Great Alaskan Railroad Journeys (2019)

Episode Overview

With his 1899 Appleton's Guidebook to Alaska in hand, Michael Portillo embarks on a journey north aboard the Alaska Railroad to the once-thriving gold rush town of Talkeetna. There, he immerses himself in the adventurous spirit of early 20th-century settlers as he meets a modern-day homesteader and assists in cutting down a tree for a log cabin. From Talkeetna, he boards the Hurricane Turn, the last train in the U.S. that makes flag stops, waving goodbye to fellow travelers as they venture into bear territory to fish, raft, and camp. Continuing by train, Michael marvels at the stunning snow-capped mountains and glaciers, crossing the breathtaking Hurricane Gulch Bridge. His Alaskan journey culminates in Denali National Park, where he learns about the photography that captured the region's stunning beauty a century ago.