Railroad Alaska (2013–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Spring Attacks - full transcript

IN ALASKA...

THE SNOW IS MELTING.

...THE BIG SPRING THAW...

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

...MOUNTAIN FLOODS...

WE'VE GOT TO GET
ON A PROGRAM HERE.

WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!

...AND KILLER BEARS...

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS!

THIS IS DEFINITELY BEAR CITY.

...PUT REMOTE SETTLERS
AND RAIL CREW...



IT COULD ACTUALLY CAUSE HAVOC.

WE GOT TO STOP
BEFORE IT GOES BAD.

...IN MORTAL DANGER.

I THOUGHT
I HEARD A DAMN GUNSHOT.

MY HUSBAND DOESN'T THINK
OF THE CONSEQUENCES.

IF THEY WANT A CONFRONTATION
AND THEY COME UP HERE,

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
A CONFRONTATION.

THE PORT OF SEWARD,

THE SOUTHERN TIP
OF THE ALASKA RAILROAD.

IT'S SPRINGTIME.

OVER THE WINTER,

THESE MOUNTAINS
HAVE BEEN COVERED

IN LAYER AFTER LAYER
OF SNOW AND ICE.

NOW IT'S MELTING FAST,



TRIGGERING FLASH FLOODS THAT CAN
WASH AWAY THIS VITAL RAIL LINE

AND CUT OFF ALASKA
FROM ITS PORTS.

THIS MORNING,
THIS WAS ALL FROZE SOLID.

NOW IT'S A LAKE.

HIGH LOAD.

EXTREMELY HIGH.

DANNY AND ANIMAL
ARE PREPARING A FREIGHT TRAIN

WITH $3 MILLION
OF SUPERSIZED CARGO...

BOOM TRUCKS, TRAILERS,
AND FISHING BOATS

ALL NEED HAULING TO ANCHORAGE.

THIS IS
THE NICEST LOAD I'VE SEEN YET.

HIGH DOLLARS HERE.

THIS TRIP FROM HERE

IS GONNA BE THE EASIEST TRIP
THIS BOAT WILL TAKE.

SOMEBODY'S GONNA BE
A HAPPY CAMPER

WHEN THIS BABY GETS THERE.

IT'S 1:00 P.M.

DANNY AND ANIMAL
HAVE A 115-MILE RACE AHEAD.

THEY MUST GUIDE THE HIGH LOADS

THROUGH A SERIES OF TIGHT
TUNNELS IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS

AND PASS THROUGH
A SECTION OF TRACK

VULNERABLE
TO SPRINGTIME FLOODING.

THIS WILL MAKE HAULING
THEIR 10,000 TONS OF CARGO

A CHALLENGE.

THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO BE
IN ANCHORAGE BY 8:00 P.M.

4320, DEPARTED SEWARD.

HAMMER DOWN, BOSS.
HAMMER DOWN.

AS LONG AS NOTHING DISASTROUS
HAPPENS BETWEEN HERE AND THERE,

WE SHOULD BE IN THERE
WITH ABOUT 12 MINUTES TO SPARE.

LOTS TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR.

60 MILES
AHEAD OF THE FREIGHT TRAIN,

ROADMASTER BRUCE GOUGH
IS ON HIS DAILY LINE INSPECTION.

IF HE SPOTS ANY PROBLEMS,
HE'LL HAVE TO STOP THE TRAIN.

A SUDDEN FLOOD CAN EASILY
WASH AWAY BIG SECTIONS OF TRACK.

NOW THAT SPRING'S HERE,
THE SNOW TURNS INTO WATER.

AND IF YOUR CULVERTS
AND YOUR BRIDGES

AREN'T READY
TO TAKE ON THIS NEW WATER,

YOU COULD HAVE BIG PROBLEMS.

HO.
THAT'S A BIG ONE.

THE BEARS ARE OUT.

THERE ARE MORE THAN
130,000 BLACK AND BROWN BEARS

IN ALASKA,

ONE FOR EVERY SIX PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE STATE.

NOW SPRING IS HERE.

THEY'RE WAKING UP
FROM HIBERNATION,

AND THEY'RE HUNGRY.

A FEW DAYS AGO,
THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN

THAT WAS ATTACKED BY A BEAR
NOT VERY FAR FROM HERE.

IF IT CAN HAPPEN THERE,
IT CAN HAPPEN HERE.

YEAH.
THIS IS DEFINITELY BEAR CITY.

BEARS ARE A CONSTANT THREAT,

SO BRUCE KEEPS A WATCHFUL EYE
AS HE INSPECTS THE TRACK.

THIS ISN'T GOOD.

I GOT TO GO LOOK AT THIS,
LIKE, NOW.

THIS CULVERT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S WAY TOO SMALL

TO CARRY THIS MUCH WATER.

IT'S NOT GOOD

WHEN YOU CAN PUT YOUR HAND
UNDERNEATH THE TIES HERE.

THIS IS ONE OF THESE DEALS

WHERE YOU COULD COME HERE
AND FIND YOUR TRACKS GONE.

A SMALL STREAM
CAUSED BY MELTING SNOW

CAN RAPIDLY TURN
INTO A RAGING RIVER.

IN 2012,
WATER WASHED AWAY THIS BANK

UNDER A 500-FOOT SECTION
OF TRACK,

SHUTTING THE LINE DOWN
FOR FIVE DAYS.

BRUCE TO CHRIS, OVER.

ROGER.

We can't afford to have
that track washed out.

IF WE GET
EVERYBODY TOGETHER,

I THINK WE CAN GET THAT
CHANGED TODAY. OVER.

ROGER. WE'LL GET THIS GOING
RIGHT AWAY.

WORD OF CAUTION...

A BLACK BEAR
CAME OUT IN FRONT OF ME

right at our work site.

THANKS FOR THE INFO.

NO FREIGHT TRAINS,
NO PASSENGER TRAINS,

NOTHING CAN GET ACROSS
THESE TRACKS.

200 MILES NORTH
NEAR TALKEETNA...

OFFGRIDDERS NANCY AND JIM JAMES

ARE ALSO DEALING WITH
THE SPRING THAW.

**** NANCY, GIVE ME A HAND
HERE, WILL YA?

YEAH, I'M COMING.

AS THE SNOW STARTS TO MELT,
IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT

FOR HEAVY SNOWMOBILES
TO RIDE OVER IT WITHOUT SINKING.

THE SNOW IS MELTING.

AT NIGHT, IT FREEZES,

AND THE TRAIL IS
SLICKER THAN CAT SNOT.

THE SNOWMACHINE
CAN'T GO THROUGH IT.

IT'S JUST A DISASTER.

WE GOT OURSELVES
IN A MESS TODAY, DIDN'T WE?

****

THE LAST THING THEY WANT

IS TO GET STUCK ON AN ALASKAN
TRAIL IN SPRINGTIME.

THE GRIZZLIES ARE OUT.

AND THERE'S ONE
BIG OL' GRIZZLY UP HERE.

I MEAN, THAT THING IS HUGE.

WE MEASURED HIS FRONT PAW TRACKS
ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO,

AND IT WAS 12 INCHES WIDE.

AND IF YOU'RE IN THE WAY,
YOU'RE LUNCH.

THE HOMESTEADERS
WHO BRAVE THESE WOODS

RARELY SEE EACH OTHER,

BUT TODAY,
A NUMBER OF THEM PLAN TO MEET

AT A SPRING PARTY IN TALKEETNA.

I WISH
YOU'D GO IN WITH ME.

I WAS IN TOWN
FIVE OR SIX MONTHS AGO.

SO, ARE YOU AFRAID
TO GO TO THE PARTY?

YOU AFRAID
YOU'LL GET IN TROUBLE?

I MIGHT HAVE
SOME CONFRONTATIONS

WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL
IMPORTED IDIOTS.

THEY'RE ALL GONNA BE
ASKING ME ABOUT YOU.

WELL, LIE.

DON'T TELL THEM THE TRUTH.
LIE.

AMANDA MIGHT BE THERE
WITH HER NEW BABY.

TAKE A PICTURE
OF AMANDA AND THE KID.

I GOT TOO MUCH STUFF TO DO,
AND THE BEARS ARE OUT.

SO, I DON'T NEED ANY BEARS
COMING IN HERE TEARING...

BUSTING THE WINDOW OUT AND
TEARING THE PLACE UP.

IN TALKEETNA,

THE OLDEST BUILDING IN TOWN
IS THE FAIRVIEW INN.

BUILT IN 1923
TO SERVE RAILROAD TRAVELERS,

IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE
FOR A SPRING PARTY.

ONE QUIRK OF THE SMALL TOWN
IS ITS CHOICE OF MAYOR.

FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS,
IT'S BEEN MR. STUBBS, A CAT,

WHO WILL BE ON HAND
TO GREET THE OFFGRIDDERS.

HIS POSITION IS HONORARY,

AS THE TOWN IS
ONLY A HISTORICAL DISTRICT.

IT'S 2:00 P.M.

THE WEEKLY
SOUTHBOUND PASSENGER TRAIN

WILL PASS HURRICANE

AND START PICKING UP OFFGRIDDERS
WHO FLAG IT DOWN FROM THE WOODS.

THE TRAIN IS SCHEDULED
TO REACH TALKEETNA BY 4:40 P.M.

BOY, THESE TRAILS
ARE GETTING SLICK.

NANCY IS COMBINING
THIS SOCIAL VISIT

WITH A SUPPLY RUN.

SHE'LL STOCK THESE COOLERS
WITH FOOD FOR THE NEXT MONTH.

HAVE YOU GOT EVERYTHING?

I GOT A GUN,
TICKETS, KEYS, MONEY.

OKAY.

THE RAPIDLY MELTING PATH
TO THE RAIL TRACKS

WILL BE DIFFICULT
TO TRAVEL OVER,

AND THEY MUST KEEP AN EYE OUT
FOR BEARS.

WELL, LET'S GET THE HELL GOING
AND GET DOWN THERE.

YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED.

IT DOESN'T TAKE AN 8- OR 10-FOOT
GRIZZLY TO DO YOU DAMAGE.

100-POUND BLACK BEAR
CAN PUT IT ON YOU.

IT'S 2:30 P.M.

DANNY, ANIMAL, AND BUFFALO

ARE 35 MILES INTO THEIR
115-MILE JOURNEY TO ANCHORAGE.

246 for 4320 north. Over.

4320.

THEY'RE CARRYING

MORE THAN $3 MILLION WORTH
OF FREIGHT,

INCLUDING TRUCKS, TRAILERS,
AND FISHING BOATS.

This is 1206. Roger.
We're in the road by you.

UNDERSTOOD.
AND THANK YOU.

IT'S ABOUT A MILE OUT.

SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
IN A COUPLE MINUTES.

EVERY TIME A TRAIN
PASSES A TRACK REPAIR CREW,

THEY MAKE A VISUAL INSPECTION
OF THE TRAIN AS IT ROLLS BY.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANY CARGO
THAT MIGHT BE LOOSE

OR FAULTS THAT COULD DAMAGE IT
OR DERAIL THE TRAIN.

THEY'RE GONNA ACTUALLY
LOOK AT OUR TRAIN

AND THEN MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS SECURE,

LOOKS GOOD, NOTHING'S SHIFTING.

HOPEFULLY
EVERYTHING WILL LOOK GOOD.

4320, OVER.

ABOUT HALFWAY BACK,
APPEARS TO HAVE LOOSENED UP.

WE GOT TO STOP
BEFORE IT GOES BAD.

BUFFALO STAYS
IN THE LEAD LOCOMOTIVE

WHILE DANNY AND ANIMAL GO
TO SECURE THE UNSTABLE LOAD.

4320 IS SET AND CENTERED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WE GOT LOOSE CHAINS UP HERE.
THIS THING'S BEEN MOVING.

IF THIS THING COMES APART
IN THAT TUNNEL,

IT'S JUST GONNA RIP THESE
RIGHT OFF OF THERE.

GET A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER.

THAT ****
AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

YEAH,
THAT'S A LOT TIGHTER.

WITH THE TRUCK CHAINED DOWN,

DANNY AND ANIMAL
STOP A POTENTIAL DISASTER.

THE RAILROAD'S REVENUE IS DOWN
$12 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO ANGER
ANY OF THEIR CLIENTS

BY DAMAGING THEIR CARGO,

AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD
TO BE LATE, EITHER.

BUFFALO NEEDS
TO STEP UP THE PACE

TO MAKE THEIR 8:00 P.M.
DELIVERY DEADLINE.

WE'RE TRYING
TO GET THIS FREIGHT TO TOWN,

AND IT'S NOT REALLY ADVANTAGEOUS
FOR US TO HAVE TO STOP.

WE NEED TO GET MOVING.

LET'S GO!

OVER 200 MILES AWAY,
JUST NORTH OF TALKEETNA...

...54-YEAR-OLD TRAPPER
JONATHON DURR

HAS BEEN LIVING OFF-GRID
FOR 44 YEARS.

IT'S A BEAVER DAM.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD ONE.

MIGHT BE A DOZEN BEAVER
IN THAT HOUSE.

THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING MEANS

THAT WATERWAYS ARE OPENING UP.

IT'S THE PERFECT WEATHER
FOR BEAVER TRAPPING.

THERE'S THE TRAP,
AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING IN IT.

I'M JUST GONNA LEAVE IT THERE.

AS SOON AS THE WEATHER WARMS
JUST A LITTLE BIT,

THAT'S GONNA OPEN BACK UP
'CAUSE THE WATER'S RUNNING.

MOST OF MY FURS,
I MAKE GARMENTS OUT OF THEM.

I SWAPPED AN OTTER HAT FOR
A FENDER STRATOCASTER LAST FALL.

THIS IS THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM,
LIVING THE WAY I DO.

IT'S VERY ZEN.

JONATHON'S BROTHER,
66-YEAR-OLD STEVE DURR,

LIVES OFF-GRID, TOO,

IN A CABIN HALF A MILE AWAY ON
THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF BACK LAKE.

I FEEL LIKE A RICH MAN.

EVEN IF I DON'T HAVE
5 BUCKS IN MY POCKET,

I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING
IN A WORLD OF WONDER.

I'M GONNA TRY AND DROP IT
RIGHT BETWEEN THOSE TREES THERE.

YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'LL FALL GOOD.

STEVE AND JONATHON
WORK TOGETHER EVERY DAY

TO DO THE TASKS NEEDED

TO SURVIVE OUT
IN ALASKA'S CRUEL WILDERNESS.

I GOT A FEELING
IT'S GONNA GO THIS WAY.

IN THE BUSH,
EVERYBODY DEPENDS ON EVERYBODY,

AND STEVE AND I
CUT WOOD TOGETHER.

NOT ONLY IS IT
MUCH EASIER TO DO,

IT'S MUCH SAFER.

HERE SHE COMES!

YOU'RE GONNA GET IT
HUNG UP.

COMING YOUR WAY!

****

THAT'S EMBARRASSING
IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS.

BEING OUT IN THE BUSH COUNTRY
LIKE WE ARE,

YOU CAN REALLY
JUST EMPTY OUT YOUR MIND

WITH ALL THESE RIDICULOUS
DISTRACTIONS.

WE GOT OTHER WAYS TO DO IT.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING TV
AND ALL THE COMMERCIALS

AND JUST CONSTANTLY
BEING POUNDED

BY OTHER PEOPLE'S BULL****

I CAN JUST TURN MY EARS
SIDEWAYS TO THE WIND

AND IT WILL BLOW RIGHT THROUGH
AND COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

I WORK UNBELIEVABLY HARD...

OKAY, LOOK OUT.

...JUST DOING MY DAY TO DAY
WHAT I NEED TO SURVIVE.

AND THAT'S THE PRICE

PEOPLE LIKE ME
ARE WILLING TO PAY.

UNLESS YOU REALLY THINK YOU
HAVE IT IN YOU, DON'T TRY IT.

IT REALLY IS A SPIRITUAL QUEST,
I WOULD SAY.

MOST PEOPLE WHO COME AND STAY,

THEY'RE AFTER SOMETHING
ON A DEEPER LEVEL.

THE BROTHERS NEED TO CATCH
THE PASSENGER TRAIN TO TALKEETNA

IN AN HOUR'S TIME
TO STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES.

THEY ALSO PLAN TO PERFORM
IN THEIR BAND

AT THE FAIRVIEW INN PARTY
TONIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

THEY NEED TO HEAD TO THE TRACK
BY SNOWMOBILE.

BUT FIRST, STEVE NEEDS
TO REPLACE A BROKEN DRIVE BELT.

SOMETIMES THESE BELTS
DON'T JUST WEAR OUT.

THEY ACTUALLY KABOOM!

SMART GUY
ALWAYS HAS AN EXTRA BELT,

MEANING THE SMART GUY SOMETIMES
HAS TO GO GET AN EXTRA BELT,

AND A DUMB GUY'S
JUST OUT OF LUCK.

DOWN SOUTH
IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...

...DANNY AND ANIMAL
ARE SPEEDING TOWARDS ANCHORAGE

WITH THEIR $3 MILLION CARGO,

MAKING UP FOR TIME LOST
FIXING THE LOOSE TRUCK.

BUT UP AHEAD,
FIVE NARROW TUNNELS MEAN

THEY'LL SOON NEED TO SLOW DOWN
TO GET THROUGH SAFELY.

WE WANT TO GET THERE WITH
AS MINIMAL DELAYS AS POSSIBLY.

THEY'RE UNAWARE
THAT FURTHER AHEAD,

BRUCE MIGHT HAVE TO STOP THEM.

IF WE MAKE A CUT RIGHT HERE
ACROSS FROM THIS JOINT HERE...

HIS CREW MUST CUT OUT
A PORTION OF TRACK

AND DIG DOWN UNDERNEATH IT
TO REPLACE A DRAIN PIPE

TO HELP DIVERT FLOOD WATER
AWAY FROM THE RAILROAD.

YOU KNOW,
WE GOT A FREIGHT COMING.

WE'VE GOT TO GET
ON THE PROGRAM HERE.

THE EXCAVATOR WILL LIFT THIS
UP OUT OF HERE

AND SIT IT OUT OF THE WAY

SO HE CAN DIG HIS HOLE,
PUT THE NEW CULVERT IN.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING LIVE.
WE'RE FIXING TO PICK THE PANEL.

WATCH OUT.

JUST DIG,
AND LET'S GET HER DONE.

HEY, ROGER!

WAS THAT ICE?

ICE.

YEAH, IT'S FROZEN,
THAT SECTION RIGHT THERE.

THIS ICE
BINDS THE DIRT TOGETHER,

MAKING IT EXTRA TOUGH
FOR ROGER TO DIG OUT.

WHOA! WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!

3:00 P.M.

DANNY AND ANIMAL'S FREIGHT TRAIN
IS ALMOST HALFWAY TO ANCHORAGE.

THEY'VE BEEN DELAYED ONCE
DUE TO AN UNSECURED CARGO.

NOW THE SPRING THAW MEANS

THEY MUST CUT THEIR SPEED
GOING THROUGH FLOOD ZONES

AND AREAS OF UNSTABLE SNOW.

THE WEATHER'S BEEN WARMING UP.

GOING REAL SLOW, 'CAUSE WE'RE
IN AN ACTIVE AVALANCHE ZONE.

THIS IS YESTERDAY'S SLOUGH
THAT CAME DOWN.

IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING UP HERE.
IT'S ALL A CRAP SHOOT.

WITHIN HOURS,
IT CAN TURN 180 ON YOU

AND BECOME DEVASTATING.

UP AHEAD, BRUCE AND HIS CREW

ARE REPLACING A DRAINAGE PIPE
UNDERNEATH THE TRACK

TO PREVENT MELTING SNOW AND ICE
FROM WASHING AWAY THE RAILS.

THEY NEED TO GET IT FIXED
QUICKLY

SO DANNY AND ANIMAL'S TRAIN
CAN GET THROUGH TO ANCHORAGE.

WHOA! WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!

THAT FROZEN GROUND
WAS LIFTING UP THE FIBER.

THERE'S A FIBER OPTIC CABLE

THAT'S BURIED
NEXT TO THE TRACKS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
WE DON'T DAMAGE IT.

A CRUCIAL COMMUNICATION LINE

RUNS ALONGSIDE THE TRACK.

WE'LL HAVE TO SHOVEL A LITTLE
BIT, SEE IF WE CAN FIND IT.

YEAH.

IF IT'S DAMAGED,

IT WILL CUT OFF ANCHORAGE
FROM THE PORT OF SEWARD.

IF WE BREAK IT,

THERE'S ALL CONSEQUENCES
THAT GO WITH IT.

I HEARD $50,000.

THERE'S NO ROOM FOR ERROR,

SO IF HE PULLS UP ON THAT PIPE,
IT CAN AFFECT THAT FIBER.

GOT TO DIG IT BY HAND,
OR ELSE YOU'LL RIP IT OUT.

WE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF TIME LEFT.

200 MILES NORTH...

...OFFGRIDDERS NANCY AND JIM
HAVE MADE IT TO THE RAILROAD

TO WAIT FOR THE PASSENGER TRAIN
TO TALKEETNA.

SO, WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

MAN. IT'S WET.

NANCY'S TRAVELING ALONE

TO MEET UP WITH OTHER
OFFGRIDDERS AND GATHER SUPPLIES.

IT'S A LITTLE SAD
TO LEAVE JIM FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE NEED
A COUPLE-DAY BREAK

FROM THEIR MATES,

BUT I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT.

WE'VE LIVED TOGETHER 24/7
FOR YEARS NOW.

WITH THE BEARS
WAKING UP FROM HIBERNATION,

IT'S DANGEROUS
TO WAIT OUTSIDE UNPROTECTED.

IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BEARS,

I DON'T THINK WE'D HAVE
NEAR THE PROBLEMS WE GET INTO.

THESE BEARS
WILL DEFEND THEIR YOUNG.

AND IF THAT MEANS
WHIPPING MY BUTT,

THEY WILL DO IT.

YOU SEE SOMETHING?

I THOUGHT I SAW SOMETHING MOVE
OVER THERE.

NAH, IT'S JUST A BIRD.

30 MILES UP THE TRACK...

BASICALLY,
WE GOT A PROBLEM.

...MIKE HOADLEY
IS INSPECTING THE RAILS.

THIS IS GONNA BE A PAIN.

HE'S FOUND
A FAULTY SECTION OF TRACK

THAT COULD DERAIL THE PASSENGER
TRAIN IF IT'S NOT REPLACED.

JUST AN INTERNAL DEFECT
THAT GREW TO THE POINT

WHERE A BIG CHUNK OF THE RAIL
ACTUALLY BROKE OFF.

IT'LL EVENTUALLY JUST KEEP
GETTING WORSE AND WORSE

AND WORSE UNTIL THE RAIL BREAKS.

MIKE IS IN CHARGE OF THE CREW.

FORMER ROADMASTER HUGH EVANS
AND 28 OTHER RAIL WORKERS

WERE JUST LAID OFF
BY THE RAILROAD

IN AN EFFORT TO CUT COSTS.

WE'RE IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW
WHERE WE'RE LOSING REVENUE,

AND IT'S RESULTED IN JOB CUTS.

HUGH'S NOT A ROADMASTER ANYMORE.

THEY'RE CONSOLIDATING
A LOT OF OTHER JOBS.

SO, THOSE CUTS WILL KEEP MAKING
THEIR WAY DOWN THE LINE.

IT'S DEFINITELY
IN OUR BEST INTEREST

TO KEEP THOSE TRAINS MOVING
AS FAST AS WE CAN.

THERE'S MUCH MORE SNOW
UP HERE THAN IN THE SOUTH,

WHICH MAKES
REPAIR WORK DIFFICULT.

THE PASSENGER TRAIN
IS GETTING CLOSER,

PICKING UP OFFGRIDDERS.

IF MIKE'S CREW DOESN'T FINISH
THE REPAIR QUICKLY,

THE TRAIN WILL GRIND TO A HALT
OUTSIDE TALKEETNA.

IT'S REAL IMPORTANT
WE GET THIS OUT

BEFORE THIS NEXT TRAIN
COMES THROUGH.

MIKE MUST INSTALL
A SPARE SECTION OF RAIL

THAT'S NEAR THE TRACK.

WE GOT KIND OF LUCKY.

THIS ONE MATCHES PERFECT
WITH WHAT'S IN THE TRACKS.

WE CAN GET IT DRUG UP HERE
WITH NO PROBLEMS.

I THINK
IT'S FROZE TO THE GROUND.

WE NEED TO BREAK THAT LOOSE.

YEAH. WE CAN WHACK IT
A FEW TIMES WITH A HAMMER.

IT MIGHT COME OUT.

I ALWAYS PREFER TO HAVE THE
EQUIPMENT DO THE WORK FOR ME.

WE'RE JUST REALLY PUTTING OUR
LITTLE BOOM TO THE LIMIT HERE

OF WHAT IT'S CAPABLE OF.

TRAIN'S ON OUR ASS.

HE'S GONNA BE HERE PRETTY SOON,

SO WE NEED TO PICK IT UP,
DEFINITELY.

THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH UNTIL
WE'RE DONE WITH OUR STUFF.

THE PASSENGER TRAIN
IS NOW JUST 15 MILES AWAY,

PICKING UP OFFGRIDDERS
NATE AND BUD LOVEL.

LET'S GO FASTER, NATE.

COME ON.
LET'S GET THAT SNOW SHOVELED.

****

NATE HAS BEEN VISITING HIS
GRANDPARENTS WITH HIS DAD, BUD.

BYE, GRANDMA.
BE SAFE.

WE WILL.

BYE, BUD! BYE, NATE!
HAVE A GOOD TRIP!

SEE YOU ON SATURDAY!

WATCH OUT FOR THE BEARS!

GOODBYE!

WE'RE HEADING INTO TALKEETNA

TO HAVE THE SPRING PARTY
DOWN THERE.

THE DURR BOYS PLAYING.

WE'RE KIND OF JUST
CELEBRATING THE FACT

THAT NOW WE'LL HAVE MORE
DAYLIGHT THAN NIGHTTIME UP HERE.

I LOVE GOOD LIVE LOCAL MUSIC.

SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE
A GREAT TIME TO ME.

DOWN SOUTH
IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...

ALL'S GOOD.

REALLY IS LOOKING GOOD
RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE DOING FINE.
IT'S NICE AND WARM.

MY SPIDERS SENSES SENSE

THAT EVERYTHING'S GONNA GO
AS WE'D HAVE IT.

AFTER SOME DELAY,
DANNY AND ANIMAL'S FREIGHT TRAIN

IS CLOSING IN
ON THE NARROW TUNNELS

THAT RUN THROUGH
THE KENAI MOUNTAINS.

GOT THOSE HIGH LOADS BACK THERE.

THEY'RE JUST BARELY GONNA FIT
THROUGH THESE TUNNELS.

THERE'S NO GIVE THERE,
WHATSOEVER.

IF A TRAIN SEPARATES
IN A TUNNEL,

IT GETS UGLY REAL QUICK.

AS DANNY AND ANIMAL'S LOCOMOTIVE

PASSES THROUGH THE FIRST TUNNEL,

ANOTHER TRACK CREW BEHIND THEM

ARE CARRYING OUT
ONE FINAL INSPECTION

OF THEIR MILE-LONG
FREIGHT TRAIN.

THEY WILL STOP IT IF THEY SPOT
ANY UNSECURED CARGO.

THE TUNNELS ARE ONLY SO WIDE.

CARVED OUT
OF TOUGH SANDSTONE ROCK BY HAND

OVER 100 YEARS AGO,

THESE TUNNEL WALLS ARE ROUGH.

IF A LARGE LOAD COMES LOOSE,
IT COULD CATCH, RIP OFF,

AND DERAIL
THE $3 MILLION FREIGHT TRAIN.

Northbound turnpike.

4320.

Yeah, um, there's a strap
that's hanging.

HANGING?

IS IT JUST HANGING IN THE AIR?
OVER.

It's dragging on the ground.

IF WE STOP,
COULD YOU PUT THAT UP?

Yeah, Roger. Over.

THE LOOSE CARGO IS AT
THE BACK OF THE MILE-LONG TRAIN

OUTSIDE THE FIRST TUNNEL.

IT MUST NOW BE SECURED.

IT COULD CATCH
ON ONE OF THE TUNNEL WALLS

AND BE RIPPED OFF THE TRAIN
AS IT PASSES THROUGH.

YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT A STRAP
CATCHING ANYTHING AROUND US,

BECAUSE IT COULD ACTUALLY
CAUSE HAVOC,

RIP THE LOAD
RIGHT OFF THE CAR.

4320 TRAIN DISPATCHER,
ANCHORAGE.

ARE YOU ONLINE?

HELLO?

WE CAN'T HEAR THE DISPATCHER.

****

THE SANDSTONE MOUNTAIN

CREATES A COMMUNICATION
DEAD ZONE FOR THE CREW.

I CANNOT HEAR THE DISPATCHER.

ON THE SOUTH SIDE
OF THE ALASKAN RAILROAD,

DANNY AND ANIMAL'S FREIGHT TRAIN

HAS BEEN FORCED TO STOP
IN A TUNNEL

AFTER A TRACKSIDE
INSPECTION CREW

SPOTTED A LOOSE STRAP AT
THE BACK OF THE MILE-LONG TRAIN.

IT'S DRAGGING ON THE GROUND,

AND WE DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IT
THROUGH THE TUNNELS HERE.

THEY RADIO THE TRACKSIDE CREW

JUST OUTSIDE
THE TUNNEL ENTRANCE.

What was that all about?

SEE THAT CABLE THERE?

WITH THE MOVING OF THE TRAIN,
IT WAS ABLE TO CUT THE STRAP.

CUT IT RIGHT OFF?
YEAH.

CUT THROUGH CLEAN.

IT WAS DRAGGING.

DON'T WANT IT TO GET CAUGHT
ON ANYTHING.

WE HAD THAT PROBLEM LAST NIGHT.

I'LL TIE IT OFF

SO IT DOESN'T DRAG
OR CATCH ON ANYTHING.

NOW I'M CLEAR.

YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT MOVE,
PLEASE?

No problem.

ROGER THAT.

LET THE BIG DOG WALK.

WE'RE STILL ON TIME TO GET
THESE TRUCKS TO ANCHORAGE.

IT SHOULD BE FINE.

Thank you!

APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP.

WE ARE SQUEEZING IN HERE
BY THE SKIN OF OUR BEHINDS.

HOW LONG WE GET HELD UP THERE,
DANNY?

30 MINUTES.
30 MINUTES.

NOW LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

ON THE LINE AHEAD,

BRUCE'S CREW IS STILL INSTALLING
A NEW DRAINAGE PIPE

AND REPLACING THE RAIL

THAT WAS IN DANGER OF BEING
WASHED AWAY WITHOUT IT.

PICK IT UP
AND SPIN IT THIS WAY.

WE GOT A TRAIN COMING THAT'S
NOT TOO FAR DOWN THE TRACKS.

WE'VE ALREADY BEEN GETTING CALLS
FROM THE DISPATCHER.

HOW ABOUT WE DO
A RAIL CHECK HERE?

YEAH, LET'S DO THAT.

SUN'S OUT.
IT'S GETTING PRETTY WARM.

YEAH. I NOTICED THAT.
NOW IT'S REALLY CREEPING UP.

YEAH.

THE TRACK'S
TEMPERATURE IS RISING.

WHEN STEEL WARMS UP, IT EXPANDS.

IF IT STARTS GROWING ON US,
THIS SECTION OF TRACK,

WE'RE NOT GONNA GET IT
BACK TOGETHER.

BRUCE WORRIES
THE TRACK THEY'VE REMOVED

WON'T FIT BACK INTO POSITION.

WE GOT TO GET THAT
IN THERE WHILE IT STILL FITS.

THIS IS REALLY THE CRUCIAL PART.

THESE TRACKS
HAVE TO LINE UP PERFECTLY.

IF IT GETS HOT,

THE RAILS CAN GROW
AND IT WON'T FIT BACK IN THERE.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
COME UP JUST A TAD

AND SWING THAT WAY
A LITTLE BIT.

KEEP GOING DOWN.

OKAY.

I DON'T THINK
IT'S GONNA FIT.

PRETTY **** UP.

OVER 200 MILES NORTH...

THIS IS
OUR HORSE AND BUGGY HERE.

...OFFGRIDDER BROTHERS
STEVE AND JONATHON DURR

ARE FIXING THEIR SNOWMACHINE.

IT'S A LITTLE WORN.
THIS ONE LOOKS NICE AND NEW.

IF THEY MISS THE TRAIN,

THEY WON'T MAKE IT TO TALKEETNA
TO GET SUPPLIES

OR MEET UP WITH
THE OTHER OFFGRIDDERS

FOR THE SPRING PARTY.

THERE WE GO!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

A FEW MILES NORTH,

NANCY AND JIM JAMES
ARE ALSO WAITING.

SON OF A GUN!

THAT'S
A 50-MILE-AN-HOUR GUST.

IT'S A LITTLE PAST DUE,
AND I START GETTING MORE ANXIOUS

BECAUSE I'M AFRAID
WE'VE MISSED IT.

THE TRAIN
IS 8 MILES NORTH OF THEM,

PACKED WITH OFFGRIDDERS,
INCLUDING BUD AND NATE LOVEL.

GONNA GO TOWN AND PARTY.
SPRING PARTY TIME.

PARTY HARDY!
ROCK 'N' ROLL!

AND JOHN SHOULD BE GETTING ON,
I THINK.

WITH SO MANY PICKUPS,
IT'S A SLOW JOURNEY.

JOHN, HOW'S IT GOING?

PRETTY GOOD.
HOW YOU DOING?

JOHN'S OUR NEAREST NEIGHBOR
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

FROM WHERE HIS HOMESTEAD IS
TO OUR HOUSE IS ABOUT 7 MILES.

TODAY'S THE BIG
"GOING TO TOWN" DAY.

I GET TO SEE REAL PEOPLE
AND MAYBE EVEN A FEMALE.

THERE'S NO WOMEN
OUT WHERE I'M AT.

UP AHEAD,
MIKE AND HIS TRACK CREW

ARE BATTLING THE SNOW AND ICE
TO REPLACE A CRACKED RAIL.

WE PUT RAIL TONGS ON IT
AND WALK IT OVER.

YEAH. OKAY, LET ME GET
ONE MORE PULL ON IT.

WE'RE UP.

BEAUTIFUL.

THEY NEED TO CUT
THE RAIL TO SIZE

AND INSTALL IT
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

ONCE WE GET THE RAIL CUT,
IT SHOULDN'T TAKE LONG.

THERE'S DEFINITELY
A LOT OF PRESSURE

TO GET THIS THING OFF
BEFORE THE NEXT TRAIN.

SO, HOPEFULLY
WE CAN GET THAT DONE.

WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME
TO DO OUR JOB,

BUT THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A WHOLE
LOT OF TIME FOR MESSING AROUND

OR STUFF TO NOT GO AS PLANNED.

**** IT'S BINDING UP!

YOU'RE **** ME.
NO!

****
THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

EVERY SO OFTEN,
I'LL JUST GRAB.

**** THAT'S A PROBLEM.

GOT TO GET THAT ****
OUT OF THERE.

THEIR SAW IS STUCK IN THE CUT.

THEY MUST WAIT FOR IT
TO COOL DOWN.

WE GOT TRAINS COMING.

WE DON'T WANT TO HOLD THEM UP.

CAN YOU PULL IT OUT?

MAYBE, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOOD.

ONE MORE HURDLE
THAT WE'RE NOW OVER, I GUESS.

HAD ME WORRIED
FOR A SECOND.

NOW THEY CAN BOLT
THE NEW RAIL INTO PLACE.

WE'LL GET EVERYBODY PACKED UP
HERE AND GET OUT OF HERE.

WE CAN GO HOME
AFTER THIS TRAIN GOES BY.

IT'S A PRETTY GOOD FEELING THAT
THEY GOT OVER THE TRACKS SAFELY

AND IT MADE THEIR TRIP SMOOTH.

FURTHER DOWN THE TRACK...

WHERE THE HELL IS HE AT?

SHOULD BE HERE ANY TIME.

FINALLY.

IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME.

YOU GOING TO A PARTY?

GOING TO A PARTY.

OKAY, SWEETIE.

MWAH! I LOVE YOU.

NOW THE WIFE'S GONE,
IT'S TIME TO PARTY?

HEY, NOW.
DON'T GIVE HIM ANY IDEAS!

BYE, HONEY.

BYE, HONEY.

NANCY VERY RARELY
LEAVES HER HUSBAND ALONE

AT THE CABIN.

THE REASON
HE DOESN'T COME WITH ME IS

HE'S THERE PROTECTING THE CABIN.

BUT HE REALLY DOESN'T LIKE
TO COME TO TOWN ANYWAY.

IT'S A LITTLE STRESSFUL.

I ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT HIM.

ALONE IN THE WOODS,

JIM'S READY TO DEFEND HIS DOMAIN
FROM DEADLY BEARS.

WHEN NANCY IS NOT AROUND,

I TEND TO WORRY PROBABLY A HELL
OF A LOT MORE THAN I SHOULD.

BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
I WORRY.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE
IT'S TOTAL IDIOCY

TO EVEN CONTEMPLATE COMING INTO
THE WOODS WITHOUT A FIREARM,

MAYBE EVEN MULTIPLE FIREARMS,

PREFERABLY
A 12-GAUGE PUMP SHOTGUN,

TO PROTECT YOU AGAINST ATTACKS.

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?

I THOUGHT I HEARD
A DAMN GUNSHOT.

IN ALASKA...

I THOUGHT
I HEARD A DAMN GUNSHOT.

...JIM IS HOME ALONE

AND THINKS HE'S HEARD HUNTERS
TRESPASSING ON HIS LAND.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.

DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

COULD HAVE BEEN A TREE CRACKING.

THAT HAPPENS OUT HERE
WITH THE SNOW LOAD.

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HEAR
WEIRD NOISES OR GUNSHOTS,

YEAH, YOU GET A LITTLE NERVOUS.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA
TO BE ON TOP OF THINGS

BEFORE THINGS ARE ON TOP OF YOU.

DON'T NEED TO HAVE
ANY SURPRISES.

IT WILL BE A BIG RELIEF
WHEN NANCY'S BACK.

SHE'S GOT HELL OF A LOT
BETTER EARS AND EYES THAN I DO.

AND IT'D JUST BE NICE
TO HAVE HER AROUND

AS AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM,
IF NOTHING ELSE.

A FEW MILES DOWN THE TRACK,

BROTHERS STEVE AND JONATHON DURR
HAVE MADE IT TO THE RAIL LINE

IN TIME TO FLAG DOWN THE TRAIN
TO TALKEETNA.

AND ONE MORE, 4322.

One more.

AND 4322.

THAT WILL DO.

WELL, HELLO THERE.
WHERE YOU HEADED TODAY, SIR?

WE'RE GOING TO THE BEAUTIFUL
TOWN OF TALKEETNA, ALASKA.

THE BEAUTIFUL TOWN
OF TALKEETNA. OKAY.

ALL ABOARD.

HOW YOU DOING, BUD?

I'M DOING REAL GOOD.
DOING GOOD.

SO, ARE YOU GONNA BE PLAYING
AT THE FAIRVIEW?

YEAH.
WE'LL HAVE A BIG "PAH-TY."

ON THE SOUTH END
OF THE ALASKAN RAILROAD...

EYES ON 53 IN EFFECT.

53 IN EFFECT.

...DANNY AND ANIMAL ARE GUIDING

THEIR $3 MILLION,
HIGHLY STACKED FREIGHT TRAIN

THROUGH THE KENAI MOUNTAINS.

LOTS OF ENGINES
AND LOTS OF TONNAGE BEHIND US.

A LITTLE SHY OF 10,000 TONS.

ABOUT 4,400 FEET.

MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN OUR HANDS.

BUT JUST AHEAD,

BRUCE'S CREW ARE STRUGGLING
TO GET THE TRACK BACK IN PLACE.

WE GOT TO GET HIM
TO SWING IT.

THE STEEL RAIL
HAS EXPANDED IN THE SUN,

AND NOW IT WON'T FIT.

ALMOST THERE.

SEE IF YOU CAN GET HIM
TO GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BRUCE HAS TO RESORT
TO BRUTE FORCE

TO SQUEEZE THE SECTION
INTO PLACE.

LET'S USE THIS BUCKET
TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON IT.

ONE MORE.

COME ON.
WE NEED TO GET A MOVE ON.

WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS

TILL THE FIRST TRAIN
GETS OVER IT.

YEAH, IT'S 100% BETTER.

ALL RIGHT. THE TRAIN'S OUT.
HE'S COMING.

YEP.
WE GOT TO GET GOING.

OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.

DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN IS GETTING CLOSE,

SO BRUCE MUST GET HIS VEHICLE
OFF THE TRACK FAST.

WE ONLY DID IT

IF WE CAN GET OUT OF THE WAY
IN TIME.

I'VE GOT A CROSSING HERE
I CAN SET OFF ON.

THIS SHOULD WORK OUT JUST GREAT.

APPROACHING YOUR VECTOR.
OVER.

Roger that.

WE'RE BY MAINTENANCE WAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN OUT
WORKING HERE TODAY

ALL CLEAR.

LOOKED GOOD, BRUCE.

YEAH, IT LOOKED GOOD
ON OUR SIDE, MAN.

JOB COMPLETE.

IT IS SWEET.

IT'S A-OKAY.

200 MILES AWAY,

THE PASSENGER TRAIN
HAS ALMOST REACHED TALKEETNA.

DAD, DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME
THEY START PLAYING MUSIC?

RIGHT AFTER THIS.

THE SPRING PARTY HAS THE TRAIN
FILLED WITH OFFGRIDDERS

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RARE
CHANCE TO SEE ONE ANOTHER.

BEAUTIFUL
DOWNTOWN TALKEETNA.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THE RIDE.

AS MUCH AS I LOVE
LIVING IN THE WOODS,

I DO ENJOY COMING TO TOWN.

THERE'S A CERTAIN ENERGY
WITH MY FRIENDS THAT I GET.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MY ONLY WORRY IS IF JIM'S OKAY.

MY HUSBAND SEEMS TO BE
SORT OF ACCIDENT PRONE.

HE'S GUNG HO AND GOES ABOUT
THINGS LIKE A BULL

AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T THINK
OF THE CONSEQUENCES.

IN A REMOTE WILDERNESS

FILLED WITH WILD ANIMALS
AND HARSH WEATHER,

UNUSUAL SOUNDS
CAN OFTEN MEAN TROUBLE.

WHENEVER NANCY GOES TO TOWN,

THINGS GET A LITTLE BIT
MORE TENSE OUT HERE.

I HAVE TO RELY
TOTALLY ON MYSELF.

I HEARD A GUNSHOT.

****

AND I DON'T LIKE THIS.
I DON'T LIKE SURPRISES.

LET ME TAKE A LITTLE BREAK.
I GOT TO GO OUT HERE.

OFF GRID NEAR TALKEETNA...

SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT INVITED,

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL
THEY'RE DOING UP HERE.

JIM HAS HEARD GUNFIRE

AND IS TRYING TO TRACK DOWN
TRESPASSERS ON HIS LAND.

IF THEY WANT A CONFRONTATION
AND THEY COME UP HERE,

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
A CONFRONTATION.

THEY JUST BETTER BE
A BETTER PISTOL SHOT THAN I AM.

JIM HAS SURVIVED OFF GRID

IN AMERICA'S LAST FRONTIER
FOR 20 YEARS.

NOTHING IS GOING TO GET
IN HIS WAY,

NEITHER BEARS NOR TRESPASSERS
WILL STOP HIM

FROM LIVING THE WAY
HE WANTS TO LIVE.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF ANYBODY.

I DON'T LIKE IDIOTS
COMING INTO MY YARD,

COMING UP TO MY PROPERTIES.

I HAVE HAD A FEW INDIVIDUALS
TRESPASSING ON ME.

I'M STILL HERE, AND THEY'RE NOT.

SO, THE RESULTS SPEAK
FOR THEMSELVES.

I REALLY DON'T GIVE A DAMN

WHAT ANYBODY THINKS
ABOUT THE WAY I LIVE.

KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF.

I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS
OPINIONS ARE LIKE ****

EVERYBODY'S GOT ONE,

AND EVERYBODY'S STINKS
EXCEPT MINE.

IT'S 8:00 P.M.

LET'S RAP.
RAP?

DANNY AND ANIMAL ARE
RUNNING 30 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE

AND ARE ON THE LAST LEG

OF THEIR FREIGHT MISSION
TO ANCHORAGE.

THE FREIGHT
WILL BE DELIVERED.

I'M SO EXCITED
ABOUT GOING HOME TONIGHT.

DANNY,
ARE YOU A HAPPY CUSTOMER?

I'M HAPPY
WHEN I'M EATING CUSTARD.

FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME.
WHAT A HELL OF A JOURNEY.

HAD A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPEN TODAY.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE DEALS.

IT'S ALL LOOKING GOOD.

YEAH.
THIS LOAD MADE IT.

THIS GUY'S GONNA BE HAPPY
WHEN HE GETS HIS $100,000 BOAT.

LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

IN TALKEETNA,

ALL OF THE OFFGRIDDERS
HAVE MADE IT TO THE FAIRVIEW INN

EXCEPT STEVE DURR,

WHO'S BUYING A SPARE DRIVE BELT
FOR HIS SNOWMACHINE.

I HOPE
THIS IS THE RIGHT SIZE.

THAT'S A MIRACLE.

IT'S THE RIGHT SIZE
AND THE VERY LAST ONE.

OKAY.

HE SHOULD BE PERFORMING,

BUT AS THE LOCAL SAYING GOES,

TALKEETNA TIME IS NEVER ON TIME,
SO NO ONE'S EVER REALLY LATE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S GREAT
TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE TODAY

AT THE FAIRVIEW INN IN BEAUTIFUL
DOWNTOWN TALKEETNA, ALASKA,

THE SOUL
OF THE ALASKA RAILROAD LINE.

WE'VE GOT A TUNE
WE'RE GONNA DO FOR YOU HERE.

IT'S CALLED "FLAG STOP TRAIN."

IT WAS NICE TO SEE SOME OF
THE PEOPLE FROM UP THE TRACKS,

WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY
ACROSS THE RIVER,

ACROSS THE RAILROAD BRIDGE.

* AAHHHH *

AND IT WAS NICE
TO SEE THAT COMMUNITY COME IN

FOR TONIGHT'S CELEBRATION.

* WHEN THE STEAM... *

LIVING UP THE TRACKS,
WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY CHANCES

TO CATCH UP ON THE NEWS
WITH EACH OTHER.

IT'S FUN.
IT'S FUN SEEING ALL THE LOCALS.

OFFGRIDDERS AMANDA AND KENNY

HAD A BABY BOY TWO MONTHS AGO.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST CHANCE
NANCY HAS HAD TO SEE HIM.

HI, KENNY.

HOW'S IT GOING?

JIM WANTS ME TO TAKE A PICTURE
OF YOU GUYS.

OKAY.
CAN I DO THAT?

AWW.

TELL JIM WE SAY HI.

I WILL.

THE ALASKA RAILROAD

DOESN'T JUST TRANSPORT
PEOPLE AND THEIR SUPPLIES.

IT'S AT THE VERY HEART

OF THIS UNIQUE
OFF-GRID COMMUNITY'S IDENTITY.

THIS IS MY BIGGEST TRIP
OF THE YEAR.

AND EVERYBODY ON THE TRAIN,
THEY'RE ALL MY FRIENDS.

EVERYBODY.

AND IT'S JUST
A WONDERFUL TRIP FOR ME,

'CAUSE I'VE BEEN STUCK
IN A CABIN.

THE TRAIN TAKES YOUR
COMMUNITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

SO PEOPLE STICK TOGETHER.
THEY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S GREAT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS TOWN
WITHOUT THE RAILROAD.

HALF MY FRIENDS
WORKED ON THE RAILROAD.

SO, I GUESS THAT MAKES IT
ALL IMPORTANT.

IMPORTANT!

* A FLAG STOP TRAIN *

* YEAH, YEAH, YEAH *