My 12 year old son and I will be in Skagway next July and want to take the train ride.

I'm not with a cruise ship and was wondering if the 8:15 AM train is less busy then the 12:30 PM one because it leaves before cruise ships arrives??

Another consideration is weather. Is the morning any different then the early afternoon??

Many Thanks!

keith

Cruise contracted trains are separate from independent booked trains, so it makes NO difference in the numbers of potential passengers, most likely will be near full on any run. Cruise ships are in port early anyway, most by 8am, in plenty of time for the trains.
Weather is something with no guarantees, can be fog anytime. So reserve the timeframe that fits your schedule best and sit on the LEFT side from Skagway.

massiek, I left a Juneau suggestion on your prior post. Hope you read it.

As far as I remember there are not separate trains for the cruise ship people. There is only One train and one schedule for all. X amount of cars are reserved for the cruise ships which detaches and proceeds to the cruise ship docks a few blocks away. You can choose the left side going up but on the way down the train goes in reverse and they make you switch to the other side of the train so everybody can get the same views. The train was well worth the expensive price and don't forget the free movie at the train station before you go which is presented by the Nat. Park Service.

I went on the morning train and had great weather. Choose a time which is most convinient and don't count on the weather.

Yes they do run separate cruise contracted trains depending on the loads.

For clairfication the Park Service also has excellent walking tours, ranger talks, museum to consider. Located in the orginal historic depot. http://www.nps.gov/klgo/schedule.htm

Budget Queen, Do these "separate cruise contracted trains" leave the train station at 8:15 AM and 12:30 PM? Does the train go up the mountain more than twice per day?

Thanks everyone!

The cruise contracted trains do not leave from the depot, they load at the ship docks. And yes, plenty more than 2 trains/day.

Contact White Pass RR directly.

Budget Queen, I contacted White Pass Rail Road. You are right that there are more than two excursions but as I stated above there are not special trips for cruise ship customers. There are separate Cars which leave from the docks which are then attached to the back end of the rest of the cars filled with people who have arrived in Skagway by road or Alaska Marine Highway ferries at the train station. Everyone goes up the mountain on the same train.

I imagine that the cruise people are made to feel it is a special train just for them but they don't know that when they get to the train station a few blocks away their cars are attached to the back end of the train filled with other people. I saw this whole thing in person with my none cruise ship eyes!