The White Pass and Yukon Route is a 3-foot narrow-gauge railway running 107 miles from Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon. Built during the Klondike Gold Rush, it is today mainly a tourist railway.[1]
| Length | 107 miles (172 km), Skagway to Whitehorse |
|---|---|
| Gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Construction | May 1898 to 29 July 1900 |
| Summit | 2,885 ft at White Pass |
| Skagway to Carcross | 67.5 miles |
| Landmark | International civil engineering landmark, 1994 |
Construction
Three companies were organised in 1897 to build from Skagway toward Fort Selkirk, financed largely by British investors through the Close Brothers merchant bank. Contractor Michael James Heney chose the narrow gauge, which cut blasting costs and allowed tighter curves. About 450 tons of explosives were used to reach the summit. Construction began in May 1898 and the first train in Alaska ran 4 miles on 21 July 1898. Track reached the summit in February 1899, Bennett in July 1899, and the last spike was driven at Carcross on 29 July 1900. Service began on 1 August 1900.[1]
Operation
The line became the main route to the Yukon interior, carrying ore, freight and passengers. It survived the Depression, wartime military operation from 1942 to 1944 and the shift to diesel in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1943 it moved 281,962 short tons, and on 4 August 1943 it ran 38 trains in a day. It closed in October 1982 when metal prices collapsed and mines such as Faro shut.[1]
Revival
The railway reopened as a heritage line from Skagway to White Pass on 24 May 1988, to Fraser in 1989 and Bennett in 1992. A train reached Carcross in 1997 and regular service there began in 2007. About 63 percent of the original line is back in use. Operations were suspended in July 2020 and resumed in May 2023.[1]
Tourism and recognition
Cruise ship traffic drove demand for the reopening. Vintage parlor cars and steam locomotive No. 73 run on tourist trains. In 1994 the Canadian and American societies of civil engineers designated it an international historic civil engineering landmark. A joint venture of Klondike Holdings and Carnival Corporation bought the railway in July 2018.[1]
FAQs
How long is the railway? 107 miles from Skagway to Whitehorse.
When was it built? 1898 to 1900.
Does it still operate? Yes, as a tourist railway from Skagway to Carcross.
How high is White Pass? 2,885 feet.
Sources
Key facts
- 107 miles
- Built 1898–1900
Quick checkWhat is the gauge of the White Pass and Yukon Route?Show answer
3 feet
Sources
- Wikipedia. White Pass and Yukon Route. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-13)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 13, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue