As if chasing a Whittier-bound freight all the way south wasn't enough, there was a coal empty waiting at Portage to chase all the way back north! Often times it can be feast or famine 'fanning the Alaska Railroad, but when they're busy, it's an embarrassment of riches! Here 24,300 horsepower (6 SD70MACs) leads a coal empty north at Bird Creek. Something to note: this train had about 10 cars of pipe added near the head-end.