Patricia Cosgrove, White River Valley Museum Director

Join the 4th Division’s own Kent Sullivan and the White River Valley Museum for a lecture and slide show about the history of the Northern Pacific Railway’s Tacoma Division on April 1, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The cost is $5 adults, $4 seniors/children and free for museum membership categories Train Master, Conductor and Engineer. The open house is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the lecture from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Kent will present a tour of the link from Puget Sound to Canada, circa 1955, with a special emphasis on Sedro-Woolley, Darrington, Arlington and Snohomish, as well as rare photos of businesses the railway served. He will also cover action on the NPR’s Sumas Line and connecting branches, and long-time Sumas Agent Lorren Coleman will provide commentary.

During the open house, be sure to check out Wrecked! Misadventures on the Northern Pacific Railway. The exhibit is on display through April 17 and explores pitfalls, pratfalls, hotboxes, split switches, telescoped trains, boiler explosions and derailments on the NPR’s sometimes bumpy journey over the Northwest. You can also climb aboard a 1924 NPR caboose in the museum’s permanent exhibit, “1920s Auburn.”

The next Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association and Museum railroad history lecture is Oct. 1, so mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more information.