Re: WP&YR 02/09/1943

Just for the record it was the US Army Military Railway Service that commandeered the K-28s and sent them to Alaska, not the WP&YR. The Army ran the WP&YR from Oct 42 till the end of the war. Commandeering things for the 'war effort' was a common occurance in 1942. The D&RGW was not treated uniquely. The ET&WNC 'lost' the two 'ten-wheelers' #10 & #14, which the Army sent to work on the WP&YR early in '42. Unfortunately they were destroyed on Christmas eve '43 when inattention by troops who wanted to go party caused the Whitehorse Engine House to burn down. The K-28s faired much better, only one was seriously damaged.

The WP&YR ran trains over the Pass for 42 years using a different procedure than the Army. The old hands at the White Pass would patiently wait till the storm blew itself out and the sky cleared. Then they'd send out the rotary fleet to clear the line. Much easier on men and equipment, but it didn't fit with the Army attitude of "hurry up and wait".