White Pass & Yukon Route Reaches Whitehorse

July 24, 1900, saw the arrival of the first train in Whitehorse on the White Pass & Yukon Route, a narrow-gauge railroad built during the Klondike Gold Rush. Engineered through brutal terrain with steep grades and permafrost, the 3-foot gauge line used Shay locomotives suited for mountain service. Promoter Michael J. Heney led construction despite harsh conditions and avalanches. The railroad connected the port of Skagway to interior mining areas, facilitating gold transport and settlement. Its significance lies in proving narrow-gauge viability in extreme environments and preserving a heritage line still operating today for tourists. Enthusiasts admire its switchbacks and historic rolling stock.