White Pass & Yukon Route Begins Operations

The White Pass and Yukon Route narrow-gauge railway commenced regular service on July 13, 1898, connecting Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse in Canada's Yukon Territory. Built through extremely rugged coastal mountains, the 110-mile line overcame steep grades and harsh weather using Shay locomotives and trestle bridges. It provided critical transportation for prospectors and supplies during the Klondike Gold Rush, replacing the dangerous White Pass Trail. The engineering feat remains a testament to late-19th-century railroad construction in remote areas and today operates as a heritage tourist line preserving gold-rush history.