125 years of excursions

President Snook 
addressed the crowd 
before the train
departed.

July 4, 1889 marked the inaugural passenger train excursion from Seattle to Snoqualmie Falls along the lines of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway Company. Hosted by the ME Church Society, tickets cost $2 return, which was a veritable fortune for people living in Washington Territory during that era. 125 years later, on July 4, 2014, the Northwest Railway Museum commemorated the anniversary with speeches, a ribbon cutting, and two special trains to Snoqualmie Falls.  

Reenactors from Fort Nisqually made the anniversary trains
come alive and joined Mayor Matt Larson and President
Dennis Snook for the ribbon cutting.

157 tickets were issued for the anniversary trains, and many of those visitors joined the dedication speech and ribbon cutting that began on July 4 at noon.  Marketing Director Peggy Barchi welcomed everyone and Museum President Dennis Snook gave an inspirational talk that helped set the mood for the anniversary trains. City of Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson praised the Museum's preservation efforts and highlighted the importance of the railway in local history.  Historic reenactors dressed in Victorian-era clothing attended too and added an element of authenticity to the Century-old excursion train.

Vintage clothing added to the event.

Reeneactors pose for photos while riding on coach 218.

Coach 218, which is nearing completion in an extensive
rehabilitation effort made a brief appearance too.

The pinnacle of Snoqualmie Falls.  In 1889 there was no lodge,
power station, or dam.