End of the Line... Alaska Railroad Russell snowplow is leading an odd little train that is being shoved down alongside East First Avenue. This vintage piece of equipment was built in August of 1949 and is the last of her kind on the ARR. Long since retired, it has been decades since she was used in revenue service. In fact, this is her good side showing, because the rear left corner of her car body is completely crushed from a side swipe derailment long ago. She had sat forgotten on a disconnected piece of track alongside the Anchorage yard for many years, but finally fell victim to the ARR's clean up efforts in late 2009. She was donated by the railroad to the Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry for preservation but the historic society deemed that she was too far gone to be fit for restoration given their limited funds and space. Instead, after taking photos and documentation they sold her for scrap. After a short trip on the main where she got to cut a little snow for the last time she is now being gingerly walked up this mile long industrial spur to the waiting cutting torches at CEI's scrap yard. In an interesting twist, she had to be lifted off the spur where she sat by forklift because the track was inaccessible. Set back on her own trucks she was afforded the dignity of a trip to the end of the line on her own wheels. This plow was also the very last piece of equipment on ARR rails still equipped with friction bearing trucks. One wonders if the motorists passing her on the street recognized the historical significance of the fleeting moment? It's a shame she had no chance of survival, but at least these photos can preserve the memory....
