‘I’m 9 years old again’

WASILLA — Joel Bachelder spent Saturday afternoon being railroaded.

A 55-year-old father of two, the Wasilla resident lit up with excitement Saturday riding the Alaska Live Steamers miniature railroad. The nonprofit railroading club has been operating its 1/8-scale locomotives for 16 years around an elaborate winding path in northwestern Wasilla.

“I’ve never been here before, and this is so cool,” Bachelder said. “Every time I hear a train whistle, I just get excited. I’m still addicted to trains.”

There was plenty to excite Bachelder and his daughters. Along with a 25-minute ride, visitors are encouraged to explore the roundhouse, depot and numerous other structures, many also built to scale.

Skyla Bachelder, 8, said “going down the hills” was her favorite part of the ride, while “it was scary when it went over the trestles.”

A group of dedicated railroad enthusiasts, the members of Alaska Live Steamers have as much fun running their locomotives as those riding them, said member Lee Seagondollar.

“Oh yeah, we love playing with our toys, but that’s a secret,” he said. “I come from a long family of railroaders.”

Saturday was perfect for riding the rails, and every weekend during the summer — weather permitting — the trains are running, Seagondollar said. Helping to keep the traditions of railroading alive with younger generations is a goal of the club, he said, while others find fond memories on the tracks just north of the Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry.

Seagondollar recalls one visitor, a 97-year-old man who was sitting on the train with his eyes closed. Thinking the man may be having some difficulty, Seagondollar approached him.

“He said, ‘I’m 9 years old again and riding the train to Kansas City,’” he said. “I like when we get octogenarians who haven’t had a train ride in decades, and it just takes them back.”

Although considerably younger than those octogenarians, Chad Rice of Houston spent part of the afternoon with his family at the miniature railyard.

“We had the old Lionel train sets as kids,” he said, adding he enjoyed the ride as much as his children. “It was great for me too. The neat thing about it is it’s such a long ride.”

Seven-year-old Makayla Rice said “going through the tunnels” was her favorite part of the tour, while 4-year-old Jayden Rice was excited “finding the dinosaur eggs.”

If members of Alaska Live Steamers are concerned about who can carry on their love of locomotives, they have to look no farther than Samuel Carrington, 4, son of the group’s secretary/treasurer, Steve Carrington.

“I like riding the trains here and at my house,” he said. “That, and playing with my wooden trains — the ones that don’t have faces on them.”

A true railroader, Samuel knows the popular Thomas train toys with faces “aren’t the real ones.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

MOVING ALONG

Riding the Alaska Live Steamers trains costs $4 per person, with proceeds going to the organization’s moving fund. The tracks and buildings will need to be moved to a new location in the next couple of years to make way for a planned expansion of the Wasilla Airport. To contribute to the moving fund, contact Steve Carrington at carrington@rocketmail.com.

HOW TO GET THERE

To get to Alaska Live Steamers, travel north on the Parks Highway from Wasilla; turn left on Museum Drive; turn right on Beacon Drive; the next left is Alaska Live Steamers. Rides continue this month:

• July 25 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• July 26 — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.