The adventure at El Dorado Gold Mine began with a ride on a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad near some of the original rail routes. Lee and Karen Duquette boarded the train and enjoyed a short narrated journey to the mine. The conductor and commentator was Earl Hughes, who provided a lively commentary about mining while passing actual working hands at sites along the way.
The train went through a permafrost tunnel where a miner with a head lamp and pick-axe gave an explanation of underground mining in days gone by. While inside the tunnel, the kinds of mineral and rock formations that tend to produce the most gold were seen.
The original Tanana Valley Railroad served over two dozen gold camps scattered
throughout Interior Alaska in the early 1900s. Supplies arrived in Alaska
on vessels that traveled from Seattle to the mouth of the Yukon River.
Freight was then transferred to Sternwheelers, which hauled it up the
Yukon and Tanana Rivers to Interior Alaska. From there the Tanana Valley
Railroad carried supplies to the gold camps.
Karen Duquette did NOT take photos on this tour, because she knew her daughter and two grandchildren would be here in August - photos are posted of that trip and can be seen by clicking here. You do not have to jump back and forth though because, as you continue on with the Alaska 2009 trip, you will eventually come to the above underlined section of the family's visit.
AFTER you have visited all five (5) sections, above, please continue
on to the adventures of Lee and Karen Duquette at