For the overland trail between the Yukon and Edmonton, see Klondike Trail.
The Overland Trail was a Klondike Gold Rush-era transportation route between Whitehorse, Yukon and Dawson City in Yukon, Canada. It was built in 1902 at a cost of CDN$129,000 after the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad won a contract to deliver mail to the Dawson City gold fields from the Canadian government. The trail consisted of a 330 miles (531 km)-long, 12 feet (4 m) wide graded surface with culverts in some locations.[1] Before its construction, transportation to Dawson City required a steamboat trip on the Yukon River during the brief subarctic summer, or dog sleds after the rivers had frozen.[2]
After its construction, horse-drawn stagecoach routes soon were established. Even with this regulated travel, it took five days to travel between the two towns. Sleighs were substituted for coaches once snow began to fall, and passengers were charged CDN$125 for a one-way trip.[3]
The first automobile used the trail in 1912,[4] but soon afterward, declining returns from the gold mines caused the population of Yukon to drop precipitously. In 1921, the White Pass discontinued operating stages on the Overland Trail, and the mail contracts were awarded to other contractors thereafter. In 1922, the mail contractor switched from horse-drawn vehicles to motor vehicles. In 1955, a new automobile highway was built north from Whitehorse to Mayo, with a spur to Dawson City. This highway made the Overland Trail obsolete, and it fell into disrepair.[5] That road itself was replaced by the Klondike Highway. Today, the Overland Trail is primarily a recreation route for sled dog teams, snowmobiles, and other tourism-related activities. Artifacts relating to the Gold Rush-era use of the trail are plentiful along the route, which is used in February as part of the Yukon Quest, a 1,000-mile sled dog race between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, Alaska.[5]
White Pass & Yukon Route overland trail equipment, 1901–1921
41 in. front & 54 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 11 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight. Original body of #1 appears to have been installed on Sleigh #42 or 43 in January 1905.
One of ##1, 2, 4, 7, and 8 (five passenger wagons) was destroyed by a flood at Carmacks in 1918, leaving four. Two were sold in 1928, leaving two. The remaining two of ##1, 2, 4, 7, and 8 were written off in 1950.
41 in. front & 54 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 11 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight. Original body of #2 appears to have been installed on Sleigh #42 or 43 in January 1905.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #1, above.
3
Passenger Wagon
Gear: Pacific Wagon Co. (Seattle);
Suspension and Body: WP&YR
1903
41 in. front & 54 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 11 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight.
Middle bench seat removed, thereby reducing passenger capacity to 8. Given to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1944. Put on display at Yukon Historical Society Museum in 1953. Museum renamed MacBride Museum in 1967.
4
Passenger Wagon
Gear: Pacific Wagon Co. (Seattle);
Suspension and Body: WP&YR
1903
41 in. front & 54 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 11 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #1, above.
5
Passenger Wagon
Gear: Pacific Wagon Co. (Seattle);
Suspension and Body: WP&YR
1903
41 in. front & 54 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 11 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight.
Given to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944.
6
Passenger Wagon
Gear: Pacific Wagon Co. (Seattle);
Suspension and Body: WP&YR
1904
41 in. front & 54 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 11 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight.
Middle bench seat removed, thereby reducing passenger capacity to 8. Sold to E. J. Spinney Trucking Service in 1944. Mr. Spinney died in 1948. Wagon put on display by 1953. Wagon put on display by 1953 at Carcross, Yukon.
7
Passenger Wagon
Suspension and Body: WP&YR
1906
For disposition, see, Remarks for #1, above.
8
Passenger Wagon
Suspension and Body: WP&YR
1915
For disposition, see, Remarks for #1, above.
9
Passenger Wagon
Suspension and Body: WP&YR
1917
43 in. front & 56 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 11 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight. Suspension and body built by White Pass.
Written off in 1950. Put on display at Yukon Historical Society Museum in 1953. Museum renamed MacBride Museum in 1967. Wagon has green paint.
45 in. front & 56 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 1 Psgr. & 5 tons of freight.
One of ##11-15 (five Bain heavy freight wagons) was sold in 1912, leaving four. One was sold in 1940, leaving three. Parts of one were sold in 1948, leaving two. The remaining two of ##11-15 were written off in 1950.
45 in. front & 56 in. rear wheels. Cap’y = 1 Psgr. & 5 tons of freight.
Originally, #9. Officially, renumbered in 1905 and 1909.[7] Nevertheless, physically retained #9, possibly because it may have been taken out of service by 1905. Transferred to the Yukon Transportation Museum in 1990.
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
One of ##31, 32, 34-35, 38-40 and 44 (eight 75 in. bob passenger sleighs) was sold in 1924, leaving seven. One was sold in 1925, leaving six. One was scrapped in 1929, leaving five. One lost its running gear in Laberge Lake in 1930, leaving four. Two were sold in 1931, leaving two. One was sold in 1932, leaving one. The remaining one of ##31, 32, 34-35, 38-40 and 44 was sold in 1934.
32
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #31, above.
33 (physically retaining #3)
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
Originally, #3. Officially renumbered to 23 in 1905. Officially renumbered to 33 about 1909. Nevertheless, physically retained #3, possibly because it may have been taken out of service by 1905.[10] Written off in 1950. Wheels substituted for bobs by 1973. The body was transferred to the Yukon Transportation Museum in 1990. Re-equipped with newly made bobs between 1992 & 2013.
34
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 9 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #31, above.
35
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 9 Psgrs. & ½ ton of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #31, above.
36 (physically retaining #26)
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
Originally, #6. Renumbered to 26 in 1905. Officially renumbered to 36 about 1909. Nevertheless, physically retained #26, possibly because it may have been taken out of service by 1909.[10] Written off in 1950. Body without bobs sold to George Larson in 1962. Re-sold to Henry Tjoelker of Everson, Washington in 2001. Re-equipped with bobs from its era in 2001 or 2002. Last reported in 2006 to be with Mr. Tjoelker.
37 (physically retaining #7)
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
Originally, #7. Officially renumbered to 27 in 1905. Officially renumbered to 37 about 1909. Nevertheless, physically retained #7, possibly because it may have been taken out of service by 1905.[10] Written off in 1950. Put on display at Yukon Historical Society Museum in 1953. Museum renamed MacBride Museum in 1967.
38
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1902
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #31, above.
39
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1902
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #31, above.
40
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1902
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #31, above.
41
Passenger Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1902
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 14 Psgrs. & ¾ ton of freight.
Written off in 1950. The body of #41 was at Yukon Crossing in 1963, without its running gear and without its center seats.
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
Four of ##51, 53-55, and 57-62 (ten 75 in. bob freight sleighs) were sold in 1909, leaving six. Two were sold in 1917, leaving four. One was sold in 1921, leaving three. One was sold in 1922, leaving two. One was sold in 1925, leaving one. The remaining one of ##51, 53-55, and 57-62 was sold in 1926.
52
Freight Sleigh
Gear: B.F.&H.L. Sweet (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin);
Body: WP&YR
1903
76 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
One of ##52, 56, 73, 74, and 84 (five 76 in. bob freight sleighs) was sold in 1919, leaving four. One was sold in 1921, leaving three. Two were sold in 1926, leaving one. The remaining one of ##52, 56, 73, 74, and 84 was sold by 1937.
53
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
54
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
55
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
56
Freight Sleigh
Gear: B.F.&H.L. Sweet (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin);
Body: WP&YR
1903
76 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #52, above.
57
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
58
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
59
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
60
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
61
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
62
Freight Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1901
75 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
For disposition, see, Remarks for #51, above.
63
Logging Sleigh
B.F.&H.L. Sweet (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)
1905
76 in. bobs.
Sold in 1923.
64
Logging Sleigh
B.F.&H.L. Sweet (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)
1905
76 in. bobs.
Sold in 1923.
65
Perishable Sleigh
Gear: Weber Wagon Co. (Chicago);
Body: WP&YR
1907
75 in. bobs.
One ##65 and 66 (two 75 in. bob perishable sleighs) was destroyed by a flood at Carmacks in 1918, and the remaining one was sold in 1923.
One of ##67-69 (three 78 in. bob perishable sleighs) was sold in 1926, leaving two. One more was sold by 1937, leaving one. The remaining of ##67-69 one was written off in 1950.
78 in. bobs. Cap’y = 2 Psgrs. & 5 tons of freight.
One ##71, 72, 82, 83, and 85 (five 78 in. bob freight sleighs) was sold in 1922, leaving four. One was sold in 1924, leaving three. The remaining three of ##71, 72, 82, 83, and 85 were sold in 1926.
Studebaker Bros. Mfg. Co. made Sensible™ bobs. B. F. & H. L. Sweet made Common Sense™ bobs. Weber Wagon Co. made Good Sense™ bobs. Weber sold out to International Harvester Co. in 1904.
White Pass Horses (approximately 1,358 head)
Fiscal Year, July 1 to June 30
No. at Beginning of Fiscal Year (July 1)
No. Purchased during Fiscal Year
Maximum No. during Trail Season (≈ Nov.-Apr.)
No. Sold during Fiscal Year
Died during Fiscal Year
No. at End of Fiscal Year (June 30)
1901-1902
0
155
155
0
31
124
1902-1903
124
55
172
84
47
48
1903-1904
48
168
193
74
25
117
1904-1905
117
89
177
69
12
123
1905-1906
123
60 (+1 born)
164
55
9
120
1906-1907
120
101
192
29
14
178
1907-1908
178
56
199
39
14
181
1908-1909
181
43
205
51
5
168
1909-1910
168
62
217
27
8
195
1910-1911
195
91
162
148
23
115
1911-1912
115
70
164
50
16
119
1912-1913
119
75
162
75
25
94
1913-1914
94
114
167
30
18
160
1914-1915
160
40
154
29
40
131
1915-1916
131
90
181
22
38
161
1916-1917
161
42
168
13
28
162
1917-1918
162
4
141
4
43
119
1918-1919
119
20
122
24
16
99
1919-1920
99
22
117
74
3
44
1920-1921
44
0
44
43
1
0
White Pass Overland Trail Gasoline Equipment (6 units)
^ abcdeThe listed sleigh road numbers are the official 1909-series numbers. Sleighs were officially renumbered in January 1905 and, again, about 1909.
^ abcHolt Mfg. Co. Order #B38707. Holt Production Records 1894-1912, at pp. 126-27, et. seq. Accession #1969.42.354, Haggin Museum Library, Stockton, California. Holt sold no other machines to the WP&YR. The statement in Manning (1912), “Motors In the Far North,” 93 The Power Wagon at page 31, that “The Holt caterpillar was purchased in the spring of 1911, equipped with a 60-horsepower engine …” (italics added) is probably not correct.