The old White Pass train travels the scenic Yukon Route multiple times daily in Skagway, Alaska.
The locomotive and passenger cars are on what is called a narrow-gauge rail that originally linked Skagway to Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon.
Narrow-gauge rail lines are commonly built to support large tunneling or mining operations. Such a track is used in areas that have mountainous regions as well. As you likely know, Alaska is full of mountains, tunnels and more.
The White Pass Yukon train started operation in 1900. It was heavily used for freight and passengers at the time.
In 1942, the U.S. Army took control of the rails and actually operated it until turning it back over to civilian control in late 1944.
The Army operated the lines as the fear swarmed over Japan heading into Alaska. The goal in operating the trains was to keep communication open during the construction of the Alaska Highway.
After years of use, the train line shut down in 1982. In 1988, it was partially restored from 6-years of non-use.
In 2018, Carnival Cruise Lines announced the purchase of the line for $290 million.