Visitors can purchase tickets to hop aboard the Crooked Creek Whiskey Island Railroad encircling Pioneer Park and pulled by Old 67. It’s just $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and kids under 12 (lap babies are free). The train runs every 15 minutes during the open season from noon to 7:30pm. An on-board guide points out historic attractions and activities in each section. You’ll pass by historic log cabins that were moved from downtown to create a sense of what it was like to live here when it was “the world’s largest log cabin town.” You’ll also spot the Riverboat SS Nenana, pass by the Native Village, and look down on the Mining Valley, a section dedicated to the mining legacy of the region.
The museum and train are handicap accessible. Kids will love the playground in front of the museum.
The gold rush that started Fairbanks relied heavily on an early railroad to move people and valuable goods quickly and efficiently along a string of mines and supporting communities. The Tanana Valley Railroad Museum illustrates the role of this railroad in Fairbanks’ first industry through historical exhibits, interpretive train rides, and on-site restoration.
Engine #1 is still fired up for special events and is stationed at the museum along with another early locomotive dubbed Old 67. A restoration workspace enclosed by glass allows visitors to look on as Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad make repairs to the historic locomotives. Inside, the facility is also divided into a small exhibit area and gift shop. You can read about how a steam engine operates and view relics like an old headlight fashioned from an oil lamp and an original brakeman’s lantern. A small gift shop sells snacks, conductor’s hats, model locomotives, and t-shirts. Admission is free!
