In late 1958 Alaska stood on the brink of statehood. The Alaska Statehood Act had been signed into law by President Eisenhower on July 7, 1958 and the first elections for U.S. Senators and Representative would be held in November of that same year. On January 3 of 1959, Alaska would officially become the 49th state and would be a territory no more. The Alaska Railroad, at that time owned by the U.S. Government and operated by the Department of the Interior, provided this overnight service between Alaska's two largest cities. Please note that the timetable in the Guide is condensed; only major stops are shown.


From the pages of the Official Guide, November 1958

Alaska RR herald

The Midnight Sun

The Alaska Railroad
October, 1958

North Train Direction South
SuTh Miles Elevation MoFr
8 30P Dp 0.0 Anchorage, AK (Alaska Std. Time) 38 Ar 8 15A
10 10P Wasilla, AK 339 6 30A
12 45A Curry, AK 546 4 10A
4 21A 233.6 McKinley Park, AK 1732 12 29A
5 10A 243.8 Healy, AK 1368 11 50P
6 34A 297.4 Nenana, AK 362 10 18P
8 25A Ar 356.0 Fairbanks, AK (Alaska Std. Time) 448 Dp 8 30P

Northbound: 11:55, 29.9 MPHSouthbound: 11:45, 30.3 MPH

Note: Timetable is condensed. Only major stops are shown.
Note: Standard—150th Meridian time (Alaska Standard Time) which is two hours earlier than Pacific Time (GMT -10).

EQUIPMENT.
Through coaches— Foam rubber Reclining Seats. Cocktail Lounge and Dining Car. One Standard Sleeper— 10 Sections, 1 Drawing-room; Two All Room Cars—7 Compartments, 3 Drawing-rooms each. Fully Dieselized.

As Alaska neared the end of its status as a territory, the Midnight Sun neared the end of its existence as an overnight sleeping car train. By April of 1959 passenger service between Anchorage and Fairbanks would be shifted to a daytime schedule and the sleeping cars would be retired.