Steam & Excursion > Northwest Tourist Lines- Part 3- Northwest Railway Museum

I was otherwise occupied yesterday and as such did not have an opportunity to continue the series on the recent tour of northwest tourist railroads my daughter and I recently completed, so we'll pick this up tonight with our visit to the Northwest Railway Museum and Chehalis-Centralia Railroad.  First up, Northwest Railway Museum.

We ventured to Snoqualmie as a day trip from our campsite near Elbe, arriving in mid-morning.  The road work that had a good part of the downtown area torn up last year is done, making parking and getting around town much easier.  Upon our arrival we found Santa Cruz Portland Cement #2, better known as the Chiggen, steamed up and ready for the day's runs.  We bought tickets for the first one of the day, which we enjoyed.  The locomotive first shoves the train from Snoqualmie to North Bend, where it pauses for a few minutes to let passengers get on and off before it heads back to Snoqualmie.  The train rolls past the depot and continues on to an overlook at the top of Snoqualmie Falls...not much of a view of the falls themselves from the train, but fantastic views into the gorge below the waterfall.  The train then returns to the depot. 

Here are the first three images, two of the Chiggen- one each at North Bend and Snoqualmie, and then the last is Stathi Pappas, owner of the #2 and the Curator of Collections at the museum checking bearing temperatures in front of the depot between runs.

To be continued. 

---

---

---

Three more views around the Snoqualmie Depot, which a few weeks after our visit celebrated its 125th birthday.  The Chiggen is a popular attraction and consistently had large crowds around it between runs. 

To be continued.

---

---

---

Over the course of the past decade, NWRM has invested substantial time and money in building preservation infrastructure, both in the form of a state of the art restoration facility and climate controlled storage barns to protect their collection.  Perhaps the best example of the capabilities of what the staff and volunteers can do with the facilities presently is Spokane, Portland & Seattle coach #218, which has been completely rebuilt and restored and is absolutely beautiful inside and out.  In the shops right now nearing completion of a similar job is Chapel Car 5, the Messenger of Peace, built in 1898 for elements of the Baptist Church.  The quality of workmanship displayed in these cars speaks very well for the on-going restoration projects, including 0-6-0 #924, the work on which Stathi provides periodic updates on this board.  Lastly, the train is seen parked on the street next to the depot so that a wheelchair bound person can be boarded.

To be continued.

---

---

---

Last set for this post...after finishing up at the museum we headed over to the Snoqualmie Falls overlook, where we joined an estimated half the human population of the North American continent.  While there one of the last trains of the day showed up, seen here coming past the hydrolelectric facilities at the top of the waterfall and then posed at the overlook, where the train pauses to allow passengers some time to contemplate the yawning abyss of the gorge below the waterfall before shoving back to the depot.  It was interesting, while we were standing there a young couple ended up at the railing next to us, as the young woman started wondering aloud if the Chiggen was "real" or a recreation, like the two locomotives at Golden Spike National Monument...we talked to them briefly, turns out they or at least she were originally from Utah.  I told her the train was very real and they needed to go ride it...I hope they one day do.

Next up, Chehalis-Centralia.

Thanks for looking.

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV 

---

---

---

Great seeing you again this year! It has been a pleasure seeing your daughter grow up over the years and to be able share our work with you both. Take care and hopefully we see you in less than a year!

Best,

Stathi

Posted from iPhone

Very nice report and great photos!!!!

John