White Pass & Yukon Route Groundbreaking

July 31, 1898 saw the official start of grading for the White Pass and Yukon Route in Skagway, Alaska. British and American investors funded the 3-foot gauge line to bypass the treacherous Chilkoot Trail, using Shay locomotives to conquer steep grades. Engineer Michael J. Heney led the effort through granite canyons and permafrost, overcoming avalanches and labor shortages. The railroad became a lifeline for prospectors and later evolved into a scenic tourist line, preserving steam operations into the modern era and inspiring countless model layouts of rugged mountain railroading.