Each August Visitors from throughout Japan and the world flock to Aomori Japan for the world famous Nebuta Festival with its huge bus-sized handcrafted floats.
The multi-day Festival concludes with a spectacular fireworks display over Aomori Bay as the winning Nebuta Floats are paraded in boats under the fireworks lit sky.
Watch here as the sun sets and the fireworks begin followed by the first of the winning Nebuta Floats as it circles the bay. The illuminated float glows brightly against the now darkened sky.
Alaska’s 28 full length Ultra Dome rail cars are the only ones in the United States and there are only 16 more in the world with those operated by Rocky Mountain in Canada.
Here in this video watch as an Alaska Railroad engine pulls a pair of Holland America Line’s 10 total McKinley Explorer Ultra Dome Rail cars which are followed by a pair of Princess Tours’ 10 total Princess Ultra Dome Rail Cars.
The remaining 8 Ultra Dome Rail Cars in Alaska are split evenly between the Alaska Railroad and Royal Celebrity which provides rail tours in Alaska for the Celebrity Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. The Celebrity rail cars go by the name Wilderness Express.
While both Princess and Holland America contract with the Alaska Railroad to run their own routes, the other 8 are attached to trains with regularly scheduled train service.
All 44 of the world's Ultra Dome Rail Cars were made by a single company, Colorado Railcar and its predecessor, Rader Railcar. The first was manufactured in 1988 and the last in 2007.
Prior to the advent of the Ultra Dome Rail Cars Super Dome Rail Cars had been manufactured by two competing companies, Pullman and Budd. Alaska's venture into Dome Cars began with these Super models when in 1983-84 Tour Alaska and subsequently Princess in 1984 and Westours Holland America and Princess in 1985 began buying up Full length Dome Car rolling stock from other railroads. By 2005 Westours Holland America had 13 Super Dome Cars when they began selling them off to be replaced by the current Ultra Dome Cars. Each of those were named after Alaska Rivers. Four ended up in Colorado where they are today part of the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. These Super Dome Rail Cars were the first full length dome cars with Pullman having made 10 and Budd 20. Alaska had cornered the market on Super Dome Cars as well.
As an historical note, before the Super Dome Cars that emerged in the 1950's as the first full length dome cars, 199 Short Dome Cars had been built beginning in 1945 until 1958. Alaska Railroad still has some Short Dome Cars that can be seen on scheduled routes. These Short Dome Cars only had the center third of a car as a dome and were never owned or affiliated with the Alaska Cruise lines that first brought the full length Dome Cars to Alaska.
All four types of Ultra Dome Railcars Now Riding the Rails in Alaska. (Of the total 44 built by Colorado Railcar between 1988 and 2007, 28 are in Alaska and 16 in Canada.)
First, Holland America's McKinley Explorer:
Second, Princess:
Third, Royal Celebrity's Wilderness Express:
Fourth, One of the Alaska Railroad's own Ultra Dome Railcars:
And for good measure, here is one of the Alaska Railroad's Short Dome Cars:
Took these in June 2019 - the morning during a late season snowstorm. For those familiar, this is the Many Glacier area. I’ll post another set of the Lake McDonald area next week.
Of all the NP’s I’ve visited, Glacier is the most remote & maybe the most visually appealing.
Comments
Each August Visitors from throughout Japan and the world flock to Aomori Japan for the world famous Nebuta Festival with its huge bus-sized handcrafted floats.
The multi-day Festival concludes with a spectacular fireworks display over Aomori Bay as the winning Nebuta Floats are paraded in boats under the fireworks lit sky.
Watch here as the sun sets and the fireworks begin followed by the first of the winning Nebuta Floats as it circles the bay. The illuminated float glows brightly against the now darkened sky.
A Lighthouse in Iceland
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
Drivers training in 1953
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"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Been looking to get there myself
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
That’s so cool! It’s like a moment in time
My YouTube Channel
Alaska’s 28 full length Ultra Dome rail cars are the only ones in the United States and there are only 16 more in the world with those operated by Rocky Mountain in Canada.
Here in this video watch as an Alaska Railroad engine pulls a pair of Holland America Line’s 10 total McKinley Explorer Ultra Dome Rail cars which are followed by a pair of Princess Tours’ 10 total Princess Ultra Dome Rail Cars.
The remaining 8 Ultra Dome Rail Cars in Alaska are split evenly between the Alaska Railroad and Royal Celebrity which provides rail tours in Alaska for the Celebrity Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. The Celebrity rail cars go by the name Wilderness Express.
While both Princess and Holland America contract with the Alaska Railroad to run their own routes, the other 8 are attached to trains with regularly scheduled train service.
All 44 of the world's Ultra Dome Rail Cars were made by a single company, Colorado Railcar and its predecessor, Rader Railcar. The first was manufactured in 1988 and the last in 2007.
Prior to the advent of the Ultra Dome Rail Cars Super Dome Rail Cars had been manufactured by two competing companies, Pullman and Budd. Alaska's venture into Dome Cars began with these Super models when in 1983-84 Tour Alaska and subsequently Princess in 1984 and Westours Holland America and Princess in 1985 began buying up Full length Dome Car rolling stock from other railroads. By 2005 Westours Holland America had 13 Super Dome Cars when they began selling them off to be replaced by the current Ultra Dome Cars. Each of those were named after Alaska Rivers. Four ended up in Colorado where they are today part of the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. These Super Dome Rail Cars were the first full length dome cars with Pullman having made 10 and Budd 20. Alaska had cornered the market on Super Dome Cars as well.
As an historical note, before the Super Dome Cars that emerged in the 1950's as the first full length dome cars, 199 Short Dome Cars had been built beginning in 1945 until 1958. Alaska Railroad still has some Short Dome Cars that can be seen on scheduled routes. These Short Dome Cars only had the center third of a car as a dome and were never owned or affiliated with the Alaska Cruise lines that first brought the full length Dome Cars to Alaska.
All four types of Ultra Dome Railcars Now Riding the Rails in Alaska. (Of the total 44 built by Colorado Railcar between 1988 and 2007, 28 are in Alaska and 16 in Canada.)
First, Holland America's McKinley Explorer:
Second, Princess:
Third, Royal Celebrity's Wilderness Express:
Fourth, One of the Alaska Railroad's own Ultra Dome Railcars:
And for good measure, here is one of the Alaska Railroad's Short Dome Cars:
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
Solar panels in India
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
School days 65 years ago ...
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
Glacier National Park - Part 1
Took these in June 2019 - the morning during a late season snowstorm. For those familiar, this is the Many Glacier area. I’ll post another set of the Lake McDonald area next week.
Of all the NP’s I’ve visited, Glacier is the most remote & maybe the most visually appealing.
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
Wilt Chamberlin and Bill Russell playing in their 1st game against each other
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A down racer
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Khao Lak, Thailand.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
First pea pods of the season:
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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I took this 7 years ago on this date
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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My money trees are doing great.
My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set
Mr_Spud
Today at Pine Creek Railroad
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
1923-S US silver Peace Dollar in an Old PCGS Holder graded MS62
1997-PRESENT
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members