Everyone crowded into the train station like sardines. “Alllllllll aboarrrd!” The conductor shouts. It rings through my head taking me back for a second to Model Ts chugging around, horse carriages pulling up to the station in a flurry of dust and activity while men in trousers, loose shirts, and hats lift trunks off of the carriage. Black coal smoke rises into the air, as the train is about to take off. I’m surrounded by steam engines, hard-sided luggage, big trunks, and so many people.
I’m jostled around out of my daydream and back to the present, as a woman with a latte pushes into me. Next, the person in front of me stops to take a picture with his smartphone as I swerve out of the way at the last minute. Soon the crowd pours out of the Anchorage station and onto the tracks. The times have changed, but I believe that the level of excitement and anticipation is the same as decades ago.
There’s something exciting about boarding a train; the bustle, the sounds, the goodbyes, and the anticipation of what is to come. I clutch my camera as I step up onto the train excited to see the Alaskan landscape from a different perspective – a slow-rolling one.
Table of Contents
My Secret Train Love
I have a secret love of trains. I actually owe trains and the railroad a great deal when it comes to the life I’m living now. My first job out of college was at Union Pacific Railroad in their Accounting Department. It was at UPRR that I learned how to be successful in corporate America, I learned about computers, which led to my career switch to IT. I learned about budgets and life in cubes, and I received my MBA thanks to UPRR.
But most importantly – I learned how to operate a train when I worked at Union Pacific. Yes, that’s right, I was a licensed train engineer. As a management employee, I was required to get my train engineer and conductor license just in case the Union went on strike and they needed to put management to work to keep the railroad running.
But I left my UPRR hard hat in my storage unit along with my steel-toed boots, and instead just had a camera with me for this trip. I wouldn’t be operating the train (or we’d all be in real trouble), I would be photographing the train and surrounding landscapes.
Discover why an Alaska train trip should be on your winter itinerary
The Alaska Railroad has One of a Kind Routes
If you are going to plan a trip to Alaska, then make sure you include an Alaska Railroad train route. There are many to choose from depending on the time of year and what type of experience you are looking for.
Owned by the state and not connected via rail to any other North American railway, the Alaska Railroad is unique. It operates 4 routes along 470 miles of track carrying both freight and passengers.
Hurricane Turn Train
Plus, it operates the last known flag-stop service in the US on its Hurricane Turn Line. Rather than making scheduled station stops, the Hurricane Turn Line passengers between Talkeetna and Hurricane can wave a white cloth anywhere along the route and the train will stop to pick them up. This is a crucial offering to locals living in the remote backcountry of Alaska; their lifeline in a way.
I rode the whistlestop service on a return trip to Alaska. It was an experience like no other that was full of local culture and a unique train experience like I’d never seen before. It is by far the best Alaska train tour on the entire AKRR Route.
Aurora Winter Train Service
Another unique offering is Alaska Railroad’s winter train service. Granted, the train is primarily for the summer and the influx of tourism in the summer. However, it still runs a winter route called the Aurora Winter Train from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back.
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It’s a beautiful way to see the Alaska landscape covered in snow while the train chugs through Denali National Park and over frozen rivers. Plus, it’s easier to spot wildlife in the winter against the white backdrop. Keep your eyes peeled for moose!
Alaska Railroad Service
As I walked up the stairs to the 2nd level to find my reserved seat, my car’s bartender greeted me. Yes, I had a railroad car bartender; I knew this was going to be a great day. I was traveling on Gold Star Class, and I wasn’t really sure what that meant – but apparently, it meant that you had an open bar – and brunch.
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Choose the Gold Star Service- It’s Worth It
If you are going to ride the Alaskan Railroad, then try to splurge on the Gold Star Class. Normally I’m not a proponent of 1st class travel, but I’m making an exception for this – because it’s a train. The Gold Star Class cars were windowed dome cars, which gave you the best possible view. I imagined it was sort of like flying in Wonder Woman’s invisible plane.
The entire time we had a ‘guide’ who provided commentary and history throughout the ride. They even gave you ample notice of the scenic spots upcoming for photos.
In addition, the Gold Star cars also had an outdoor ‘balcony’ on the back of the car where you could take photos unobstructed by glass. Even more than the unlimited booze and food, the outdoor space for photography was my favorite feature of the Gold Star Class.
Landscape Photography via the Alaska Railroad
As we pulled out of the Anchorage Railroad Station, the whistle blew and the commuting scene out my large window gave way to the pink sky that made the mud flats outside of Anchorage glimmer in the low morning light. This Coastal Classic route, from Anchorage to Seward, is often called ‘the most scenic route’ as it passes through fjords, glaciers, mountains, and tunnels. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time outside on the ‘balcony’ shooting photos between drinks and brunch.
Then again, the day I road the Denali Star route, from Fairbanks to Talkeetna, Mt. Denali decided to grace us with its presence, which apparently is pretty rare. The views of Denali National Park and its mountains, rivers, and bridges are also stunning.
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Train Photography Tips
There are a few things that make doing train photography challenging. First – you are always moving. Second, There are other passengers also trying to get the best spot for pictures. Third, whenever you shoot out of a window, you’ll get a glare on your beautiful shot.
Here are a few general train photography tips
- Since the landscape is moving quickly by you, make sure that your shutter speed is as fast as you can make it – 1/2000 if possible.
- Take the Gold Star Class to get the best access to photography out on the balcony areas where you don’t have to contend with shooting through glass. Plus you can get some excellent shots of the train itself too.
How to Minimize Window Glare in Train Photography
- Avoid shooting through glass if possible.
- Put your lens flat against it.
- Don’t use flash.
- Wear dark colors to avoid the glare.
- Try to blur out the glare by shooting with a wide-open aperture (f4 or higher) and use manual focus.
- Wrap a dark cloth around the lens and place the lens flat against the window. The cloth will block any light from entering the small space between the lens and the glass, allowing you to focus on your subject and reduce glare.
- Or – get high-tech and use a lens hood (like the one below) to block light and say goodbye to window glare!
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Whether shooting through glass windows or any transparent concave surface, it removes reflections and glares, making it easy to shoot with no distractions.
Gear for Train Photography
I suggest taking a wide-angle lens to capture those beautiful landscapes, and a telephoto lens of at least 300mm to capture the wildlife and the far-off peaks like Denali.
Be sure to check out my best camera bags for travel as you’ll need something easy to carry around as you move back and forth from your inside seat to the balcony carrying your multiple lenses.
I personally think a tripod is a bit bulky to be on the train. The only place you could set it up would be on the balcony, and it would take up quite a lot of space in a crowded area.
Here’s the main photography gear I take with me for trips like this:
I don't go on a trip without this harness! It allows me to be hands free when hiking and snowshoeing. I've also used it while horseback riding. It has saved my neck and back and it a secure, healthy way to carry my camera!
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A true, all-season and versatile pack, the Whistler BP 450 AW delivers amazing performance for wilderness photographers and adventurers.
Sony a7 III Full-Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera Optical with 3-Inch LCD, Black
Alaska Railroad Photography
Whatever gear you have, be ready to take lots of pictures as you slowly meander through this beautiful landscape!
I think train travel is the best meditation there is. But the best part is…it’s a train. You gently rock back and forth, hear the whistle blow, let your mind daydream, and get to watch some of the most beautiful scenery in the US pass by your window.
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Alaska Railroad Schedule and Information
Daily service from mid-May to mid-September for the Denali Star and Coastal Classic Routes
Winter routes from Fairbanks to Anchorage are limited:
Weekend Service September 19, 2015 – May 8, 2016
Northbound: Saturdays
Southbound: Sundays
More info about Alaska Railroad tickets and costs here
Do you love trains? What’s your dream destination to see by train? Share in the comments below!
Disclosure:
I was a guest of Alaska Tourism on this trip however all opinions here are my own.
By Tricia Irish March 24, 2016 - 9:56 am
Fantastic shots, Sherry. You’ve sold me. It’s now on my bucket list. I think I’d rather do this than a cruise!
By Mountain Delights March 28, 2016 - 8:22 am
Photography are awesome and brilliant.Places are amazing.
By Kathy Krieger March 28, 2016 - 5:28 pm
Sherry if you want the vacation of a lifetime go ride trains in Switzerland for 2 weeks like I did! Glacier Express was on my bucket list for over 30 years. Go with a tour all the way 1st class trains if you can. I did Alaska last July: rode Princess dome car from Denali to Whittier. Mostly rain that day. Would love to see it in winter….maybe
By Sherry March 31, 2016 - 1:47 pm
The train schedules in Alaska are pretty limited in the winter – but I agree with you – I”d love to see it then too!
By Dan Poirier April 1, 2016 - 8:02 am
A beautiful blog post of some beautiful scenery and a beautiful railroad. Thanks for sharing your photo tips!
By Sherry April 1, 2016 - 1:16 pm
Thanks Dan! I checked out your site – how cool!
By Glen April 4, 2016 - 1:48 am
I totally agree – train travel is one of the best ways to travel. I had no idea that Alaska even had a railway. What a great way to see such a spectacular part of the world. Loved your photos!
By Aleks April 9, 2016 - 12:15 pm
Oh gosh, your photos are stunning, I am going to America in September for the first time, only to NYC but this train ride is now on my list of ”to see places”! amazing
Aleks 🙂
By Sherry April 9, 2016 - 3:02 pm
NYC is a great start! So much to do there!
By Warren August 30, 2016 - 12:06 am
Sherry check out the hurricane turn Facebook page. http://Www.facebook.com/hurricaneturn
By Jon January 11, 2017 - 2:11 am
Nice and Quality article over the internet after a long time. Thanks
By Sabrina October 1, 2021 - 6:44 am
Sherry, I have to make a decision. I am taking my son to Fairbanks in December. One of my main reasons was for him to ride the train from Denali back to Fairbanks unfortunately the train is sold out. My only alternative is to take the 12 ride to Anchorage, spend the night, and fly back the next day since our base is Fairbanks. Would you take the train or skip it? Please help! Thanks!
By Sherry October 2, 2021 - 11:06 am
Hi Sabrina – thanks for your note. If you are using Fairbanks as your base (which is awesome), and all of your activities are planned there – then I would probably skip the train/fly back. Denali is great to see in the winter – but you could also take the same amount of time and book a trip with Alaska Northern Adventure company and do a winter drive to Denali from Fairbanks. The road goes near the train tracks and you can still go snowshoe in the park, etc…and they do all of the driving! Here’s the info – http://www.northernalaska.com/denali-winter-drive/
By Sabrina October 2, 2021 - 11:11 am
Thanks so much!! The only problem is my son seems to suffer from carsickness so the drive to Denali and back could become a challenge. Your thoughts on the winter flight to Denali?
By Sherry October 2, 2021 - 11:22 am
You mean flying specifically to Denali from Talkeetna? It’s beautiful – however if he suffers from car sickness…then flightseeing is normally much worse – especially around those mountains as it’s quite bumpy. At lease the two times I’ve went it’s been really bumpy – much worse than the car. I would still see if Northern Alaska tour company could take you. The road isn’t too windy and you can ask to have him in the front seat.
By Sabrina October 2, 2021 - 11:28 am
Thanks so much! I will ask if not we will be happy dog sledding, chasing the Northern Lights, and ice fishing, and visiting the reindeer. Do you know where to snowshoe in Fairbanks?
By Sherry October 2, 2021 - 11:32 am
Are you going to Chena Hot Springs? If so – there’s snowshoeing, and dogsledding there…and an ice castle. It’s really beautiful!
Other than that – I haven’t snowshoed in Fairbanks. You may also try Aurora Bear – he sometimes does snowshoeing stuff. He’s mainly a great place to go for aurora watching – but he’s a wealth of info. Ask for Frank.