Hurricane Turn

Last updated
Hurricane Turn
Hurricane Turn Train JUN2015.jpg
Hurricane Turn in Talkeetna, AK, June 2015
Overview
Service type Flag stop
StatusOperating
Locale Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, USA
Current operator(s) Alaska Railroad
Route
TerminiTalkeetna
Hurricane Gulch
Distance travelled57.6 mi (92.7 km)
Average journey time2 hours 30 minutes each way
5 hours 45 minutes round trip
Service frequencyThursday through Sunday (May through September)
On-board services
Seating arrangementsCoach
Catering facilitiesNone
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed59 mph (95 km/h)
Track owner(s)Alaska Railroad
Route map
BSicon KHSTa.svg
281.4 mi
452.9 km
Hurricane
BSicon pHST.svg
273.8 mi
440.6 km
Chulitna Darkblue flag waving.svg
BSicon pHST.svg
270.0 mi
434.5 km
Twin Bridges Darkblue flag waving.svg
BSicon pHST.svg
263.2 mi
423.6 km
Gold Creek Darkblue flag waving.svg
BSicon pHST.svg
257.7 mi
414.7 km
Sherman Darkblue flag waving.svg
BSicon pHST.svg
248.5 mi
399.9 km
Curry Darkblue flag waving.svg
BSicon pHST.svg
236.2 mi
380.1 km
Chase Darkblue flag waving.svg
BSicon HST.svg
226.7 mi
364.8 km
Talkeetna
BSicon STR+GRZq.svg
year-round
winter only
BSicon HST.svg
159.8 mi
257.2 km
Wasilla
BSicon KBHFe.svg
114.3 mi
183.9 km
Anchorage

Darkblue flag waving.svg = flag stop

The Hurricane, or Hurricane Turn, is a passenger train operated by the Alaska Railroad between Talkeetna and Hurricane Gulch in Alaska. This train is unique in that rather than making scheduled station stops, it is a flag stop train meaning that passengers between Talkeetna and Hurricane can wave a white cloth anywhere along the route and the train will stop to pick them up. The train runs daily Thursday through Sunday between the months of May and September and the first Thursday of every month the rest of the year (between Hurricane Gulch and Anchorage). [1] The Hurricane Turn is one of the last true flag-stop trains in the United States. [2]

By 2009, the Budd Rail Diesel Cars were removed from service on the Hurricane Turn. [3] Current configuration is two passenger cars and one baggage car with a powered locomotive on one end and a non-powered cab car on the other. This gives a control cab on both ends so the train can be operated safely in both directions and doesn't need to be turned around at Hurricane Gulch. In 2020, summer services began in July in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4]

Alaska Railroad route Alaska Railroad.svg
Alaska Railroad route

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References

  1. "Alaska Railroad official train information". Archived from the original on 2012-07-11.
  2. Feidt, Annie (19 September 2011). "Into The Wild: Alaskan Train Caters To The Intrepid". NPR. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  3. "Alaskarails.org".
  4. "Alaska Railroad pushes back start of summer passenger service to July". Anchorage Daily News. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.