Model Railroading > (Live Steam) GN&C Railway in Skykomish, WA -- update

My son and I came up for another weekend to Skykomish to volunteer on the GN&C Railway.

This last Saturday, Keith brought his 629 live steam, coal-powered engine. Mike had his 4142 Dash-8 Diesel replica, a gasoline/hydraulic engine. On Sunday, the 4142 Diesel and the 410 a 2-6-0 steam engine replica, electric powered engine were operating. We did a bit of track work to add some ballast near the station. I helped tend the gift store in the depot.

We stayed again at the Cascades Inn right across the BNSF tracks. As usual, it was good lodging.

The GN&C Railway in Skykomish, WA offers free train rides to the public as well as a railroad education program. The Railroad will operates May through October, every weekend. GN&C Railway is a 1/8 scale, 1.5 inches = 12 foot model railway. The track is 1/2 mile long. Each weekend, members bring their engines to pull the 10 cars built by the Skykomish school. The 116 year old depot has been restored and is being used for a museum and bathroom facilities.

https://www.facebook.com/GNCRailway
http://www.greatnortherncascaderailway.com/

http://www.historiccascadia.com/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/14 07:26 by kgrr.

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I think I remember reading about this railroad in Live Steam magazine, and the story about BNSF spending millions of dollars to clean up the oil contamination in the ground around the servicing yards and downtown, which involved moving all the historic buildings and then moving them back after the soil was cleaned. Pretty amazing tale and BNSF took complete responsibility for all of it. The live steam track went in just after. I'll probably never make it that far north with my train but I hope to at least visit one day.

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

Mike,
The fuel in the groundwater really hurt Skykomish's economy. BNSF did the right thing by cleaning-up Skykomish. The town is slowly trying to re-build and the GN&C Railway is a good tourist draw.

I'm sure the club would welcome a visit from another 1/8 scale enthusiast. And, if you bring up your engine some day, I'm sure it would be a special treat.

Konrad