Northwest Railway Museum Thomas train excursions

Northwest Railway Museum

 

 

The Northwest Railway Museum is located in Snoqualmie, Washington and carries the largest and most extensive railway museum in the state of Washington and is visited by more than 80,000 people annually. The goal of the Northwest Railway Museum is to help visitors to experience the fun and excitement of a working railroad which illustrates the significance of railroads as it relates to the development of Washington and the surrounding areas.

 

 

With one of the most significant collections of railway equipment, the Northwest Railway Museum is home to over 70 large steam locomotives, both passenger and freight cars including specialized railway equipment that built and maintained the right of way. There is some 5.5 miles of main line track, 3.5 miles of historic right of way, five railway bridges and the fully restored Snoqualmie Depot originally built in 1890.

 

 

The museum hosts programs including the Snoqualmie Depot, Interpretive Railway Operation, Running Trades Program, Research Library that boosts over 3000 volumes of exclusive railway history and technology. There are annual train events like a Day Out with Thomas, the Santa Train excursion, and many more. Children can learn from the school train which provides instruction on railway safety and local railway history. The Running Trades Program is great because it trains volunteers to be Brakemen, Conductors, Engineers and Firemen in order to operate the Museum’s Interpretive Railway.