Aquatrain

The Aquatrain (or AquaTrain) was an unpowered unmanned sea-going rail barge operated by Canadian National Railway (CN) between Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, and the Alaska Railroad in Whittier, Alaska, United States. It is the largest such barge in the world, containing 8 sidings and using a tug for power and control. The length of loadable train, some 50 cars, would, if the cars were placed end to end, rise up twice as tall as the Chicago Willis Tower. The ferry service started operations in 1962, and had a 3-day voyage between Whittier and Prince Rupert, usually operating once a week, year-round. The Aquatrain barge was built in 1982 by South Korea's Shin-A shipbuilding, and is 400 ft × 100 ft (122 m × 30 m). Since 1993, the Aquatrain's maritime tugboats and tug crews were provided by Foss Maritime. Foss utilized two 116 ft (35 m) tugboats Justine Foss and Barbara Foss.[2][3][4]

Not to be confused with Quatrain.
Aquatrain
History
NameAquatrain
OperatorCanadian National Railway
RoutePrince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada to Whittier, Alaska, United States
BuilderShin-A shipbuilding
Completed1982
Out of serviceApril 2021[1]
General characteristics
TypeSea-going rail barge
Installed powerNone
CrewNone

Service ended in April 2021.[1]

References
  1. "The Last AquaTrain". 2021.
  2. "Warriors in the Last Frontier". Alaska Mega Machines. 30 August 2016. Discovery Channel.
  3. "Canadian National's AquaTrain". Alaska Rails .org. 21 August 1998.
  4. "Foss Transports World's Largest Railcar Barge". Foss Maritime Company, LLC. 2020.


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