The Train to Denali.3

Nenana is about 55 miles from Fairbanks. As the train goes expect to arrive there after about an hour into the ride. There are speed limits set for the rail and often, we traveled at the break-neck speed of .... 35 miles an hour! It is however just the right speed for taking in Alaska's natural beauty, but not the speed when you "gotta get there". Nenana is an historic community/Athabaskan (Indian) village. It is famous for the sale of lottery tickets. This is Alaska's only form of legalized gambling. There is no Lotto here, or casinos. The Tanana River and the Nanana River meet at Nenana. In the spring they celebrate the Break Up, otherwise known as a spring thaw. A clock and tripod are placed on the frozen river. Tickets are sold whereas the purchaser tries to guess the exact date and time of the breakup. When the tripod drops into the river and the clock stops, this is the official time of the break up. The Jackpot is a whopping $300,000.00