Snoqualmie Valley Railroad
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| Snoqualmie Valley Railroad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Northern Pacific 924 stopping at North Bend depot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Operating | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | North Bend depot Snoqualmie Falls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Completed | 1889 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | Northwest Railway Museum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 5.5 mi (8.9 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | Standard Gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 25 mph (40 km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Snoqualmie Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad operated by the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA.[1] The line extends 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from its terminus in North Bend passing through the city of Snoqualmie before reaching the crest of Snoqualmie Falls.
History[edit]
Prior to museum acquisition[edit]
The rail line was constructed in 1889 as a branch line of the Seattle, Lake Shore, and Eastern Railway, extending from Woodinville, Washington to Tanner.[2][3][4] The railway, including the branch line was absorbed by the Northern Pacific Railway in 1892.[5][6] Regular service to Snoqualmie was discontinued in 1974, and after abandonment by the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1977, the line was donated to the Northwest Railway Museum for use as an interpretive railway integrated with the museum.[7][8][2]
Acquisition by the Northwest Railway Museum[edit]
After donation, the railroad started to operate with a combination of steam locomotives and diesel locomotives pulling a fleet of ex-Spokane Portland and Seattle railway coaches. Early on, the railroad, owned by the then Puget Sound and Snoqualmie Falls Railroad Museum had periodically operated with Rayonier No. 70, which was purchased by Maynard Lang and had operated on the railroad until Lang's death, which afterward the locomotive was sold to the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad.[9] Throughout the railroad's history as part of the museum, traveling engines have visited the railroad for excursions such as Santa Cruz & Portland Cement No. 2. Steam train operations with the Northwest Railway Museum's most recently restored operable steam locomotive, Northern Pacific 924 started on November 1st, 2020.[10]
Route[edit]
The line extends 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from the depot in North Bend, WA to the crest of Snoqualmie Falls.[1][2][3] On the line, there are three station stops; North Bend depot at the southern terminus, the Train Shed Exhibit Hall, and Snoqualmie depot. Past Snoqualmie depot, the line continues for a short segment up to the top of Snoqualmie Falls. There is no station at the top of the falls as all trains turn around without disembarking passengers once the end of the line is reached.
The nearby Issaquah Valley Trolley utilizes another section of the abandoned railway.
Operations[edit]
Trains on the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad operate on Saturdays between January and March, and Saturdays and Sundays between April and November in addition to special event runs, such as Day Out with Thomas during July, Halloween trains during October, holiday trains during December, and steam train rides during select national holidays and weekends.[1]
Regular Excursions[edit]
On Saturdays between January and March and Saturdays and Sundays between April and November, the railroad operates three round trips per day. Each two hour long round trip departs North Bend and passes through the Railway History Campus before making a stop at Snoqualmie depot. After departing Snoqualmie, the train climbs to the top of Snoqualmie Falls before turning around and passing through Snoqualmie depot before arriving at the Railway History Campus for a 30 minute stopover. The train returns to North Bend depot after the stopover. Passengers can board and disembark at either North Bend depot or Snoqualmie depot.[11]
Steam Train Rides[edit]
Steam train rides are operated in exactly the same manner as the regular excursions with the exception of operating with the museum's sole functioning steam locomotive, Northern Pacific 924. Trains with steam power operate on select weekends including weekends with national holidays, such as Mother's day weekend, Father's day weekend, and Memorial day weekend.[12]
Rolling Stock[edit]
The Snoqualmie Valley Railroad operates with a fleet of two Baldwin RS-4-TC diesel locomotives, the Northern Pacific 924 steam locomotive, and six coaches, all of which belong to the Northwest Railway Museum. In the railroad's past, other locomotives, both part of the museum's collection and visiting locomotives have pulled the railroad excursion train.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Interpretive Railway". trainmuseum.org. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Eisenberg and Taylor, http://www.nprha.org/NP%20Track%20Segments%20of%20BNSF/BNSF%20Stations%20List%20Revision%20B.pdf
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 NP Tacoma Division #78A, March 1, 1961 and NP Main Line and West Branches Track Charts. http://www.nprha.org/NP%20Track%20Charts%20%20Profiles/Tac%206th%2011th%2012th%2014th%2015th%20subs.pdf
- ↑ Robertson, Donald B. (1995). Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History. Vol. III: Oregon ·, Washington. p. 266
- ↑ "SDOT - Burke-Gilman Trail - Maps and Mileage Info". 2006-05-27. Archived from the original on 2006-05-27. Retrieved 2023-02-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kurt Armbruster, Orphan Road: The Railway Comes to Seattle, 1853 - 1911, 1999
- ↑ Fall City Historical, https://www.fallcityhistorical.org/downloads/jack-kelley-train-depot.pdf
- ↑ Snoqualmie Depot; National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form; David M. Hansen, Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission; Washington, D.C.; July 24, 1974
- ↑ "Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, Elbe, Washington USA". 2008-09-26. Archived from the original on 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2023-08-01. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Franz, Justin (2020-10-26). "Newly Restored NP 0-6-0 to Lead First Excursion in Washington". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
- ↑ "Interpretive Railway". trainmuseum.org. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ↑ "Steam Train Rides". trainmuseum.org. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
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