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Stathi Pappas to speak at Eastside Clinic Sept. 18

Russ Segner

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

The Snoqualmie Museum is refurbishing a tank car.  Big deal; there are lots of these all over. But this one is special as it contains oil for the little locomotive just in front of it.  The second picture shows the loco in better perspective.

This the beginning of a new steam program at Snoqualmie.  Stathi Pappas will head up this effort and he will be our special speaker at the Eastside Clinic on September 18.  Join us to see how the larger scales are built and maintained.

StathiPappasEfstathios “Stathi” Pappas is Curator of Collections at the NorthwestRailwayMuseum. He has a wealth of education and experience in the railway museum field and is best known for his skills in the rehabilitation, maintenance and operation of steam locomotives. He comes equipped with a Master’s Degree in Industrial Archaeology and has performed major work on a variety of locomotives.

Stathi own his own personal, operational steam locomotive, an 0-4-0 Porter, the former Santa Cruz Portland Cement 2, that will visit Snoqualmie Railroad Days in August. The locomotive is dubbed the “Chiggen” for its former role as a chicken restaurant mascot near Stockton, California. #2 returned to steam last winter and has been touring Northern California.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Santa Train tickets available NOW!

Jennifer Osborn

Santa Train Postcard 2013

Santa Train 2013 tickets are on sale at www.trainmuseum.org.

Take a railway excursion back in time. Ride a vintage train to a scenic town tucked in the Cascade foothills. Board in North Bend and travel to Snoqualmie, where Santa greets each child with a small gift. Step inside our cozy kitchen car. Sip steaming cocoa or coffee, and munch fresh baked cookies from the coal-fired ovens. Santa Train has been a Northwest family tradition for over 40 years.

November 30 – December 1 (Saturday & Sunday)

December 7 – December 8 (Saturday & Sunday)

December 14 – December 15 (Saturday & Sunday)

December 20 – December 21 (Friday & Saturday)

Trains depart on the hour, from 9 to 3 Saturday & Sunday, and 11 to 3 on Friday.

The Santa Train will only run 8 days this year. Tickets are limited. All railway cars are enclosed, but please dress warmly to wait for Santa. Everyone 2 years and up needs a ticket. Each ticket is $20, in advance. Santa Train boards at the North Bend Depot (205 McClellan St, North Bend WA 98045). The train will return you to North Bend two hours later.

There is also a special needs train on Sunday, December 1st at 9:00. For more information or to purchase special needs tickets, contact info@trainmuseum.org.

Some Disassembly Required!

Russ Segner

Here is a chance to get some exercise and help the Snoqualmie Museum. I am recruiting a crew to help me disassemble steel shelving at a building in Kent over the weekend of August 3 and 4. The shelving is not particularly heavy or difficult to handle, I just want it to be handled carefully. It will be used in the new display hall at the museum.

If I get enough volunteers, it will get done in one day. So, if you can help part of either day, contact me at 425-228-7327 or russseg@gmail.com.

Santa Train Tickets On Sale Now

Sue VanGerpen

The Northwest Railway Museum proudly offers the 44th edition of Santa Train, one of its many special events for families and biggest fund raiser of the year. You and your family are aboard a vintage train, watching scenic Cascade foothills outside your antique coach window, as you journey from North Bend to Snoqualmie, with wheels clickety-clacking beneath you. The train pulls into the station and Santa Claus waves from the platform. You alight from the train to the aroma of freshly-baked cookies. You hurry to the railway kitchen car for hot cocoa and coffee to go with your cookies. Santa awaits your family in the depot with a small gift for each child.

You and your family can be part of this Northwest tradition by ordering your Santa Train tickets today at www.trainmuseum.org. Santa (and cookies) await you!

The two-hour holiday celebration takes place November 24–25, and December 1–2, 8–9, and 14–15. Purchase your tickets now at www.trainmuseum.org. Buy soon — the Santa Train sells out in advance. Tickets are $20 per person age 2 and up. There are seven hourly departures, from 9 AM to 3 PM.

New this year:  A special needs Santa Train at 9:31 AM on Friday, December 14. Contact info@trainmuseum.org to order tickets.

Fascinating Facts about Santa Train

Museum volunteers bake over 24,000 cookies in the coal-fired ovens of the railway kitchen car every year for Santa Train, beginning at 5:00 AM to be ready for each day’s visitors.

The Depot Bookstore is brimming with gifts, ornaments, and books that are sure to delight.

The Museum’s Giving Tree offers the opportunity to share your holiday with someone who might not otherwise receive a gift. Simply bring a new, unwrapped gift with you to Santa Train and place it beneath the tree.

Uncle Sam to Ride the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad!

Sue Van Gerpen

The Northwest Railway Museum proudly salutes the birth of our country on July 1st with a scenic train excursion through the Cascade foothills, including a ride past the top of Snoqualmie Falls. The train will operate on both Saturday and Sunday that weekend, but Uncle Sam will only be aboard on Sunday, July 1st, ready to punch your train ticket. Come celebrate Independence Day with us!

Board the train in at 38625 SE King Street in Snoqualmie, at 12:01 pm, 1:31 pm, or 3:01 pm, or at 205 McClellan Streetin North Bend, at 12:26 pm or 1:56 pm. $10 children, $12 seniors, $15 adults, under 2 ride free. For more info, call 425-888-3030 or visit www.trainmuseum.org.

Experience the excitement of a working railroad while learning about the important role railroads played in shaping the character of the Pacific Northwest. The depot and bookstore are open 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily.

Train Shed Guided Tours Offered

Sue Van Gerpen, Northwest Railway Museum

Click for detailed version

Guided tours of the Train Shed Exhibit Building at the Northwest Railway Museum are being offered on the first two trains most Saturdays and Sundays. Purchase a Tour Pass in the Depot Bookstore and ride the train to the Railway History Center.  Enjoy a docent-led tour of the exhibits in the Train Shed. Re-board the train and continue your trip. (Tours not available during Fathers Ride Free, Day Out With Thomas and Santa Train.)

Experience the excitement of a working railroad while learning about the important role railroads played in shaping the character of the Pacific Northwest. The Museum is open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily.

Engine and Mt. Si

Click for detailed version

The Northwest Railway Museum is also offering full passenger service aboard its vintage railway each Saturday and Sunday through October 28th. The Museum will offer scenic rides through the Cascade Foothills to the top of Snoqualmie Falls. Round-trip excursions are 75 minutes long. Board in Snoqualmie at 38625 SE King Street at 12:01 pm, 1:31 pm or 3:01 pm, or in North Bend at 205 McClellan Street at 12:31 pm or 2:01 pm. $10 children, $12 seniors, $15 adults, under 2 free.

Mothers Ride Free

Sue Van Gerpen, Northwest Railway Museum

Mothers Ride Free on Mother’s Day (and the day before!)

The Northwest Railway Museum invites mothers of all ages to enjoy a free ride aboard our antique train, when accompanied by a paying child of any age. Passengers may board in Snoqualmie or North Bend for the 70-minute round trip. Passengers may get off at the halfway point, shop, eat lunch, or take a stroll and then return on any later train. Trains depart every 75 minutes beginning at 11:01 AM from the Snoqualmie Depot at 38625 SE King Street and at 11:31 AM from the North Bend Depot at 205 McClellan Street. Roundtrip fares are $10 (children 2-12), $15 (children 13-61), and $12 (children 62+). For more information, visit www.trainmuseum.org or call 425-888-3030.

Celebrate National Train Day May 12

National Train Day returns to the Snoqualmie Depot on May 12. Enjoy a dose of history while celebrating Mom. See historic Snoqualmie on a beautiful May day, visit the restored 1890 Snoqualmie Depot, ride a vintage train past the top of Snoqualmie Falls and celebrate all things train. It’s Amtrak’s 41st anniversary and a great day to celebrate!

Visitors to the museum experience the excitement of a working railroad while learning about the important role railroads played in shaping the character of the Pacific Northwest. The depot and bookstore are open to the public 10–5 daily.

Snoqualmie Train Depot To Open April 1

Sue VanGerpen

The Northwest Railway Museum will officially resume full passenger service aboard its vintage railway on April 1. Each Saturday and Sunday through October*, the Museum will offer scenic rides through the Cascade foothills to the top of Snoqualmie Falls. Round-trip excursions are 75-minutes long and begin Sunday, April 1st. Board in Snoqualmie, 38625 SE King Street, 12:01 p.m., 1:31 p.m. or 3:01 p.m., or in North Bend, 205 McClellan Street, 12:31 p.m. or 2:01 p.m. $10 children, $12 seniors, $15 adults, under 2 ride free. For more, see www.TrainMuseum.org or call (425) 888-3030.

Train Shed Guided Tours

NEW: Guided tours of the Train Shed Exhibit Building will be offered on the first train every Saturday, beginning in late spring. Purchase a Tour Pass in the Depot Bookstore and ride the train to the Railway History Center. Enjoy a docent-led tour of the exhibits in the Train Shed. Re-board the train and continue your trip.

Parents Ride Free

Spring signals the return of the Museum’s popular programming: Mothers Ride Free (Mother’s Day Weekend) and Fathers Ride Free (Father’s Day Weekend.) Greatly anticipated are the return of the Museum’s other popular family programs, including Grandparents’ Grand Excursion, Halloween Train, Santa Train® and Day Out with Thomas.

Day Out With Thomas™ Tickets Soon

This year the Northwest Railway Museum is the Pacific Northwest’s only host of the Day Out with Thomas event, scheduled for July 13 – 15 and July 20 – 22 at the Snoqualmie Depot. The $19 tickets go on sale at the Snoqualmie Depot’s Bookstore and via TicketWeb beginning April 25. Tickets are on sale to Museum Members now. Members may buy their Day Out With Thomas tickets for $18. Purchase your membership at www.TrainMuseum.org.

Experience the excitement of a working railroad while learning about the important role railroads played in shaping the character of the Pacific Northwest. The depot and bookstore are open 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily.

*Regular round-trips suspended during Day Out With Thomas™, July 14-15 and 21-22.

Weekday Train Rides this Friday

Ken Liesse

The Northwest Railway Museum will be operating the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad this coming Friday, August 5, 2011, presenting a rare weekday opportunity to ride the rails between Snoqualmie and North Bend. They will run a full four-train summer schedule. Departure times from Snoqualmie are 11:01, 12:31, 14:01 and 15:31.

There will also be Friday departures on the 19th, in conjunction with the Snoqualmie Railroad Days that weekend. So come out and get in a train ride during this beautiful summer!

Fathers Ride Free at Northwest Railway Museum

Sue VanGerpen

On Father’s Day weekend, June 19–20, at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, fathers ride free all weekend, when accompanied by their paying children of any age! Last year over 500 dads enjoyed a free ride with their children during the two-day event.

Trains depart from the Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 SE King Street, every 75 minutes beginning at 11:01 AM, and from the North Bend Depot, 205 McClellan Street, beginning at 11:26 AM. Roundtrip fares are $8 for children ages 2-12, $12 for children ages 13-61, and $10 for children ages 62 and up!