The Seattle Traveler

I used to ride the train when I was a kid.  My parents would put my brother and I on the train and one station, and my grandparents would pick us up at another station.  It was well organized, and very easy, and I felt so grown up traveling alone. 

When I learned to drive, the train became a thing of the past.

About 10 years ago, a group of people decided to attend a conference and travel by train from Tacoma to Eugene (Oregon).  There were about 15 of us, and it was great fun.  The seating area was spacious, with comfortable chairs and workspace.  We played cards, worked on some projects, and got organized for the conference.  It may not have been the fastest way to get where we were going, but it was definitely the most fun.

Train travel is not as prevalent in our corner of the country as it is in others.  In fact, I’ve run into lots of people who have never been on a train.

At the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie you can see a collection of railway equipment that represents generations of Northwest Railroading. There are steam locomotives, passenger and freight cars, and other specialized railway equipment.  The museum also has smaller railway artifacts like dining car china, specialized tools, signage, and lanterns.

The Museum is located in the Snoqualmie Depot, now restored to its turn of the century grandeur.  The depot was originally built in 1890 and used by Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway. Seattle and International Railroad, Northern Pacific Railway, and the Burlington Northern Railroad also used it.

The highlight of the museum, in my opinion, is the train, and the five and a half mile main line track, complete with a railway bridge, and miles of historic right of way.  The best part of that – you can take a ride on the train!  Now there’s no reason for you to be on the list of people who’ve never been on one.

Location:  38625 SE King Street, Snoqualmie

Tickets:  Admission to the Museum is FREE.  Train fare is $9 for adults, $9 for seniors (62+), $6 children (ages 3-13), Free for children 2 and under.

Hours:  The Museum is open year round, 10 am – 5 pm daily.  The train operates weekends April through October.  The excursion takes approximately 75 minutes, and the schedule can be found here.

This is a fun thing to do as a Spring weekend outing, whether as a family event or by yourself.  The Depot is beautiful as things begin to bloom.  The drive to Snoqualmie offers lots great picnic opportunities along the way, so it’s easy to turn this into a great day trip.

Photo credit: wikipedia

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