Miles 4-5 Eyak

According to the 1913 Alaska Railroad Commission Report, “Leaving Cordova, the line as constructed runs in an easterly direction for 26 miles before turning north with the Copper River. During the first 5 miles it is supported on the hill side, and construction involved a small amount of rock and gravel work. The greater part of this 5 miles is along the south edge of Eyak Lake. At about 5 miles out from Cordova the line enters the Sheridan Glacier flats, which it crosses in a distance of approximately 15 miles." Here is a construction-era photo at mile 4:

A native fishing village at Eyak is roughly at Mile 5:

These very early construction views from about 1910 show a track running through the town, down to a crude wharf on Eyak Lake. This was a narrow gauge fish tramway, built as early as 1887, that is detailed on this site.



Here is a more general shot of Eyak Lake:

Here is a photo of the construction camp at mile 5, moving onto the Sheridan Glacier flats:

Notice that the track here is elevated on piles and has been partly filled in. We'll see that this is typical construction for much of the railroad.