Steam & Excursion > Snoqualmie Valley Railroad - Work at the Falls

Not sure if anyone is aware but PSE is upgrading the Snoqualmie Falls power plant, and Saturday I got some pictures of the construction.

Part of the river has been diverted and they are taking out chunks of cement. Earlier in the day, there was a pickup parked in a spot that is normally covered in water with a swift current...was interesting to see.

They have demolished a couple of the old power houses and moved another up the hill and it's on blocks.

The crane was on a barge in the middle of the river a few weeks ago. Didn't get pics then :(

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Be warned, someone will tell you they're taking out chunks of concrete!! This affect the railroad any??

It doesn't appear to have. But some of the outbuildings near the Snoqualmie Falls depot were basically destroyed, although the depot itself is still ok. We rode the engine yesterday with Thom Wunder and he showed us all of this as we were passing through.

Scott Gordon

The depot is getting refurbished.

Redevelopment overview
The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project, built in the late 1890s and expanded in the early and mid-1900s, is Puget Sound Energy’s oldest power-generating operation. Although the facility is more than a century old, it still produces clean, cost-effective electricity for PSE customers. In addition, the hydroelectric project’s public park and trails are one of the Pacific Northwest’s most popular scenic destinations. Under PSE’s updated federal operating license, the utility is performing a major, 3½-year redevelopment of its Snoqualmie Falls facilities. The work entails substantial upgrades to PSE’s power-generating infrastructure and major enhancements to its public recreational facilities at Snoqualmie Falls.

There is a lot of detailed information here:
http://www.pse.com/community/yourneighborhood/pages/KingCounty.aspx?tab=4&chapter=1

Wasn't this the site of the "Great Northern Hotel" in Twin Peaks?

Yes.