Tanana Valley Railroad #1

This narrow-gauge locomotive was built in 1899 and barged from Washington up into Canada for operations at the Coal Creek Mine in the Yukon Territory. In 1905, it came to Alaska by riverboats to serve as the first locomotive in the state on the Tanana Valley Railroad. The Tanana Valley railroad served towns within what is currently the Fairbanks North Star Borough, such as Chatanika, Chena, and Fairbanks for both freight and passenger services. Chatanika and Chena are both ghost towns now, sadly. But Fairbanks succeeded in becoming an excellent city. The Alaska Railroad was completed in 1923 with a main track connecting all the communities between Fairbanks and Seward. The Tanana Valley Railroad went out of service along with Locomotive 1. However, it again being the first locomotive in the state, it was on display at the former Fairbanks Depot over on Illinois Street. In the year of 1999, the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad was established by members of the community who have a passion for trains. It's all volunteer work, but they were able to get this amazing antique operating, celebrating its centennial anniversary. From 2001 up to this day, it operates on federal and local holidays sharing the tracks with Pioneer Park's railroad from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends in addition to having a Spooky Train event in October and to celebrate the holidays, they borrow the Park's locomotive Crooked Creek and Whiskey Island Railroad #67 for operations while pictures are taken with Santa on TVRR.