Northwest Railway Museum Blog

More on regulation

2009-11-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Ballast regulation that is.Progress on rehabilitation of the Museum’s Kershaw ballast regulator was featured in an August post and the project is nearing completion. By November 6, Rich W. completed rewiring. He installed new switches, wires, a new battery, and a battery isolation switch. Additional work was performed by Brandon C.Rich also applied all new flood lights, a new fan for the cab, and

Movie Night Nov 4 offers train scenes, suspense & fun

2009-10-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

In less than a week, a one-of-a-kind theatre, a movie full of action and suspense, and a lively museum team up to offer you a casual evening out with family or friends. And the best part is . . . Actually, there are a lot of “best parts” to next Wednesday’s movie night fundraiser for the Northwest Railway Museum. For some it will be the great footage of Idaho’s Camas Prairie Railroad

Family attends Santa Train 37 years in a row

2009-10-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

Dick and Charlsia Schall were enjoying a Sunday drive with their three children when they stumbled upon Santa Train and decided to hop aboard. That was 1972, and they haven’t missed a year since.As they waited to board, Dick remembers watching a flagpole. When a pennant matching the color of their tickets was raised, it was their time to ride. A steam locomotive pulled the train from Route 202

Hoboes allowed on Halloween Train

2009-10-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for something creepy and frightening this Halloween . . . you won’t find it at Halloween Train.Nothing here to spook the wee ones that love train rides so much. The Northwest Railway Museum offers three days of delight-filled, history-rich autumn fun for all ages: old-fashioned cider press demos, a train ride of course, a craft to make and keep, a model train display, and

Need spikes? Zap it!

2009-10-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Back in the 1970s, a forward-thinking company called RMC-Portec (track machine division now part of Harsco) came up with a machine design that holds a railroad tie in place under the rails and spikes it. Mind you an operator (or two or three) is required to manipulate a joy stick and some push buttons, it is nevertheless an effective and fast machine that takes most of the heavy labor out of the

Paint the depot red!

2009-09-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Not quite as attention-getting as “paint the town red,” but still a true statement. Painters from RC Painting began work on the Snoqualmie Depot on September 14 on all the areas below the gutters. While this work was not originally planned for this year, it nicely complements the painting performed above the gutter line last summer, also by RC Painting crews.Unfortunately, the 30 June 2009 arson

The Spirit of Cooperation

2009-09-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Two Snoqualmie Valley Museums are sharing a new exhibit, “North Bend’s Own Train,” which depicts the fascinating but untold story of the role the rail line played in the growth and development of North Bend and the Upper Snoqualmie Valley. The display contains the history, historical photos, diagrams and first-hand accounts of how the railroad brought prosperity to the Valley.Although Snoqualmie

Train Shed construction progress

2009-09-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

Construction has now been underway for over two months and site work is nearing completion. A photo essay that chronicles construction progress is being produced on the Museum’s WASteam site. In that essay you can see that trees and other vegetation have been removed, the site has been graded, a piling system has been installed, and approximately 1/3 of the plinths have been completed. In a few

Phoebe says and Phoebe knows

2009-09-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

Now Phoebe mayBy night or dayEnjoy FacebookUpon the way.From far or nearShe finds it hereAnd thinks that youShould hold it dear.Phoebe saysAnd Phoebe knowsOur Facebook pageHas great photos.So check it out.Without a doubtYou’ll have some funAnd learn aboutMuseum news,Things that amuse,Events, train rides...What’s there to lose?Our Facebook pageis all the rage.It’s how we keepup with this

Managing a Collection

2009-09-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

This week the Northwest Railway Museum gave a locomotive to another King County Museum, the Black Diamond Historical Society. For history museums, few things generate more controversy that deaccessioning (removing) things from the collection. So was this an act of treason, charity, or simply a case making appropriate choices in managing a collection?In the eyes of many museum professionals, a

The sights we saw along Railroad Avenue!

2009-09-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Snoqualmie Railroad Days was so much fun this year, we can’t wait to give you a sneak preview of Railroad Days 2010.August 2009 was the first time the Northwest Railway Museum hosted Snoqualmie’s annual festival. Thanks to all who helped! The Field of Fun transformed the Snoqualmie Depot grounds, where hundreds of children bounced themselves silly in inflatables, raced bananas in North Bend

What makes Railroad Days different

2009-08-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

Seventy years after its launch as a fundraiser for Snoqualmie's volunteer fire department, Railroad Days - now a free annual festival - is under new management. And who better to take it on than a railroad? Early this year, with the City of Snoqualmie’s wholehearted approval, the Northwest Railway Museum adopted the community festival. Come check out the results this Saturday, August 22! You’ll

Train Shed official ground breaking

2009-08-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

The site was cleared and graded, equipment was mobilized, the temperature was a comfortable 72 degrees, and then the sun came out making it a perfect Northwest evening. So on the eve of the beginning of the foundation construction (specifically, of the driving of 76 augercast piles) supporters gathered for a brief ceremony. Standing in what will be the main entrance of the new Train Shed, shovel

Regulating track ballast

2009-08-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

It's not a form of government control but an essential component in good railway track. Track ballast is part of the track structure. It provides supports to the ties from below and holds the ties and rail in place by resisting the moving - or dynamic - forces caused by a passing train. In a curve, the train tries to push the curve outwards. On tangent track, any rocking and rolling of the cars

Five time-tested ways to keep your cool

2009-07-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

1) Enjoy the breeze and the view from Coach 272 when you ride the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. 2) Stroll the Centennial Trail past the Museum’s rail yard, and continue a half mile to Snoqualmie Falls to catch some spray. 3) Board the train in Snoqualmie, and cool off with a cone or a shake at Scott’s Dairy Freeze in North Bend before completing your journey. Or board in North Bend, and take

Train Shed construction begins!

2009-07-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

It did not begin with any ceremony, pomp, or circumstance. Instead, it began with a chain saw. The technological marvel called the railroad made the Northwest's forest industry viable by providing economical transportation of raw logs to the mill and processed lumber to market. So it seems appropriate that a small, carefully planned logging operation would be required to build the Train Shed.

Thomas the Tank Engine thrills thousands

2009-07-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

Day Out With Thomas has been a successful event at the Northwest Railway Museum for eight seasons. This past weekend was the first of two for this year's event and by all accounts it was a roaring success.Of course Thomas the Tank Engine was the star. He pulled trains for three days - July 10 - 12 - and posed for photos with children of all ages. But the event is so much more than a visit with

Thomas the Tank Engine arrives in Snoqualmie

2009-07-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

This is a true story but the narrative has been adapted to suit the occasion!Thomas the Tank EngineTM arrived in North Bend early in July 7, 2009. Unfortunately, the Fat Controller made a mistake and loaded Thomas on the lorry facing the wrong direction! Thomas insisted that he be turned around and everyone at the Northwest Railway Museum agreed. Some clever work from Steve P. and Earl W. (with

Scouts improve safety and security

2009-07-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

Troup 466 of the Boy Scouts of America. Quite a remarkable troop actually. In the last several years they have turned out more than a dozen Eagle Scouts. In fact so many Eagle Scouts that it is easy to forget that becoming an Eagle Scout is a remarkable achievement, and is not common place.So the remarkable Alex C. planned his obligatory Eagle Scout project last spring. He offered to

Vandalism of the worst kind

2009-06-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

The Snoqualmie Depot is a local icon, a centerpiece for the City of Snoqualmie and the Northwest Railway Museum, and as a 120 year-old National-Register structure it is a powerful symbol of our cultural heritage. The depot is often cited as the second most recognizable image of Snoqualmie, the first being Snoqualmie Falls. Restored between 1979 - 1983 to its appearance in 1900, the Snoqualmie

North Bend block party

2009-06-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

The City of North Bend is turning 100 this year! In preparation for a grand celebration in August, the City hosted a block party for local residents, and the Northwest Railway Museum was there. Hundreds of people turned out to watch Twede's burger-eating contest, George's Bakery's children’s giant donut-eating contest, a race through Encompass’s inflatable obstacle course, listen to music and of

Connecting with collections

2009-06-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Northwest Railway Museum has been selected as a recipient for a Connecting With Collections Bookshelf. This collection includes essential text books, charts, and other collections resources assembled by some of the foremost museum experts in the country. The Connecting With Collections Bookshelf will be used to help ensure the Museum’s collection of railway transportation artifacts receives

Remembrance

2009-06-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of representing the Museum at the Tanner Jeans Memorial Bike Rodeo. Held yearly on Snoqualmie Ridge, the rodeo’s main purpose is to educate young children and their parents on bike safety. The event is held in honor and memory of Tanner Jeans, who was killed in a freak bicycle accident when he was 7 years old.The warm summer air was charged with excitement and

Steampunks!

2009-06-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

There were "Steampunks" aplenty at the Snoqualmie Depot today! The trip was arranged by Steamrats, an association of Steampunks living in and around Seattle. They planned this delightful outing to ride the train, see the falls, and all the assorted steam engines and logging contraptions in and around the Northwest Railway Museum. Naturally, most made time for high tea, but all remained vigilant

Train Shed contract let

2009-06-11T13:10:00.001-07:00

Two years of design and permitting, nearly four years of fundraising, and many hours of negotiation have culminated in a contract for construction of the new Train Shed. The Train Shed will be an indoor exhibit building for large artifacts including locomotives, coaches and freight cars and will incorporate 25,000 square feet. Construction will be predominantly steel with a concrete stem wall.