You get aboard the restored carriages right from the dock and climb 2,865 feet (873 m) in only 20 miles. The amazing engineering feat was completed in 2 years by 35,000 workers. Even more amazing was that on 35 men lost their lives in the process. 33 to illness and 2 when an enormous piece of granite slipped and crushed then to death. Their remains lie where they fell under the boulder that was never moved. Marked by a black cross to commemorate their loss.
The railway line was built to transport speculators to the Klondike goldfield in the late 1890's. Prior to that men had to lug their belongings up the treacherous mountain to cross into Canada. They were required to transport one ton of provisions with them, enough to last a year. If not, they were turned back at the border.
The journey up to the summit and back takes about 3 hours and the scenery is amazing. The tour stops at the top just over the border but the line itself continues another 100 miles to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory.
All said, a trip well worth doing. Trevor will tell you more about the town of Skagway. So pretty it looks like the set if a movie. Clean colorful and welcoming.
Nadine xxx
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