Brian Ellerby's "Copper River & Yukon"

Photographs by Brian Ellerby unless noted otherwise

     
 

The Nighthawk Branch - The Copper River & Yukon is awash in traffic during the summer of 1942.  Not only is the demand for copper at an all time high but the demand for supplies and equipment for the construction of the Alcan Highway is also taxing the CR&Y's limited resources.

Nighthawk is located in a narrow canyon near the end of a branchline.  Things get so tight that a portion of Monte Cristo creek has been covered over with a wooden flume to make room for a small yard. And, the main street of town must be used to access a large ore tipple.

The Superintendent of Motive Power has a fondness for outside frame 2-8-0's and several classes of these sturdy narrow gauge locomotive dominate the roster........

 

Right - Copper River & Yukon "ten wheeler" #25 is about to pull away from the enclosed water tank adjacent to Monte Cristo Creek.  Before it can proceed on up to Nighthawk it will have to stop again so that the helper can also top off its tender with water.  Copper River & Yukon rules dictate that helpers must be cut on in front of their small wood under framed cabooses.  Weight restrictions on several bridges prevent the use of double headers.

 
   
 

 
 
 Outside frame 2-8-0 #41 has todays Nighthawk Mixed in the yard at Nighthawk.  #41 will leave most of its train here in the yard before heading up Burke Street to the Nighthawk depot with the combine/caboose. 
 
 

The Nighthawk Mixed - Six day a week the Nighthawk Mixed departs Port Valdez for the climb up Thompson Pass and on into Caribou.  At Caribou, the mixed leaves the mainline for the Nighthawk Branch passing through Sourdough before arriving at Nighthawk around mid-day.

Right - Having dropped the rest of its train down in the yard, the mixed is pulling the combine/caboose up to the depot on Burke Street.

Below - On another day, Copper River & Yukon #25 is about to depart Nighthawk for the return trip to Port Valdez.

   
 

 
 

 

Left - Copper River & Yukon outside framed 2-8-0 #41 is southbound along the Nighthawk Branch.  Monte Cristo Creek parallels the branch between Nighthawk and Sourdough.

Below - The Nighthawk mixed, southbound along Monte Cristo Creek, is just upstream from Sourdough.  While the mixed will make a short stop at the depot, it will not work any of the local industries before continuing on to Caribou.

 

 

Steve Depolo Photograph

                                                            Jim Brown Photograph      
 

Copper River & Yukon Part II

 

Hit Counter