Wine trains return

The Northwest Railway Museum debuted the Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train in 2018, and it was enthusiastically received by the community.  This year the event has been enhanced by offering two options: the Railway History Center CRC option and the Charles Baker Hydro Museum experience.  The first opportunity to ride this year is April 27 beginning at 2:30 PM!

All Wine Train experiences feature Snoqualmie Valley wineries, food, music, and views! Visitors (21 and older only) receive a complementary souvenir wine glass with each ticket.

The Snoqualmie Wine Train series is hosted in partnership with several, rotating local wineries, food producers, and chocolatiers with fresh, locally produced products from Sigillo Cellars, Mt Si Winery, Pearl and Stone Winery, Convergence Zone Cellars, William Grassie Wine Estates, Carnation Farms, Heirloom Cookshop, Black Dog Cafe, and Boehm's Chocolates.

The Railway History Center option is a 3.5 hour program that includes wine tasting stops at the Snoqualmie Depot and the Train Shed Exhibit Building. Railway History Center Wine Train includes behind-the-scenes access to our Conservation and Restoration Center where you will learn about the restoration of Northern Pacific Railway steam locomotive 924 (built 1889) from staff and volunteers working on this and other projects. Must be 21 or older. Ticket includes return passage to Snoqualmie.

The Charles Baker Hydro Museum option is a 3.5 hour program that includes wine tasting stops at the Snoqualmie Depot, the Train Shed Exhibit Building, and the Snoqualmie Falls Hydro Museum – home of the world’s first underground hydroelectric power plant that was built in 1898. Visit the historic carpenter’s shop and Snoqualmie Falls Depot, and learn about Charles Baker’s vision inspired by the power of Snoqualmie Falls!


All Snoqualmie Wine Train experiences at for 21 and over only.  Tickets are $49 and are available in advance on the Museum's ticketing web site.

More Wine Trains!

Wine trains are a great new way to experience the excitement of a working railroad, and see the scenic beauty of the upper Snoqualmie Valley.  Three more wine trains are scheduled for 2018: September 15, October 6 & October 13.  The three hour event features wine and food from several of the valley's premier venues, including:

Sigillo Cellars

Convergence Zone Cellars

Mount Si Winery

William Grassie Wine Estates

Pearl & Stone Wine Co. 

Carnation Farms 

The Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train experience includes breathtaking scenery, tasting stops at the Train Shed exhibit building and Puget Sound Energy's Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Museum, live music performed by local artists, food from local producers, and of course wine from local wineries.  During the experience you will have an opportunity to view exhibits in the Train Shed.

The Wine Train begins with a check in at 2:30 PM in the Snoqualmie Depot where you will experience your first tasting with your complimentary Northwest Railway Museum wine glass.  You will travel by train to the Train Shed and Hydroelectric Museum for two more tasting opportunities, and will see the lower Snoqualmie Valley from high atop bridge 31.3, more than 300 feet above the Snoqualmie River.  The event will conclude at 5:30 PM when the train returns to the Snoqualmie Depot.  What a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Tickets for the Wine Train are $45 and can be purchased in the Snoqualmie Depot daily from 10 AM - 5 PM or on the Museum's new online ticketing website.  Sorry, the Snoqualmie WIne Train is for patrons 21 years and older only.

New arrival

The Northwest Railway Museum is delighted to announce the arrival of a new and more comprehensive online ticketing system.  This month, advance ticketing was launched for the Santa Train, Grand Tour, and the Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train events.  The new system is built on the Museum's TAM Retail Point of Sale System and - when fully implemented - will allow advance ticketing for all regular trains too. 

The new system has been designed to provide flexibility so it can be expanded as the Museum continues to grow, but also to improve security.  For instance, the new ticket system requires users to create a user account.  This process is intended to reduce attempts to illegally or inappropriately use the ticket system.  However, the user account will speed any user's subsequent ticket purchase because it will eliminate the need to re-enter contact information.

Ticket are now on sale for the September 1 Grand Tour, Snoqualmie Valley Wine Trains in September and October, and the annual Santa Train.  Visit https://shop.TrainMuseum.org/Events.aspx to select and purchase your tickets today.

Wine on the Rails

This spring the Northwest Railway Museum uncorked a new option on its train excursion schedule! On April 14 and May 19, the first two Snoqualmie Valley Wine Trains were hosted by the Museum with support from Savor Snoqualmie Valley. Both wine trains sold out in less than 10 days, much to the delight of the organizers.  During these 21+ only events, guests enjoyed the scenic train ride combined with stops to sample local wine and food.

Participants began their journey by checking in at the historic Snoqualmie Depot to pick up their tasting tokens and commemorative wine glass. Two wineries were immediately available for tasting opportunities in the depot’s freight room.

Guests then boarded the train for the ride to the upper Snoqualmie Valley, including the view of Mount Si from historic Bridge 35, above the Snoqualmie River. Following that scenic pause, guests stopped for 40 minutes at the Museum’s Train Shed Exhibit building for wine tasting with all of the participating wineries as well as food samples from local valley food providers. Guests had time to leisurely taste more wines, grab food ‘niblets’, listen to live music provided by the talented members of Tinkham Road and wander amongst the exhibited trains.

Following the stop at the Train Shed, passengers re-boarded the train for the breathtaking view from the top of Snoqualmie Falls and the river valley below. A final stop was made at the Puget Sound Energy Hydro Museum, where guests were welcomed for a final wine tasting and the chance to enjoy a variety of Boehm’s Chocolates.

The special Wine Train excursion ended with the trip back to the Snoqualmie Depot where passengers could purchase bottles of their favorite wines. Historic downtown Snoqualmie merchants welcomed Wine Train riders with special dinner and shopping opportunities too.

Many thanks to all of the participating wineries: Mount Si Winery, Sigillo Cellars, Wm Grassie Wine Estates, Convergence Zone Cellars, and Pearl and Stone Wine Company. Also, thank you to the food providers: Cherry Valley Dairy, Heirloom Cookshop, Carnation Farms, and Boehm’s Chocolates. And a special thank you to Jennifer McKeown and Savor Snoqualmie Valley for their help in putting these excursions together. Watch for news of upcoming Wine Train excursions in September and October!  

Spike was delighted to share his photos with this article guest authored by Peggy Barchi.