Phase I (~1:24) : The Chitina Local Branch of the Copper River & Northwestern Railway: started in 1998, completed in 2001 with additions in 2003
Phase II (1:29--mainline) : The Alaska-Canada Northern Expo Consolidated Railways System, formerly the Great Northern Line, started in 2005, completed in 2009
Phase III (1:20.3 narrow gauge) : The Klondike Mines Railway extension, started in 2010
The Significance of Sulphur Springs :
In 2007 I began working on a relatively-elaborate proposal for a model railroad Phase III project which centered on the narrow-gauge Klondike Mines Railway (shown on the map as KM RR) but which also included the other short lines in the Klondike area: the coal lines at Cliff Creek (not labeled but just above Coal Creek), Coal Creek and the Detroit-Yukon Railroad at Bear Creek. This is an updated map from that proposal. The Phase III KMR line would be entered through the Sulphur Springs wye, which was the historical end of the KMR at KMR MP 31. I chose the extension of the KMR to be an imaginary White Pass Railway continuation from White Pass. This was consistent with historic proposals for a KMR extension dating back to the turn of the century. The White Pass extension is shown in red. Above it was the Phase II mainline. In 2007 this was still known as the Great Northern (GN) Mainline. Since then the name has been changed to ALCANEX Mainline.Sulphur Springs was nothing more than a wye at the far southeastern end of the KMR, but it is an interesting feature. The bottom map shows details of the historic Sulphur Springs wye, KMR MP31. The middle map shows the layout of the entire KMR line, with significant population centers at Grand Forks and Dawson. Across the River from Dawson was Klondike City, which principally consisted of the KMR yards and Yukon River docks. All of these points show up on my 2007 plan.
The newest version of the Phase III plan calls for a much-larger Sulphur Springs wye, but does not include Coal Creek, Cliff Creek, Bear Creek or the Dawson/Klondike City area. The line will probably end at a wye beyond Grand Forks that was once known as Old Inn.
Here is some background information on the historic Klondike Mines Railway, which operated from Klondike City to Sulphur Springs, a distance of 31 miles, as a narrow gauge industrial railroad from 1906 until 1913, as it appeared in a book written by Eric L. Johnson:
" Hawkins brought the KMR's first locomotive to Klondike City in September of 1902, but it was parked here on temporary trackage, laying idle until 1905. Hawkins had great difficulty in trying to attract backers for construction of the railway--something like a million dollars was needed. In Hawkin's own words, the name of the company, Klondike Mines Railway, was the greatest hindrance to his efforts. Investors associated the name with hundreds of fraudulent Klondike mining ventures which had proved valueless, but in mid-1904 Hawkins finally found financing in two British shipping magnates. Robert Lawther and John Latta provided the necessary cash and became almost he sole owners of the Klondike Mines Railway. It was probably much to Hawkins' relief as he left the Klondike, never to return.
" In the spring of 1905 engine No. 1 was finally fired up, and construction of the railway grade up the bed of Bonanza Creek began in earnest. (By this time, the other mining railways of the Klondike--Cliff Creek, Coal Creek and Bear Creek had already been operating for six years.) But by late June, injunctions granted mining companies stalled grading crews--the companies objected to the right-of-way crossing their claims. After some delay, the courts ordered the railway to survey a new grade along the banks of the creek, and to compensate claim-owners where the right-of-way interfered with mining operations. By the time all was settled, fall had arrived in the Yukon Territory, and no further construction was done that year. However, new rolling stock for the railway had been ordered, and box cars and flat cars began arriving in September. Just before the shipping season on the Yukon River closed, engine No. 2 arrived.
"A new contractor began work in March of 1906. Over the winter, Tom O'Brien and partner John Mackenzie had been awarded the contract to complete the railway. Although eight miles of grade had been finished by the previous contractor, only four miles were available following injunction settlements. By early July, rail was complete to Grand Forks, thirteen miles from Dawson, and by early October construction ceased with rail laid to Sulphur Springs, thirty-one miles from Dawson. At this time engine No. 3 was delivered to Klondike City where the railway's shops and round-house were located."
--from "Mining Railways of the Klondike," Eric L. Johnson
When I drew up this plan back in 2007 I did not anticipate continuing the existing Phase II ALCANEX line into the proposed Klondike Mines Railway Phase III line, so this plan shows the KMR Phase III line as unconnected.
The plan at that time was to reproduce elements of the four narrow gauge lines which once existed in the Klondike territory, including the KMR, the Bear Creek, Cliff Creek and Coal Creek short lines. All of these have the Yukon River in common. Thus this version included provisions for a compressed version of the Yukon River, as well as the Klondike River, Bonanza Creek, Eldorado Creek, Cliff Creek and Coal Creek.
The original KMR charter allowed for a continuation of the KMR at least to the Stewart River. But the early investors clearly intended to continue on to Whitehorse, where the KMR would connect with the White Pass, thus gaining access to the ocean port of Skaguay (old spelling). My model proposal envisioned a combined White Pass-KMR line which would connect to the historic end of the KMR--Sulphur Springs, KMR MP 31.
Over time these plans have been significantly modified. Below is the original.
As of June 15, 2010, the Phase II line has reached the point designated as Sulphur Springs.
A discussion of the proposed White Pass Extension line and the Klondike Mines Railway continues in the following series of pages.
--Ron Simpson, the CRD model railroader
