A Terrific and Tragic Train Ride

 Once you read this title I am certain you will want to know the story right away.  Unfortunately, on a day when the weather was perfect and viewing of Mt. McKinley was superb, we experienced a fatal encounter with a car at the RR crossing.  It was about six p.m. after about 10 hours of a glorious train trip when we felt a slight jarring of the train, major debris flying past the windows and the smell of burning rubber.  The train came to an immediate stop.  My sister was up on the observation deck and I went to see what was going on.  At first we didn’t believe the rapidly spreading rumor that we’d hit a car.  But after a lot of discussion with those who saw what happened and those who were looking through their binoculars it was determined that a tragic accident had occurred.  The details we learned only two days later on the Anchorage TV station.  It appears that a 66-year-old woman had just been given a new car and was learning how to drive a stick shift.  She had stopped at the crossing but somehow the clutch popped and the car lurched forward as the train approached.  All the passengers, especially those on the observation deck, was shaken by what happened and expressed their sorrow to each other during the next six hours as we waited for the emergency crew, sheriff, coroner and train officials to complete their duties.  We were then bused to Anchorage (two hour trip) where Risa and I had made arrangements to spend an extra two days.  The accident is something we’ll never forget.  But there were also some great experiences on that train.  We had perfect viewing of Mt. McKinley which only happens about 30% of the time.  We ate great gourmet meals in the dining car since we’d paid extra to go First Class.  We also met a completely charming and endearing retired teacher from Minnesota (Gloria) who we bonded with further during the tenseness after the accident.  I hope you enjoy the pictures as there is beauty even on a day when bad things happen.