Now easier than ever to take a seat!

The benches look great in the building!     

People participate in the mission of the Northwest Railway Museum in many ways. Some ride the train or take a tour of the Train Shed Exhibit Building; others are members or donate toward a restoration project, while still others participate by giving their time to the Museum and its mission.  This spring, the Museum had the honor of one such person participating in the Museum’s mission by choosing the Museum as the recipient of his Eagle Scout Project.
 

Alex, a longtime member, made benches for the Train Shed Exhibit Building. The Museum’s mission is to develop and operate an outstanding railroad museum that provides the public a place to experience the excitement of a working railroad and to see and understand the significance of railroads in the development of Washington and adjacent areas.  As part of that mission, the Museum needs guest accommodations so that visitors may enjoy their experiences as they learn how railroads changed everything. Benches help provide one important feature of guest accommodation, they allow visitors to sit and reflect upon the place of railroads.

For his project, Alex planned, organized and then constructed the benches with the help of fellow scouts and his dad Jeff.  The Museum was able to secure beautiful fir timber for the project and Alex was able to create 8 lovely benches for the Train Shed Exhibit Building.

Many thanks to Alex for his work!  Why not take our tour of the Train Shed on Saturdays and come see the benches? The Tour Package is available every Saturday at 12:30pm and includes a short tour of the Depot, a ride to the Train Shed, a docent tour of the Shed, and a train ride to Snoqualmie Falls. Total program length is two hours. Tour reservations may be made by contacting the bookstore during business hours at 425.888.3030 ext. 7202. Tickets are also available on Saturdays through the ticket window.

The scouts preparing to unload benches at the Train Shed.

Benches have been spread out along the Tour Package route.

Scouts improve wetland buffer

Boy Scouts from Troop 677 working under the direction of future Eagle Scout Alec B. have improved a wetland buffer. This sensitive area is located west of the new Train Shed exhibit building. The project was required as part of the approval conditions for the Train Shed and is designed to mitigate the ladder track's buffer encroachment. The scope of work turned out to be just right for an Eagle Scout project.

Troop 677 in based in Sammamish and is directed by Scoutmast Allan G. There are at present 47 Scouts in the troup and they have produced an impressive 45 Eagle Scouts since their founding in 1993. Eagle candidate Alec B. is 16 years old and successfully completed this important project.

The buffer enhancement project was completed two weeks ago. It involved 37 Scouts and a total contribution of 191 hours and 45 minutes. They removed invasive species, did some minor grading, spread composted soil, and planted 175 shrubs and trees.

The Museum's wetland ecologist Scott L. volunteered his time to provide technical support and assitance for this one day project. Scott is with Environ and completed the reports required for the Train Shed's National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") review, State Environmental Policy Act ("SEPA") review, and the Snoqualmie Sensitive Areas Review.

Special thanks to Clayton L. and his North Fork Enterprises for sending Rick over to strip part of the site with a backhoe.

As you can see, building a railway museum in the 21st Century involves far more than a building and some track!