I did receive some interesting local additions to the Knik River Railroad story from that Durand fellow who is the President, CEO and local Historian of the Portage and Decision Ry. For more on the P&DRy, please visit http://alaskamodelrrnews.homestead.com/PJDFantasyTime.html and select Pats Dream. The First Story: Dear CEO The original right of way up the Knik River was of course narrow gauge! It served Barnhart's Saw Mill at Goat Creek well into the 1950's. They also had some diggings in the "Blue Stone" quarries right near where the bridge was built across the Knik after the Colony project got started. The mill at Goat Creek had a large, for it's time, slash burner in the low spot between the creek and the right-of-way that was later taken over by the highway after the first abandonment. The burner base and lumber yard flooded out each August with the Lake George breakout. The Mill was built just up grade above the high water mark. I remember they had an old Mac logging truck and one of those straddle carriers. Most of output was from local spruce and was sold green. They cut a lot of ties and bridge timbers for the ARR in the early days. They also cut some birch and had a dryer for that so they could mill birch trim. I can do a drawing from memory of what I remember of the mill layout if you like. The "Blue Stone" quarry was never properly developed, maybe they were just before their time and they did not know the potential potency of the market. Give my best to the Prez One Eyed Jack Noted single eye witness to Alaska's railroad history. The Second Story: Barnhart's put on a big Thanksgiving dinner every year for all the locals in the mill mess hall. I remember one year Mrs. O'Leary from Ketchikan was the camp cook. She had raised one of her prized Turkstich birds in one of the old dust bins. Ruben Gains was there as the master of ceremonies and explained the full history of the development of the Turkstich or Osturkey as it was called on alternate years. Mrs. O'Leary a widow, used to operate a boarding house in Ketchikan and put on big meals there. One summer all the stray cats, dogs and seagulls disappeared in town. There was no explanation until it came time for the big dinner and the cook opened up the coop to find the Turkstitch had slipped its logging chain restraints. The beast took off chasing Mrs. O'Leary with a hungry look in it's eye. She later published a book on the proper care and feeding of Osturkey for fun and profit. That book was followed the next year by a sequel on hunting, slaughter, preparation and serving of Turkstich. That much I do remember, One Eyed Jack. An editors note: There is currently a study underway on the enhanced yarn spinning ability of persons sniffing the "Blue Stone", Viagrarillium powder in a continually inebriated state. |
Return to Model Railroading in Alaska. e-mail Marty Quaas at cswrrceo@mtaonline.net |
The Knik River Railroad Tails from Along the Line |
Return to Model Railroading in Alaska. e-mail Marty Quaas at cswrrceo@mtaonline.net |
I did receive some interesting local additions to the Knik River Railroad story from that Durand fellow who is the President, CEO and local Historian of the Portage and Decision Ry. For more on the P&DRy, please visit http://alaskamodelrrnews.homestead.com/PJDFantasyTime.html and select Pats Dream. The First Story: Dear CEO The original right of way up the Knik River was of course narrow gauge! It served Barnhart's Saw Mill at Goat Creek well into the 1950's. They also had some diggings in the "Blue Stone" quarries right near where the bridge was built across the Knik after the Colony project got started. The mill at Goat Creek had a large, for it's time, slash burner in the low spot between the creek and the right-of-way that was later taken over by the highway after the first abandonment. The burner base and lumber yard flooded out each August with the Lake George breakout. The Mill was built just up grade above the high water mark. I remember they had an old Mac logging truck and one of those straddle carriers. Most of output was from local spruce and was sold green. They cut a lot of ties and bridge timbers for the ARR in the early days. They also cut some birch and had a dryer for that so they could mill birch trim. I can do a drawing from memory of what I remember of the mill layout if you like. The "Blue Stone" quarry was never properly developed, maybe they were just before their time and they did not know the potential potency of the market. Give my best to the Prez One Eyed Jack Noted single eye witness to Alaska's railroad history. The Second Story: Barnhart's put on a big Thanksgiving dinner every year for all the locals in the mill mess hall. I remember one year Mrs. O'Leary from Ketchikan was the camp cook. She had raised one of her prized Turkstich birds in one of the old dust bins. Ruben Gains was there as the master of ceremonies and explained the full history of the development of the Turkstich or Osturkey as it was called on alternate years. Mrs. O'Leary a widow, used to operate a boarding house in Ketchikan and put on big meals there. One summer all the stray cats, dogs and seagulls disappeared in town. There was no explanation until it came time for the big dinner and the cook opened up the coop to find the Turkstitch had slipped its logging chain restraints. The beast took off chasing Mrs. O'Leary with a hungry look in it's eye. She later published a book on the proper care and feeding of Osturkey for fun and profit. That book was followed the next year by a sequel on hunting, slaughter, preparation and serving of Turkstich. That much I do remember, One Eyed Jack. An editors note: There is currently a study underway on the enhanced yarn spinning ability of persons sniffing the "Blue Stone", Viagrarillium powder in a continually inebriated state. |
Part 5, A New and Unexpected Boom Comes to the Knik River Railroad Along with Major Operation Problems for the Dispatcher and the Railroad. Early in the Spring of 1983, the hotel chain, B. Lively Enterprises broke ground for the 256 room Nilsson King of the Mountain Chalet Hotel. Following a Grand Opening in the Summer of 1985, the Five Star resort located on a bench about 200 feet above Mile 15.2 of the KRRR opened it's doors for it's first Winter Season. From the Hotel, guests have full access to the 17,000 foot long tram which will take them high on the slopes of majestic Mount Nilsson, the Nilsson Ice Fields and the picturesque Lake Gregory. For those looking for something a little easier, no less then six shorter lifts are provided, Most hotel guests are yuppie types which come to enjoy the World Class Ski Slopes, however there are those who just want to relax and get away from it all. Guests may dine in the King of the Mountain dining room, or for those wishing something less, the Two-To-The-Eighth Lounge provides a friendly atmosphere and seating for 256. In the Summer months, the hotel is filled with mostly older visitors who come to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the Knik River Valley, the Glaciers and their surroundings. Guests may enjoy Air Boat trips on the river, ride horse back or hike on the many miles of trails. Horses may be rented from the near-by Lively Stables with back door delivery and pick-up to the hotel. In the Summer, many guests come to ride the tram to the top of Mount Nilsson for the greatest view in the world. Many summer couples also come on a special quest. While the Viagrarillium found in the area is low grade and has no commercial value, the dust blowing around is of sufficient potency to provide the desired results. Many un-blessed couples come for a week stay to hike the trails, inhale the local dust, enjoy the privacy of their room so they can become blessed about nine months later. One of the more popular salad entrees is locally grown chick weed which contains a high percentage of the Viagrarillum dust. Jet-Set guests are greeted at the Anchorage Airport by special ARR trains which whisk them the 36 miles to Knik River Junction. From here, the train is operated by KRRR crews to a new "Y" which was installed at MP 16.4 and a 1.3 mile branch which delivers the Guests directly to the Hotel. Yes, this is Alaska's version of the Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railroad or the Mount Lowe Railroad with a Knik River Valley twist. So why is this boom such a problem to the Knik River Railroad. Well first of all, the KRRR is a fairly old railroad which has been able to function very well with it's second hand 90 pound rail for the past many years. It's main source of revenue is coal with several other commodities all adding up to give a well rounded income base. Now throw in two or three round trips a day by a low paying passenger trains with a bunch of Jet-Set Yuppies who have no tolerance for any delays in getting them to the slopes. The end result is that the profitable coal trains are delayed and it becomes more costly to move the coal and other commodities over the system resulting in an overall loss in income. Additionally, for the KRRR to maintain it's physical plant, it would most likely be required to relay heavier rail over much of it's system, a capital expense which it had not budgeted for several more years. From a Model Railroad stand point, this would add a real challenge for an operation session and I think it is a great idea. A Final Note: Recently, a chubby little fellow known as the Prez, showed up at Knik River Junction in the CSWRR Business Car, the Alaska. The Prez insisted that he and the Alaska be given passage to the King of the Mountain Chalet and that the Alaska be parked at the entrance to the Two-To-The-Eighth lounge. The KRRR Agent on duty informed the Prez that there simply wasn't any room to park anything at the hotel even a short business car such as the Alaska. The agent then told the Prez that they could park the Alaska at Garden and that they could make arrangements for his transportation up to the hotel. At this point, I must say that the Prez did a great job of creating a major scene and embarrassing the CSWRR, however he reluctantly gave in and accepted being parked at Garden. Early the next morning, a track crew showed up at the hotel with ties, spikes and 4 lengths of rail, extending the siding by 60 feet and shortly there after the Alaska was moved to the entrance of the Two-To-The-Eighth lounge. This has created a major problem as there are more Ski Bunnies in the Alaska then there are in the Lounge and all the Ski Bums have no Bunnies to flirt with. Marty Quaas Model Railroading in Alaska Palmer, Alaska |
