Peggy Barchi, Marketing/Events Manager
Upcoming events for 2015 at the Northwest Railway Museum include:
Steam at the Northwest Railway Museum
- 4th of July weekend steam train rides, July 4, 5: Steam returns to the Upper Snoqualmie Valley for the summer this 4th of July! Travel back in time to July 4, 1889 at the Northwest Railway Museum this Fourth of July weekend aboard a Steam Train. On July 4, 1889 the inaugural passenger excursion train arrived in Snoqualmie from Seattle. Coordinated by the M.E. Church Society over the lines of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway Company, that first train brought tourists from Seattle to Snoqualmie Falls and back in just one day. 126 years later, the Northwest Railway Museum continues the tradition of train excursions to Snoqualmie Falls. Find out how it felt to ride a steam train just like those first tourists did in 1889. Roundtrip Fares on July 4 and July 5 are: $20/ Adult (13-61); $18/Senior (62+) and $10/Child (2-12), Under age 2 are free!
- Day Out With Thomas, July 10 – 12, 17 – 19: Little Engineers and other fans of Thomas the Tank Engine™ get the chance to meet Thomas face-to-face during two weekends in July at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie. On July 10-12 and July 17-19, “Day Out With Thomas: The Celebration Tour 2015” will be in Snoqualmie. Tickets are still available, but they are selling out fast! Day Out With Thomas includes a train ride overlooking Snoqualmie Falls, with Thomas aboard the antique coaches of the Northwest Railway Museum, as well as many activities on the grounds of the historic 1890 Snoqualmie Depot.
- Snoqualmie Railroad Days, August 14, 15, 16: The 77th Snoqualmie Railroad Days festival showcases Snoqualmie’s “Trains, Timber, Traditions” on August 14, 15, and 16, 2015! This year step back in time as the 125th anniversary of the historic Snoqualmie Depot is celebrated. Join the fun with a ride on a steam train as the Santa Cruz and Portland Cement locomotive #2 pulls the trains during the Railroad Days festival.
- Labor Day Steam Train, September 5, 6, 7: The NRM pays tribute to America’s workers this Labor Day with a special weekday steam train run of the Museum’s antique train on Monday, September 7th. This is in addition to the railroad’s usual weekend steam train schedule. The NRM offers scenic train excursions through the Cascade foothills of the Upper Snoqualmie Valley, including a ride past the top of Snoqualmie Falls and a splendid view of the valley below.
- Grandparents Grand Excursion, grandparents ride free, September 12, 13: Celebrate grandma and grandpa on National Grandparent’s Day, September 13! It’s the perfect weekend to take the grands for a ride aboard the NRM’s antique train. On both September 12 and 13, a grandparent rides free when accompanied by a paying grandchild – of any age! Listen to the stories and share the memories of your family members. Enjoy a day together and experience the scenic beauty of the Cascade foothills aboard the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad.
- Halloween Train, everyone in costume saves $2, October 24, 25, and 31: Gather the family, suit up in your costumes and take part in the fall festivities at the Snoqualmie Depot. See the historic depot in autumn and ride on the Steam Train pulled by the Santa Cruz Portland Cement Co. #2 steam locomotive which was built in 1909. Watch an old-fashioned cider press in action and sip hot apple cider. Ride the Halloween Train October 24, 25 and 31. Halloween Train takes you on a scenic excursion through the Cascade foothills of the Upper Snoqualmie Valley aboard a vintage train. Receive $2 off when dressed in costume. Everyone dressed in full costume will receive a prize.
Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine™ (Photo Courtesy of NWRM)
Santa Train tickets will be going on sale in late July.
For general information click on the museum website at http://www.trainmuseum.org, e-mail at info@trainmuseum.org or call the museum at 425-888-3030. I can also be contacted at ext. 7203 or peggy@trainmuseum.org.
More information on Snoqualmie Railroad Days can be found at
http://www.railroaddays.com and additional information on Day Out With Thomas at http://www.thomas.trainmuseum.org.
“Snoqualmie Railroad Days”
I’ve been a volunteer at this event in the past, and I highly recommend it.
It’s not a museum event, it’s actually the town’s local “arts and crafts festival”. Think “Bite of Seattle” or “Bumbershoot”, but in a very very small town.
Since it’s not a museum-run event, it doesn’t cost anything to go, unless you choose to actually go inside the museum or ride the trains. “Rail-fanning” is always free, and this is the perfect location.
And don’t forget, it’s a “town” event, but in a town that grew up around railroading and logging. Trains, train atmosphere, and logging history are everywhere.
Give it a try. I know you’ll have a good time.
Dan Peters