Catch the Train Photo Contest

Header Photo Credit: former Catch the Train Photo Contest Winner Michael Sullivan

ENTER THE ALASKA RAILROAD'S CATCH A TRAIN PHOTO CONTEST

 

DESCRIPTION:

Alaska Railroad is defined as ARRC in this section.

ELIGIBILITY:

Must be 18 years or older on or before Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, and a U.S. citizen to be eligible. Employees of ARRC, their agencies or immediate families are not eligible to participate.

CONTEST ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

During the contest period (March. 8, at 8 a.m. through Nov. 10, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.), valid contest entries will be accepted via the ARRC Facebook, Instagram or Twitter applications, or through Woobox (which is accessed via a link on the ARRC Facebook page). A person entering the contest must (i) upload a photo in its original size (not smaller than 1,000 pixels in either height or width) or (ii) hashtag the photo(s) using “#CatchTheTrainAK.” Each time a contestant hashtags a photo with the "#CatchTheTrainAK” hashtag, submits a photo via Woobox or submits an image through the website, the contestant is agreeing to comply with these Official Contest Rules and all such submittals that comply with these Official Contest Rules constitute entries. 

Photos with the hashtag "#CatchTheTrainAK" may be submitted by contestants via any of the following:

  • Woobox — accessed through the Alaska Railroad Facebook page and uploaded via the contest tab. 
  • Facebook — posted with the hashtag "#CatchTheTrainAK” in the description.
  • Instagram — posted with the hashtag "#CatchTheTrainAK” in the description. 
  • Twitter — posted with the hashtag "#CatchTheTrainAK" in the post.

All entries become the property of Alaska Railroad for use by Alaska Railroad in its sole and absolute discretion (except as prohibited by applicable law and per the terms of these Official Contest Rules) and will not be returned.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Members of the ARRC selection committee will review all entries and judge images on the basis of artistic merit, originality, subject, and style and ultimately decide which images are included in its next calendar. ARRC calendars have traditionally included only images of the train. Preference will be given to photos of the train, though consideration may be given to other original ideas. 

HEAD-TO-HEAD VOTING

There will be a new voting system for the 2024 contest. The selection committee will select 24 photos where Alaska Railroad fans and followers will vote for their favorite in a head-to-head Instagram and Facebook story battle over a 12-day period. The photo with the highest winning percentage in each head-to-head vote will be featured in the ARRC’s next calendar. The grand prize winner, determined by the highest winning percentage across the 12 head-to-head battles, will be revealed privately to contest managers and be featured on the cover of the 2026 calendar. 

SAFETY REGULATIONS:

The Alaska Railroad reminds photographers to respect all safety policies and right-of-way boundaries when photographing the train. Any photos that appear to have been taken while trespassing on the right-of-way or violating other Alaska Railroad safety policies will be disqualified. Safety violations include but are not limited to:

  • Trespassing within the Alaska Railroad right-of-way, including standing on the tracks or within the right-of-way (typically 100 feet on either side of the tracks.)
  • Drone camera violations of Alaska Railroad boundaries.
  • Violations of Alaska Railroad onboard safety policies.

 

ENTRY FEES:

Entry into the contest is free. There are no limits in the number of entries, however we recommend that you only submit your best photos.

CHEATING:

The Alaska Railroad does not condone participation in any activities that violate the spirit of fair competition in this or any contest. Any finalist who is found to be participating in the purchasing of votes or any scam to win the contest will be disqualified.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMAGES:

All submitted photos must be authentic and not generated by artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Any photo deemed created by AI will not be accepted into the contest.

PRIZES:

Second Place: 

The 12 photos selected to compete in head-to-head voting, but not chosen by a public vote as a winner, will receive two Adventure Class Tickets on any regularly scheduled route before Dec. 31, 2026.

First Place:

Each first-place winner will have their photo displayed as one month in the 2026, 12-month ARRC calendar. The chosen month for each winner will be determined by the ARRC selection committee. Winners will also have their photos displayed in the 2026 Panoramas onboard magazine. Additionally, each of the 12 winners will receive two, round-trip GoldStar tickets on the Alaska Railroad to be used on any regularly scheduled route before Dec. 31, 2026. Each winner will also receive a copy of the calendar where their photo is used. 

Grand Prize: 

The grand prize winner will be selected via crowd-sourced public voting from amongst the first place winners. The grand prize winner will be the photo that has the highest winning percentage in the head-to-head battles. In addition to the first-place prizes, the grand prize winner will have their photo featured on the cover of the 2026 ARRC calendar and will receive four (total) GoldStar round-trip tickets aboard the Alaska Railroad on the regularly scheduled route of their choice and a cash prize of $1,500.

 

USE OF IMAGES & DISCLAIMER

Copyright and all other rights remain that of the photographer. Any photograph used by ARRC may not carry the photographer’s credit line on all occasions. Use may include publication in any ARRC media sponsor publication. Photo credit will be given in the produced calendar and on social media; all other photo credits are at the discretion of ARRC. All entrants understand and agree that any image submitted to the contest may be used without compensation by ARRC for marketing, promotional and merchandise purposes including in any media such as exhibitions, print, digital and social media directly related to ARRC. Participants represent and warrant that (1) the photographs are original and that they own the rights to their photographs, (2) the photographs do not violate the rights of any third party, (3) the photographs do not convey a false or misleading impression, and (4) any additional information they submit about the photographs is accurate. Standard trademark rules apply to all photos and use of the ARRC logo. 

WINNER NOTIFICATION

Twenty-four semi finalists will have one week to respond to contest managers and will be required to submit a notarized photo release form to have their photo included in the contest. All semi finalists will be notified before the voting begins. The grand prize winner will be notified at the conclusion of the 12-days of voting.

CONTEST TIMELINE

Open submission begins: Friday, March 8, 2024.

Submission deadline: Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. 

Semifinalists announced: On or around Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.

Voting begins: On or around Dec. 11, 2024, and running for 12 days, ending on or around Dec. 22, 2024. 

 

 

2020 CATCH THE TRAIN PHOTO CONTEST FINALISTS

 

2019 CATCH THE TRAIN PHOTO CONTEST FINALISTS

 

2018 CATCH THE TRAIN PHOTO CONTEST FINALISTS