You know spring has finally arrived in Alaska when gravel trains start running heralding the beginning of construction season. Here is the first train of the 2009 season arriving at the AS&G (Anchorage Sand & Gravel) unloading pit in South Anchorage with 83 that were loaded 50 miles to the north on the ARR's Palmer Branch line. Note: the photographer is a railroad employee and was wearing all required PPE while taking this photograph.
Coal and steel don't go bad. This album features long, slow, heavy freight trains; drag freights, slop freights, dead freights, etc. Trains with lots of power, and lots of different cargo slogging along behind.