A postcard depiction of the Alaska Railroad's Aurora streamliner. At the time, the train ran 500 miles from Seward to Fairbanks. Click to enlarge.

(Mac's Photo Service, H.S. Crocker Co., San Francisco, Public domain via W. Lenheim Collection)

AURORA WINTER TRAIN

The Aurora Winter Train, operated by the Alaska Railroad, provides passenger service between the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. It is a seasonal train, only operating during the non-summer months. It is similar to the Hurricane Turn in that in addition to its scheduled stops it makes flag stops, making its schedule unpredictable. The northbound train operates on Saturdays, while the southbound train operates on Sundays.

The train, known then simply as the "Aurora", made it's debut in 1947, running from Seward to Fairbanks.

Station Stops

The Aurora Winter Train makes the following scheduled stops:

Anchorage
Wasilla
Talkeetna
Chase
Curry
Deadhorse
Sherman
Gold Creek
Canyon
Twin Bridges
Chulitna
Hurricane
Denali
Healy
Nenana
Fairbanks

Overview

Service type: Inter-city/Flag stop
Status: Operating
Locale: Alaska
First service: October 18, 1947
Current operator: Alaska Railroad
Route Termini: Anchorage / Fairbanks
Stops: 16
Distance traveled: 358 mi (576 km)
Average journey time: 11 hours 45 minutes
Service frequency: Weekends (Between September and May)
On-board services
Catering facilities: Cafe car
Baggage facilities: Available in Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Fairbanks
Technical
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed: 60
Track owner: Alaska Railroad