:48 by roustabout.

Still bummed they canceled my ride on her in may!!!

Posted from Android

Great pics, thanks for the post!

Bob
Thayne, WY

#2 is Pulitzer-worthy.

Great trips, great pix!

There were actually two different charters (with several folks attending both trips). 

Weather improved a bit by the 28th. 

Great trips with great people!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/02/25 18:04 by march_hare.

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Great shots!  My wife and I did a lifelong bucket list cruise last month out of SEA to Alaska, and rode the WP&Y.  I would run out of superlatives attempting to describe the entire cruise, and especially this train ride; it was AMAZING!  The train crew was super friendly and willing to visit.  We rode the bus up and the train back, out of deference to our friends we were with and my not wanting to trap them for the ride up and back, but even with that the trip was incredible, and Phyllis and I can't wait to go back for the up and back ride.  I spent the entire downbound trip on the platform and came away with some superb shots.  I would have loved to have been able to shot from the angles you captured here, but alas, that couldn't happen.  Thanks for sharing these amazingly beautiful pics! 

A few thoughts on the WP&Y.  Their management has resurrected a moribund and derelict railroad and turned it into a marvel of well-maintained railroad infrastructure.  Every bridge including the abutments are new, lots of new sidings and segments of double track, remote swith control, deep ballast with well surfaced roadbed, and the installation of welded rail on the entire route, new coaches, and of course the entire locomotive fleet renewal all testify to a forward looking business model.

Attached is one of my favorites from the ride, and one of the few hard core railfan shots that was available to shoot.

Jerry
ATSF5669

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Beautiful images.  Great scenery.  Well composed.  
End result:  IMAGE(S) OF THE DAY !!!

Well deserved.

Nice shots!!  One of my favorites is Pic 2!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/02/25 16:51 by ns1000.