Random picture thread for Friday

Alaska Railroad NIGHT TRAIN ARRIVES WITH HORN BLARING AND CROSSING GATE CLANGING

Having departed Fairbanks in the early morning hours and made stops at Denali National Park and Talkeetna, Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star Train reaches Anchorage late in the evening.

Watch as its blazing lights pierce the evening haze and its horn blares as it approaches along with the clanging of the crossing gate.

First twin engine locomotives emerge from behind the blinding headlights to be then followed by a baggage car, a pair of Alaska Railroad’s own full length Ultra Dome Rail Cars, a passenger car, a Short Dome Car, another passenger car, and finally two privately owned by Celebrity Cruises Wilderness Express Ultra Full Length Dome Cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7_IBRLrOmg

This afternoon's likely contracted aircraft landing at a US Air Force Base. Either that or it is stopped for refueling and then heading out on a secret mission under the guise of being a civilian aircraft.

Penguins jumping off an iceberg

Yesterday's Rafting Amid Alaska's Fall Colors while Dodging Spencer Glacier's Icebergs and Riding Placer River's Rapids

Immediately below is a link o my just posted YouTube Playlist highlighting the most memorable moments from yesterday's rafting adventure and the getting there on the Alaska Railroad's Glacier Adventure Train from Anchorage to Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop in the Chugach National Forest with its 16 million acres making it the second largest National Forest in the United States:

Link to Youtube Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLtb5zi734BfYnWoNb13Yux8t5Bu0PkKdK

(To watch and listen to all in succession, click "Play All" after reaching the YouTube Video Playlist by clicking the link immediately above>)

By way of summary below is the narrative for each of the five YouTube Videos included in the above linked Playlist.

1st Video:

Watch as the explosive colors of Fall are abundant as early as the beginning of September in Alaska.

This unique viewing is as seen from the upper level of an Alaska Railroad Ultra Dome Car looking directly at the receding track as the Glacier Discovery Train traverses through scenic Portage Valley.

2nd Video:

Alaska Railroad’s Whittier Tunnel at 2 miles is the longest combined train/vehicle tunnel in the world.

Whittier is along the route of the Glacier Discovery Train’s travel to the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop where we ventured to go rafting among the Glacier’s icebergs and adjoining Placer River with its rapids.

In this video share our experience as we departed the Port of Whittier by rail through entry into the tunnel.

3rd Video:

Secluded and hidden Spencer Glacier reachable only by rail is fronted by a lake filled with treacherous icebergs.

Watch here as our raft navigates through these icebergs to reach Alaska’s Placer River.

The glacier itself can be seen in the distance.

As a bonus the river guide offers a narrative explaining the unique setting located in the United States’ 2nd largest National Forest.

4th Video:

After navigating through an iceberg field fronting Alaska’s hidden Spencer Glacier the raft makes its way into the rapid waters of Placer River.

Captured here are the river’s rapids as experienced from a raft.

Then a unique pedestrian bridge comes into view with the raft being swept under its hinged structure.

5th Video:

Having rafted through Spencer Glacier’s icebergs and then continuing on into Placer River’s rapids, our rafting adventure took us 7 miles until we could reach a landing along side the Alaska Railroad tracks.

Watch as Alaska’s Glacier Discovery Train arrives to pick us and the rafts up at this secluded wilderness location.

Captured as well are the expansive waters of Placer River and the scenic wilderness setting.

And here are related selected still photos taken during the adventure:

Along the route to Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop the train pulled into Whittier where some of the passengers got off to board the Regent Cruise Ship that was the first to dock at Whittier's newly built alternate Cruise Ship Dock:

@JWP said:

What's that strange piece of paper that folds out like that?