I thought some folks here might be interested in this and received permission from Doug Cummings to post this. From the Yahoo whitepassfanlist:
We are pleased to report this trip is a firm GO and a limited amount of space is still available. Please, all responses or questions OFF LIST please.
White Pass & Yukon Railfan Week June 9-13, 2011
The dates for the next White Pass & Yukon Railfan Week have been changed. Some of you all ready know this, but the dates are now June 9 to 13, 2011. Yes, that is correct 2011, that is not a typographical or typing error. The reasons for the change in date are many and they should not change again.
In the northern hemisphere June 21st is the longest day of the year in terms of the time of sunrise and sunset. This time of year is also the driest part of the year in this area. So it should offer the best chances of good weather. The weather would be early summer at this time, and while the tourist season usually gets under way in May the biggest rush comes towards the end of June, so June should offer good opportunities for flight and hotel bookings.
Our schedule is as follows:
Day 1: June 8th. Arrival and meeting with the group at Whitehorse.
Day 2: June 9th. Bus from Whitehorse to Carcross. Then chartered train from Carcross to Skagway with runpasts and photo stops en route.
Days 3 through 6: June 10th to 13th. We will have one day with a charter train using steam locomotive 69 and another using locomotive 73 and will run from Skagway to Fraser and return with photo stops and runpasts all day long. We will vary the consist each day, one day we will have a freight train and one day we will have a mixed train. On the day we have the freight train we will also have a diesel power "chase" train which will have several passenger cars for us to ride. It will run ahead of the photo freight and we will stop for photo stop and runpasts of the steam powered freight train. On the other day when we have a mixed train we will have the passenger cars on the back of the train and will be riding there, again doing photo stops and runpasts. One day we will have a steam powered passenger train from Skagway all the way to Bennett and return, again with photostops and runpasts. And one day we will have a diesel powered passenger train and do photostops and runpasts. On the days we have diesels we have asked the railroad to give us two different selection of locomotives each day so we will have one day with Alco's and one day with GE's. This will give us a lot of variety and a mixture of motive power - both steam locomotives and both types of diesels. Exactly which trip will be run on which day will be worked out later but over these four days we will have three with steam and one with diesels.
Day 7: June 14th. Return to Whitehorse by bus.
You will spend one night in Whitehorse and five nights in Skagway. Skagway is a small town and has a limited number of hotel and motel rooms. You are urged to make reservations early.
If you wish to extend your stay and arrive earlier or stay later you may, of course, do so however there will be no organized activities on those extra days. However if you have never been to this area Alaska and the Yukon are two of the most beautiful and spectacular places on earth.
If you wish to arrive early and want to ride the regular Skagway-Carcross train the day before our charter you will be able to do so, but you will have to pay regular fare and ride as a regular passenger. Late word is that a hotel/motel may be opening in Carcross in early 2010.
There is regular air service to Whitehorse from Vancouver B.C. as well as from Edmonton Calgary AB on Air North.
Another option is arriving in Skagway by sea or air. There is air service from Juneau using small aircraft. The Alaska State Ferry system also operates into Skagway from Juneau and you can take your car on the ship. Check the Alaska State Ferries web site for more information.
Patrons should plan to arrive in Whitehorse no later than June 8th. Transfers from the Whitehorse airport to downtown Whitehorse will be provided. We do not recommend anyone book flights leaving Whitehorse any earlier than mid-day on June 14th as we cannot guarantee what time our functions will end on the 13th. We will provide bus transportation back to Whitehorse on the morning of June 14th.
We require a firm booking from anyone wishing to come as early as possible. We have limited space and will require a deposit of $370.00 per person (U.S. dollars) no later than May 31st, 2010. (Yes, 2010). We have to make a substantial non-refundable payment to the railroad one year before the trip runs. If you are sending in a deposit please date your cheque for June 1st, 2010. Deposits will be paid back in full if the required number of bookings has not been reached by June 1st, 2010.
When you send in your reservations we will send you a list of hotels and motels in Whitehorse and Skagway.
The tour price for the five days on the railroad and the bus transfers will probably be in the area of US$1,750 per person. This will include box lunches on the trains.
It is important to remember that Whitehorse is in Canada and Skagway is in the U.S.A. Every day we are on the train we will be travelling between Canada and the U.S.A. and everyone must have a valid passport and any other documents you may require to enter and travel between both countries.
For further information and bookings please contact -
From Canada:
#27-2801 Ellerslie Avenue,
Burnaby, B.C. V5B 4R9
Canada
From U.S.A.:
P.M.B. 820
250 H Street
Blaine WA, 98230-4018
e-mail:
WPYrailtour@Shaw.ca
Fax: 778-737-3508
On the web: www.extra2200south.com and click on the link to the WP&Y railfan week.
