Sunshine, Snow, Station & Steam - Does it even get any better than this? Throw in some narrow rails and I think this just might be heaven! On the fourth and final day of plowing the White Pass has finally opened the line all the way to Bennett. This is the historic halfway point on the railroad between Skagway, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon. Right up until 1982 when the railroad shut down freight operations they maintained an "eating house" here for section men, train crews, and passengers. This isolated little "community" is only accessible by rail or the upper portion of the famed Chilkoot Trail. The railroad was first spiked down here on July 6, 1899 and the station/eating house seen to the left was built in 1903. Today it once again serves its as built purpose during the summer months when passengers and crew on the WP&Ys premier Carcross trains stop for lunch in the traditional manner. The White Pass & Yukon's "rotary fleet" seen here consisted of vintage snowplow #3 (Cooke - 1899) trailed by twin steam locomotives #73 (Baldwin 2-8-2 blt. 5-47) and #69 (Baldwin 2-8-0 blt. 4-07) with coach 211 (blt. by AC&F in 1918 for Oregon's Sumpter Valley) bringing up the rear.
