1898
128 years ago
ConstructionUnited States
White Pass & Yukon Route Groundbreaking
White Pass & Yukon Route
Skagway
August 11, 1898
Summary
Construction began on the narrow-gauge White Pass & Yukon Route, a vital link during the Klondike Gold Rush connecting Skagway to Whitehorse.
Full Story
Groundbreaking for the White Pass & Yukon Route occurred on August 11, 1898, amid the Klondike Gold Rush frenzy. The 110-mile narrow-gauge line tackled steep grades up to 3.9% and rugged mountain terrain in Alaska and Yukon Territory. British and American investors backed the project, with construction crews facing brutal conditions. The railway enabled efficient transport of prospectors and supplies, later becoming a heritage line famous for its scenic beauty and preserved steam locomotives like the Mikado types popular with modelers.
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Quick Facts
- Date
- August 11, 1898
- Event Type
- Construction
- Country
- United States
- Years Ago
- 128
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