White Pass & Yukon Route Scenic Railway

The White Pass & Yukon Route begins construction in May 1898, and on July 21 1898 it runs its first excursion train four miles out of Skagway, marking the first train operation in Alaska. After the charter rights of three earlier companies are consolidated on July 30 1898, the line reaches the 2,885‑foot summit of White Pass by mid‑February 1899, arrives at Bennett, British Columbia on July 6 1899, and drives the last spike on July 29 1900, with regular service commencing August 1 1900. The railroad operates continuously until 1982, is designated an international historic civil‑engineering landmark in 1994, and is partially revived as a heritage railway in 1988. Ownership passes from its original British‑financed founders to a subsidiary of Tri White Corporation, then to Clublink, after which Clublink sells it to a joint venture controlled by Survey Point Holdings with a minority stake held by Carnival Corporation & plc; Carnival completes full purchase of the railway in July 2018.