ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Michael Harding of Ottawa Hills, Ohio, has won the grand prize of the Alaska Railroad Catch the Train photo contest. Harding earned the top spot among 11 other submissions in a public vote on the Alaska Railroad Facebook page. As the grand prize winner, Harding receives $1,500 in cash, round-trip tickets and the honor of having their photo featured on the cover of the 2026 Alaska Railroad calendar.

Michael Harding snaps an Alaska Railroad freight train hugging Turnagain Arm as it heads toward Anchorage with stunning views all around. 

Photographers from around the country took part in this year’s competition, submitting their best images of Alaska Railroad trains throughout different seasons. This year’s contest featured ten photographers from five states: Alaska, California, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. 

The photographers included in the 2026 calendar are: 

• Bill Szepanski, Wasilla, Alaska

• Dana Foley, Chugiak Alaska

• Linea Marshall, Seward, Alaska

• Logan Maddox, Anchorage, Alaska

• Thomas Babin, Eagle River, Alaska

• Mark Condit, Manteca, California

• Brandon Kilgore, Joliet, Illinois

• Sam Foster, Gurnee, Illinois

• Pete Konefke, Huntington Woods, Michigan

“From pictures of our passenger trains traveling by fields of flowers and glaciers, to our freight trains carrying important cargo, the photos we received for this year’s Catch the Train contest were truly special,” said Robin Moore, Alaska Railroad’s marketing communications manager. “The Alaska Railroad spans from Fairbanks to Seward, and each year, it’s a delight to see our trains throughout the seasons from the perspective of people’s photos.”

Submissions were evaluated by judges on criteria including artistic excellence, uniqueness, subject relevance and composition. The chosen finalists will have their photos featured as individual months in the Alaska Railroad's 2026 calendar and highlighted in its onboard magazine, Panoramas. The calendars will be available for purchase online and at Alaska Railroad Depot gift shops.

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