Model Railroading > Great Northern and Cascade Railroad in Skykomish, WA

My son and I volunteered at the Great Northern and Cascade Railroad last weekend. The 1.5 inch gauge (1.5 inches = 1ft, or 1/8 scale) track makes a half-mile loop around the park. When completed, the railroad will have over one mile of track. It features an electric steam engine and a gasoline hydraulic GE Dash-8 Diesel locomotive. Each of the 10 cars able to hold about 1,000 pounds. That allows both adults and children to ride.

Members may bring their own engines to pull the trains (with advanced notice of course). In the photo above, a member brought his 1870's reproduction locomotive, a coal-fired (2,6,0) steam engine numbered 629. At other times there have been other visiting engines including a switcher. In the gift shop, there is an articulated steam engine that is about half-way complete.

Admission to the park and parking is free and there is no fee to ride the trains. Donations help keep the park running and there are donation bottles located next to the depot and gift shop. Why operate on donations basis? So that all kids can get inspired by the model railway.

The Great Northern and Cascade railway offers opportunities for both young (14) and older people to participate. My 14 year old son and several others have earned their qualifications to operate the electric, diesel and steam trains.

The park is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, holidays and special occasions, and the season runs from May through October.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/14 18:47 by kgrr.

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kgrr Wrote:
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> My son and I volunteered at the Great Northern and
> Cascade Railroad last weekend. The 1.5 inch gauge
> (1.5 inches = 1ft, or 1/8 scale) track makes a
> half-mile loop around the park. When completed,
> the railroad will have over one mile of track. It
> features an electric steam engine and a gasoline
> hydraulic GE Dash-8 Diesel locomotive. Each of the
> 10 cars able to hold about 1,000 pounds. That
> allows both adults and children to ride.
>
> Members may bring their own engines to pull the
> trains (with advanced notice of course). In the
> photo above, a member brought his 1870's
> reproduction locomotive, a coal-fired (2,6,0)
> steam engine numbered 629. At other times there
> have been other visiting engines including a
> switcher. In the gift shop, there is an
> articulated steam engine that is about half-way
> complete.
>
> Admission to the park and parking is free and
> there is no fee to ride the trains. Donations
> help keep the park running and there are donation
> bottles located next to the depot and gift shop.
> Why operate on donations basis? So that all kids
> can get inspired by the model railway.
>
> The Great Northern and Cascade railway offers
> opportunities for both young (14) and older people
> to participate. My 14 year old son and several
> others have earned their qualifications to operate
> the electric, diesel and steam trains.
>
> The park is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on
> Saturdays and Sundays, holidays and special
> occasions, and the season runs from May through
> October.

Also by donations you stay out of the amusement park designation which causes other problems.

Unusual pictures for live steam running - no one in sight who is old like me!

Thanks for this post! I am a live steamer myself. What do you mean by "electric steam" locomotive?

Steam engine outline complete with valve gear but runs with electric motors. Some have a gas engine in them with sound.

The 410 looks like a (2,6,0) steam locomotive with an eight-wheel tender. It has an electric motor and simulated train sounds. The tender carries six deep-cycle batteries. The engineer actually sits in the first train car behind the tender.

There is another steam engine that visits once in a while. It's live steam also, but propane-fired.

I love the fact it is 10' from an operating railroad, very cool. I am building a 7-1/2" gauge for my grand kids on my back lot, pictures at the following link. Hope to be operating trains in August when track laying is complete.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/sets/72157642185838574/

The Green engine also belongs to the park. It was retired from Interbay, Seattle, WA and is on display there for kids to explore, climb on, pretend to run, etc. The club hopes to repaint it in the original Great Northern Railway colors.

But, the mainline BNSF route is 100 feet away. We see the Amtrak Empire Builder twice a day and plenty of freight traffic.