Nenana

Served on the Alaska Railroad hauling passengers from Anchorage-Fairbanks during the 1950's. When they were pulled from service, they served as spare coaches and moving soldiers in the US Army. When a terrific fire burned down the Mckinley Park Hotel in 1972, Sleepers 90, 91, and 92 was temporarily used for hotel rooms while the new one was being rebuilt. Once the new hotel was open for guests, a private dog musher purchased Sleepers 90 and 91 to be refurbished as dog kennels where a former checkpoint served the Iditarod Sled Dog Race on many races.

Served on the Alaska Railroad hauling passengers from Anchorage-Fairbanks during the 1950's. When they
were pulled from service, they served as spare coaches and moving soldiers in the US Army. When a terrific fire burned down the Mckinley Park Hotel in 1972, Sleepers 90, 91, and 92 were temporarily used for hotel rooms while the new one was being rebuilt. Once the new hotel was open for guests, a private dog musher purchased Sleepers 90 and 91 to be refurbished as dog kennels where a former checkpoint served the Iditarod Sled Dog Race on many races.

Started as a tugboat for Southeastern Alaska in 1938 as more economical ways of transportation such as air, rail, and road replaced travel by river. Diesel and gasoline replaced steam power in boats. Though the other modes of travel were taking over, some areas still required travel by river. The Alaska Railroad had jurisdiction over the Chena, Tanana, and Yukon Rivers to serve their customers via river in addition to rail. The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) acquired the Taku Chief for getting supplies to and from the airstrips. Although air travel and light air freight can fly to and from the villages along the rivers, currently riverboats transport bulk and heavy cargo. The Taku Chief retired in 1978 in the Town of Nenana.