I have some questions regarding WP&Y passenger operating schedules. The railroad recently posted on its website 2024 schedule information. However, as in previous years, that information appears to have been written by marketing people in text form, in an effort to appeal to potential casual passengers, rather than being written by operating people in standard railroad timetable form, as might be appreciated by transport enthusiasts. It required a bit of time for me to extract the actual schedule information, in some cases having to make some inferences.
1. Here’s what I think are 2024 schedules, stated in a more concise and complete manner (using 24-hour clock and Alaska time). Are these accurate? Am I missing any station stops or flag stops? Are there actual scheduled times, or do trains arrive at subsequent stations only at estimated times?
Morning Fraser train: Skagway dp 7:40, Denver 8:25, Glacier 8:55, Fraser ar 9:30 dp 10:15, Glacier 10:50, Denver 11:20, Skagway ar 11:50
Afternoon Fraser train: Skagway dp 12:40, Denver 13:25, Glacier 13:55, Fraser ar 14:30 dp 15:25, Glacier 16:05, Denver 16:30, Skagway ar 17:00
Carcross train: Skagway dp 7:45, Fraser ar 9:25 dp 9:30, Bennett ar 10:10 dp 10:55, Carcross ar 12:15 dp 13:10, Bennett ar 14:30 dp 15:15, Fraser ar 15:55 dp 16:00, Skagway ar 17:35
Bus: Whitehorse dp 7:30, Carcross ar 8:45 dp 9:00, Fraser ar 10:00 dp 10:10, Skagway ar 11:15 dp 14:00, Fraser ar 15:00 dp 15:05, Carcross ar 16:00 dp 16:05, Whitehorse ar 17:30
White Pass excursion trains: Multiple excursions depart Skagway at 8:00, 9:00, 10:15, 12:00, 13:00, 14:15, 16:00, and/or 17:00, depending on specific day, arrive and depart White Pass 1 hour 15 minutes after departing Skagway, arrive Skagway 1 hour 15 minutes after departing White Pass
Inspiration Point excursion trains: Multiple excursions depart Skagway at 9:00, 10:00, 12:30, and/or 13:00, depending on specific day, arrive and depart Inspiration Point 1 hour 10 minutes after departing Skagway, arrive Skagway arrive 1 hour 10 minutes after departing Inspiration Point
2. Are train numbers still used to identify individual trains? If so, what numbers? If not, how are trains distinguished?
3. In some places the website indicates that trains board one-half mile away from the Skagway station, with a bus transfer provided from the station. Where is the actual boarding location? Why do these trains board there instead of at the Skagway station? Which trains engage in this practice?
4. For cruise vessel passengers, are regularly-scheduled trains simply extended, so as to originate at one of the various docks at some time prior to the Skagway station time, and then operate to, and depart, Skagway station at the scheduled time? If so, how much earlier do these trains depart the docks; is the process reversed on the return trip? Or are there separate trains operated exclusively for cruise vessel passengers?
5. What types of cars are used on each train? Presumably, every train has standard chair cars, but there are other car types used on some trains, correct?
6. Who operates the bus from Whitehorse to Skagway and return? Is it operated internally by the railroad, or is it contracted out to some bus company?
A lot of detailed questions, but as noted, the website text is not as complete as a transport enthusiast might desire.
