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The cruise line previously operated 13 full-length dome cars, pulled by the Alaska RR between Anchorage and Fairbanks for cruise ship passengers. Intending to begin service in 1987 with 4 cars, pre-sale interest was larger than anticipated and six cars were actually placed into service that year. Increasing demand had 2 more added in 1989, another pair in 1994, 2 more in 1996, and the last in 1997.
Unlike Princess cruises "Midnight Sun Express" cars which were custom built, all the "McKinley Explorer" Westours cars were full length domes built for railroad use in the fifties.
Two cars (ex Milwaukee Road Pullman Standard "Superdomes" that were only being used in 'overflow' service) were listed for sale 6/2002, and five more (ex AT&SF Budd "Big Domes") became 'excess' and were listed for sale 3/2003 with 3 more of the Budds added to the sale list 7/2003. In late 2004 one of the Budds (512) was withdrawn from the sale offer, and with the remaining 3 other Budds (507, 508, 1394) was transferred to a new operating group Alaska Rail Tours/Gray Line to begin operating 2005 in a non "cruise ship" market for Alaska rail tour/travel. Those remaining 4 cars were sold to Iowa Pacific 10/09
In 2002, Westours announced the order from Colorado Railcar of 4 new cars, possibly the largest passenger cars ever constructed. Cars are 18'1" high by 89 ft long, in "A"/"B" pairs. Each "A" car has a dining room, full kitchen and small leading vestibule while each "B" car has a dining room, small wait station, small enclosed rear lounge and a large rear platform. Both types of car will seat 88 passengers on the upper level. Additionally, to avoid the 'breadbox' or 'brick' look of the competitors 'ultradomes', the new cars have slanted end windows in the style of traditional domecars. The 4 cars were delivered in spring 2003, and an additional 4 cars were added for 2004 delivery. 2 more cars were ordered for 2005 delivery.
The cars "recycled" names of the previous fleet, being named "Kenai"(1050), "Knik"(1051), "Chena"(1052), "Kobuk"(1053), "Eklutna"(1054), "Nenana"(1055), "Chulitna"(1056), "Talkeetna"(1057) and "Kashwitna"(1058). Runing out of 'recycle' names since 4 Budds were still active, 1059 was named "Teklanika".
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