Train Cruisetour Whittier to Denali

[CyberTag]

Doing a Princess cruise tour and taking the train from Whittier to Denali. The paperwork says we can bring a small carryon on board the train that will fit under the seat. How stringent are they re what we bring on the train and is there any overhead space to store anything? 
 

Also, we are a group of 10 and the train ride is 9 hours. Are we assigned seats or is it first come, first serve once you are in the train?

[GTJ]

4 hours ago, CyberTag said:

Doing a Princess cruise tour and taking the train from Whittier to Denali. The paperwork says we can bring a small carryon on board the train that will fit under the seat. How stringent are they re what we bring on the train and is there any overhead space to store anything?

There are two trains direct from Whittier to the Denali area. Earliest is the McKinley Express, departing Whittier at approximately 7:15 a.m., destined for McKinley station. It carries passengers who will be staying in Talkeetna at the Princess Wilderness Lodge. Next is the Denali Express, departing Whittier at approximately 8:15 a.m., destined for Denali station. It carries passengers who will be staying outside the national park. The McKinley Express uses single level Panorama Dome cars owned by the Alaska Railroad. The Denali Express uses bilevel Ultra Dome cars owned by Princess Cruises and Holland America Line. Both car types have a full dome-type ceiling so as to provide full panoramic scenery viewing. This precludes both car types from have any overhead baggage racks at all. None. Nada. Anything you carry goes under the seats. I would not expect there to be stringent control over carry-on baggage, because there are no regulations mandating baggage to be "stowed during take-off," but there will be reasonable control so as not to infringe on the space of others on the train. Best advice is to limit your carry-on and not expect that all of your baggage will fit. These trains do not have baggage cars. Any baggage not taken on board for under seat storage gets transported by truck on the parallel highway.