The RR recently bought 10 new cars from a builder in Washington State:http://www.whitepassfan.net/whitepass/home/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=58&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Plus they built this one themselves on the frame of a scrapped standard gauge tank car:http://www.whitepassfan.net/whitepass/home/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=59&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Hamilton Manufacturing?I found two, one makes coin changers and another makes aquarium parts in Canada..... so the question is who are they again??It's hard to tell from the photos, but the first reaction would seem to be a 'wow!'

When I rode the WP&YR in 2002 it appeared they were using every operable piece of equipment they owned to keep up with demand, and business has increased a good deal since then. Considering the line was closed down for much of the 1980's, theirs is probably the biggest success story in all of tourist railroading. And they do it in a place that's almost literally the middle of nowhere. I look forward to getting back up there someday.Mike

I WAS just there. Rode one of the new cars. Apart from a banging noise from the draft gear that nobody could explain, they are comfortable and attractive and convenient, with some of the nicer restrooms and built in steps, among other things. The trucks were very nicely designed and constructed also. My only comp;laint would be that the ambient noise level was a bit higher than I like, no doubt as a result of the accoustically unforgiving hard surfaces inside the car and minimal insulation below the floor. I am working on an article about Alalska and travelling there with non railfans, but including the WPY and Alaska RR. One big problem in my trip was the cruise company didn't leave much time for photography, etc. Anybody out there have some good recent photos of either line, the Duchess, or the burned steamer I could use for decoration?dave

Hamilton Construction is a firm that does general engineering consturction work in the Skagway area and also for the railroad. Hamilton family has been associated with the White Pass for several generations.It seems that they do the car construction for the railroad as a side venture in the Seattle area during the winter months when they cannot do construction work in the Skagway area.

Thanks.... Hamilton CONSTRUCTION.... Bingo!

There was an article in the "Skagway News" newspaper on May 27 mentioning the new WP&YR passenger cars; says that the cars were needed to replace eleven cars damaged October 1 last year in a runaway accident in the Skagway yards. Five of the eleven cars are still out of service. The paper reports that the WP&YR carried 404,000 passengers last year, and expects to carry 425,000 in 2005. http://skagwaynews.com/052705stories.html Scroll halfway down the page to see the article; there is also an obituary for J.M. FREY, a long-time WP&YR employee who was instrumental in efforts to restore the railroad to service in 1988.Dan Rohrback