White Pass & Yukon Route Photo Charter — Lerro Photography

Lerro Photography sells places on a three-day photo charter on the White Pass & Yukon Route, the line running from Skagway, Alaska, through northwestern British Columbia to the Yukon. The motive power is 2-8-2 No. 73, built by Baldwin for the railroad, which the operator says will run without its auxiliary tender and pull vintage passenger cars through 60 miles of scenery.

The operator describes the line between Skagway and Carcross, Yukon, as crossing numerous bridges, running for miles along a river, through open fields with mountains in the background and through two tunnels. Almost the entire line is inaccessible by road, which the operator says makes it extremely hard to photograph or chase without a charter.

The photo train has two crews each day so that it can spend all day out on the line, and a different section of track is emphasised each day. The operator chooses the dates to avoid the busy cruise-ship season and expects significant snow at White Pass, so everyone must have snowshoes. The group is limited to 40 photographers.

Three full days on the line behind steam locomotive No. 73 with vintage passenger cars, two crews each day and a different section of track emphasised each day. The operator lists a moderate physical level and a group of 40 photographers. Snowshoes are required because of the likelihood of significant snow at White Pass.

The charter starts and ends in Skagway, Alaska, each day. Because of the early departures and the opening hours of the border inspection station, the operator says hotel reservations must be in Skagway. A passport is required because the train crosses between the USA and Canada each day, and the operator warns that Canada can deny entry to anyone with a felony on record, including a DUI. The operator suggests two ways to reach Skagway: fly into Whitehorse, Yukon, and drive two and a half hours south, or fly into Juneau, Alaska, and take the seven-hour Alaska Marine Highway ferry. Snowshoes are required and rentals are not included in the ticket. Payment is by credit card, with a 4% convenience charge that the operator says is not refundable, or by cheque or money order made payable to Lerro Photography.