“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” – Edmund Burke
I have never ridden a train to travel from one place to another. Typically, when I travel somewhere, I drive. Most of the cruises we took, the port wasn’t too far from our house. When we drive, I am typically the one who is driving. For our last cruise, we had to fly to the city where our port was. It would have been too much to drive from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Seattle, Washington. We flew out to Seattle for our last big trip. We have a train station not too far from us. Maybe for one of our next big trips, we will take a train ride somewhere.
I have taken some train rides that last around half a day, and bring us back to where we started. We rode a train while we visited Skagway, Alaska. I started researching what to do in Skagway. The White Pass Scenic Railway was the top recommendation. We signed up to do it. The weather was perfect that day. We were treated to some of the most incredible views I had ever seen. I took over 200 photos while we were on the train. I spent most of my time standing on the platform enjoying the amazing views.
Here are some facts about the White Pass Scenic Railway. 1) Created During the Klondike Gold Rush. The gold rush is what brought most people to Alaska during the late 1800s. The Railway was built to transport people from the coast to the inland, where gold was being found. 2) Designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. To build the Railway was a feat in modern engineering. It shares this designation with structures like the Eiffel Tower and the Panama Canal. 3) Climbs From Sea Level to 2,888 Feet at the Summit. It’s a tall climb from the beginning until the end. The views on the way up are incredible. 4) Passes Over Dead Horse Gulch. There are many historical landmarks along the way, but this one sticks out to many for many reasons. Dead Horse Gulch gets its name from the 3,000 horses that died there. This happened at that one spot on the trail during the gold rush. This sight shows the brutality and the desperation of those seeking gold. .5) It Crosses the Border into Canada. This was my first time visiting Canada, and it wasn’t the last. The spot is marked with a small structure and the flags of each country on their respective borders. This was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Needless to say, if you are ever in Skagway, you have to experience it at least once.
Through Griffin's Lens 