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| PHOTOS: The Denali Express Consist (1542391) | |||
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PHOTOS: The Denali Express Consist |
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Posted by kp5308 on Fri Apr 3 14:41:55 2020 Our train was completely booked through Holland America Cruise Lines to meet the ship Island Princess at Whittier, Alaska. It originated in Fairbanks with one stop to load most of the passengers at Denali. An additional stop was made at Anchorage to change crews only. These moves are considered extras by the railroad and carry a DEX (Denali Express) symbol. The train we rode held approximately 700 in 8 "Ultra Dome" cars. Behind SD70MAC #4322 was the only non-Holland America car, ARR #653 (Colorado Railcar 2007) and the only car which loaded in Fairbanks. The main difference between the Alaska cars & the Holland America fleet is the observation deck is on the upper level. The car seats 72 and is completely self contained. Like the McKinley Explorer cars Karen & I rode the car's length is 89’ and height is 18’-1”. For a detailed description of the car Karen and I rode click HERE. : We were directly behind the 653 and followed by our McKinley mate. Behind us were 5 Princess Lines cars from that era of the operation. The first 3 are single cars Sanford (CRM 1996) and Blackburn (CRM 1999) that seat 88. I do not know the third cars build date or name but I verified that they all have an identical interior lay out and can travel independently. The cars received a general refitting and renewal during the 2005-2006 winter off-season, which included new interior upholstery, seating and décor, new exterior paint and upgrading of the ADA accessibility:  The rebuilding included a lift for ADA access to the dome. The 3 cars have a small bar and come in at 85’ long and 17’3” high:  The lower level has dining space for 36 on leather seats with cloth backs, ADA compliant restrooms and 2 ADA spaces:  The last two cars are from the initial test of the one stop Alaska vacation model of the cruise line controlling everything except getting to the starting point and back home at the completion of the trip. In 1988 Tour Alaska/Princess bought several retired Southern Pacific commute(r) cars. Tilamook Railcar Repair cut the cars to the belt rail and added a second deck. A pair of 2 car sets were completed with one car outfitted with a kitchen and a total capacity of 90 while the other carries an extended observation deck and seats 84. The cars in our consist were part of the last group of bi-levels built by Pullman-Standard for SP in 1968. The cars are 85’ long, 17’-5” tall and are the lightest of the Ultra Domes at 147,000 lbs. vs roughly 190,000 for the rest. The photo depicts the observation car Foraker (ex-SP #3745) coupled to the kitchen car Denali (ex-SP #3744). They are easily identified by the center entry doors from their commute days:  The cars have all table seating on both levels. Another unique feature is the passage between the 2 cars is on the upper level:  They were refurbished in 2004, receiving a full interior refitting, including new seating, upholstery and décor, as well as renewal of the HVAC and generator systems. An ADA lift to the dome was also installed:  The only updates that I have been able to locate about the fleet is the cars have been getting repainted with the last ones getting the treatment in 2019. |
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