The Significance of Sulphur Springs :
In 2007 I began working on a relatively-elaborate proposal for a model railroad Phase III project which centered on the narrow-gauge Klondike Mines Railway (shown on the map as KM RR) but which also included the other short lines in the Klondike area: the coal lines at Cliff Creek (not labeled but just above Coal Creek), Coal Creek and the Detroit-Yukon Railroad at Bear Creek. This is an updated map from that proposal. The Phase III KMR line would be entered through the Sulphur Springs wye, which was the historical end of the KMR at KMR MP 31.  I chose the extension of the KMR to be an imaginary White Pass Railway continuation from White Pass. This was consistent with historic proposals for a KMR extension dating back to the turn of the century. The White Pass extension is shown in red. Above it was the Phase II mainline. In 2007 this was still known as the Great Northern (GN) Mainline.  Since then the name has been changed to ALCANEX Mainline. 

Sulphur Springs was nothing more than a wye at the far southeastern end of the KMR, but it is an interesting feature. The bottom map shows details of the historic Sulphur Springs wye, KMR MP31. The middle map shows the layout of the entire KMR line, with significant population centers at Grand Forks and Dawson. Across the River from Dawson was Klondike City, which principally consisted of the KMR yards and Yukon River docks.  All of these points show up on my 2007 plan.

The newest version of the Phase III plan calls for a much-larger Sulphur Springs wye, but does not include Coal Creek, Cliff Creek, Bear Creek or the Dawson/Klondike City area. The line will probably end at a wye beyond Grand Forks that was once known as Old Inn.

 

Phase III proposal

 

 

Klondike Mines Railway:

Sulphur Springs

 

Route of the Klondike Mines Railway Klondike & Dawson City to Sulphur Springs, 1906-1913:


 (click above map for larger image)




Detail map showing the wye at Sulphur Springs