Critical Times Need Critical Support

How is the Northwest Railway Museum handling the pandemic?  This is arguably the most difficult period in the Museum's 63 year history, and continued community support is critical to recovery.  Notwithstanding, the Museum has used the closure to perform upgrades.  Exhibits, artifacts, and even publications are getting attention, and we are confident the Museum’s audience will see and appreciate the difference.

Notably, The Museum's publication, The Sounder, was redesigned in an effort led by Lee Ater of LOT22.  The changes bring the newsletter into line with branding standards, easier to produce and make it more visually interesting.

Meanwhile, with the expectations for reopening the Museum came an opportunity to upgrade exhibits. This resulted in more interpretive content, and transformed the hall into a more visually-interesting experience, both of which are vital to attracting and retaining an audience.

Sadly, many pandemic-related orders are affecting the Museum in truly negative ways.  The continuing prohibition on events is particularly damaging because it devastates both audience and income.  And even if events were permitted in King County, they would be limited to just 50 people. Unfortunately, none of the Museum’s events are economically viable when serving smaller groups.

The Museum is unable to host Halloween or Santa Train this year. However, we are improvising, and hope you will attend our alternative Safe Start activities! Beginning October 3, the Museum will operate regular train ride excursions, using  social distancing practices, most weekends through the end of the year.  At Halloween and during the Christmas season, trains will operate with appropriate holiday themes such as the Yuletide Express, but guests will remain on board for the duration of their visit.  We know this may not be to everyone’s liking, but it does appear to be the Museum’s best practical alternative that keeps staff, volunteers and visitors safe, and complies with the law. 

Externally, we sadly share that the pandemic has been particularly difficult for all museums. The Bellingham Railway Museum closed its doors in March, and it was soon apparent that it would never reopen. NRM staff and volunteers worked with their officers and former staff to ensure their collection is preserved, and remains in the public domain. Over the summer the collection was boxed up and moved to Snoqualmie. Their beloved Lionel 027 layout has been reassembled in the Train Shed, and will soon be operational. We extend our heart-felt condolences to their staff and volunteers for their loss—closing a museum is heart-breaking.

Your Support is Critical

We wish to thank you for your continued support during these uncertain times. The Northwest Railway Museum is dynamic and successful in part because of people just like you. Now, during the Covid-19 crisis, we need your support more than ever. Please consider helping to sustain the Museum in any of the following ways:

Become a member  |  Make a donation  |  Patronize the gift shop  |  Become a volunteer   |  Visit the Museum

Visit TrainMuseum.org to find out how you can help.

Not everything about 2020 has been negative. The happiest news of the year remains the success of steam locomotive 924. Despite challenges, the 924 has successfully operated under its own power this year. Like the chapel car 5 project before it, the 924 work generated more questions than expected, but the skillful dedication of museum volunteers and staff have allowed work to continue. We hope you will be able to join us for the first run this fall—check TrainMuseum.org for updates.

Seasons Greetings!

The Museum's key staff represent a very

diverse group of qualifications that sup-

port many mission-critical functions. 

From left to right, Gary James, ship-

wright; Richard Anderson, executive

director; Cristy Lake, registrar and

volunteer coordinator; Lara Ballinger,

bookstore buyer; Stathi Pappas, large

object curator; Peggy Barchi, market-

ing manager; Jessie Cunningham,

deputy director and educator; James

Sackey, visitor services; and Jennifer

Youngman, bookkeeper.

From all the Trustees and Staff at the Northwest Railway Museum to all the supporters, patrons, volunteers, donors, visitors, and all 'round fans, thank you for another great year.

There are many components in a successful Museum, and chief among those are willing and generous supporters.  So whether you donated goods, services, funds, volunteer hours (more than 14,000 in 2015!), or bought tickets to visit or ride, thank you for your role in making 2015 successful!

The senior staff recently got together to reflect on the last 12 months, and tour Chapel Car 5 Messenger of Peace.  As 2015 winds down, the Museum has secured necessary permits to build the new Railway Education Center, installed a new exhibit in the Train Shed, made significant progress in the rehabilitation of steam locomotive 924, successfully nominated 924 to the Landmark Register, operated more than 37 days of steam with the visiting SCPC 2, refinished the floors in the Snoqualmie Depot, performed additional rehabilitation on chapel car 5 Messenger of Peace, and performed major work on coach 276. 

Wow, 2015 was a busy year!  Yet 2016 looks like it may be even busier with plans for construction of the new Railway History Center, near completion of locomotive 924, additional coach work, and more.  Your support always makes a difference and we invite you to consider - even encourage you - an end of year donation to the Northwest Railway Museum so that this important work may continue.

Seasons Greetings, and thank you for your support.

Merry Christmas!

Deputy director Jessie C., Visitor services 
James S., Volunteer coordinator Cristy L., 
Bookkeeper Jennifer Y. and Director 
Richard A.

Christmas and the railroad

In their roles as museum educators, staff work hard to remain truthful and accurate in creating interpretive programming. However, they must also use today's conventions to help people understand yesterday's.  Identifying the year-end holiday season as "Christmas" considers a recent Angus Reid Global poll that found 80% of people in the United States, Britain and Canada prefer to call the holiday season "Christmas." That is a pretty convincing majority!

So what do a refer car, box car, brakeman, coach car, express car, locomotive, conductor, railroad bridge, depot, and chapel car all have to do with "Christmas?"  Everything!

While examining the impact of railroads on the Northwest it is nearly impossible to ignore the role of significant cultural practices, including the celebration of Christmas. Why? Christmas and other major holidays have had - and continue to have - a tremendous impact on railway transportation including express, freight and passenger service.  Railroads brought (bring) families together, letters and packages to family members, and goods to retailers. Railroads even transport many Christmas trees from farms to your local communities.  So Christmas might not be very merry without the railroad!

Thank you to everyone! 

As another successful Santa Train program is completed and 2013 draws to a close, I am delighted to reflect upon another great year at the Northwest Railway Museum. In doing so, what is clearly evident are all of the generous contributions of time, talent and funding that have helped make the Northwest Railway Museum and its programs possible.  By the numbers, the human side of the Museum's success was a handful of management and other key staff, a dozen trustees and advisers, a gaggle of special contractors, more than 125 volunteers, and hundreds of donors. They all worked together to serve more than 90,000 guests who got to see and understand the role railroads played in the development and settlement of the Northwest.  

From all of us to all of you, have a Merry Christmas!

--Spike

1,000 likes and climbing

Milestones. Sometimes we celebrate them with great fanfare. Sometimes with quiet delight. For the Museum, both kinds of milestones happened one day recently.

THE FANFARE

Train whistles. Trumpets. Remarks by People with Titles. The Northwest Railway Museum celebrated the Grand Opening of the Train Shed September 17 with a happy crowd of members, donors, volunteers and other supporters. It’s a special milestone, because some of the organization’s earliest supporters have envisioned this day for 50 years. The Museum’s most vulnerable large artifacts now have a place of refuge, where the public can soon step inside an illustrated story of how the northwestern United States was settled and civilized.

View a bit of the fanfare here:

A POWERFUL COMMUNITY

Something else happened at the same time we were whooping it up in the Train Shed. With a quiet click, our Facebook page climbed to 1,000 “likes.” No trumpets. No speeches. But a big deal nonetheless.

In one way or another, community has played a role in every milestone the Museum has reached - from the launch of the Railway History Center in 2006. . .to the hosting of Santa Train, Day Out With Thomas and Snoqualmie Railroad Days. . .to awards recognizing Museum Collections, personnel, restoration achievements and interpretive efforts. Our tremendous community comprises volunteers, members, donors, heritage and train enthusiasts, families, City partners. . .and now, Facebook users and followers of our blog.

It's because of you, our online community, that Chapel Car 5 Messenger of Peace received enough votes to earn a large grant in the Partners for Preservation campaign last year. It's because of you that the Northwest Railway Museum experienced the single most successful day of giving in the Museum's history during The Seattle Foundation's one-day GiveBIG campaign in June. With you, we're achieving entirely new milestones.

So to celebrate 1,000-likes-and-climbing, we're giving Jessica H., our 1,000th Facebook fan, a free train ride for a party of six. Congratulations, Jessica! The railroad built our community, and our community is building the railway museum. A big thank you to each one of you.

Visit the Northwest Railway Museum on Facebook

Train Shed grand opening

September 17, 2011 was a momentous occasion for the 54-year-old Northwest Railway Museum. That occasion was the grand opening of the Train Shed exhibit and collection storage building, a project 54 years in the making. 137 invited guests joined together to hear live music, inspirational speeches, and to see the rehabilitated White River Lumber Company locomotive 1 and caboose 001 roll into the building. Hundreds of donors and over $4.3 million were required to achieve completion.

Last year the Museum celebrated the completion of the structure with a dedication ceremony. That empty building was an achievement in its own right but this year’s completion of all the railway track now allows the structure to be fully utilized for its primary purpose: protecting the most representative and vulnerable objects from the outdoor environment. It will also be available for limited public access.

Guests of all ages were transported to and from the Train Shed ceremony by train and while enroute Snoqualmie Postmaster Bud canceled a commemorative postcard. The Cornucopia Concert Band performed a variety of brass band standards throughout the evening and light refreshments were served from track two platform.

Mayor Matt Larson spoke of the importance of vision in achieving an important goal and praised the Museum for its many recent successes. 4Culture Executive Director Jim Kelly spoke of the tenacity and creativity evident in finding a way to build the Train Shed. (4Culture is the King County Cultural Development Authority and was a major supporter of the Train Shed design and construction.) Museum Board of Trustees Vice President Dennis Snook talked about achievement, planning and continued development. Museum Executive Director Richard Anderson spoke of eleven years of effort to plan, fund and construct the Train Shed, and of the interesting parallels between Snoqualmie’s beginnings as a railroad town and its revitalization efforts today led in part by a railroad museum. Other dignitaries attended to celebrate the event including King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert and City of Snoqualmie Councilmember Bob Jeans.

Opening the Train Shed for collections use and limited public access is the latest and greatest of the Museum’s achievements but it is hardly the last. Now work will continue on completing facilities for the museum campus including restrooms, additional parking, and program office space. Efforts will also increasingly focus on renewed and expanded collection care on the museum’s large collection of coaches, freight cars and locomotives.

Photographs:

(top left) Caboose 001 and locomotive 1 are pushed in on track three
(top right) Snoqualmie Postmaster Bud cancels a commemorative postcard
(middle left) Cornucopia Band performs live during the ceremony
(lower left) locomotive 1 and caboose 001 wait outside for their call
(lower right) native plants adorn the perimeter gardens at the Train Shed

Vote to fund the chapel car!

A vote a day can help keep decay away!

Between now and May 12, a public vote is helping determine the outcome of Partners in Preservation Seattle Initiative. 25 historic properties in the Puget Sound Region are competing for a share of $1 million. Chapel car 5 Messenger of Peace is one of the properties and, if it is selected for an award from Partners in Preservation, the Museum will have enough funding to allow substantial completion of the chapel car rehabilitation.

This initiative is also an opportunity to launch a Messenger of Peace web site at http://www.messengerofpeace.org/ and a Messenger of Peace Facebook page.

Check out the Museum's promotional video:



So what is Partners in Preservation? The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Express Foundation created this initiative five years ago and have run the program in San Francisco, Chicagoland, New Orleans, and Boston. Local projects are pre-vetted and a short list is presented to the public for a vote. The top vote-getter receives full funding. Additional projects are selected for funding by a committee set up by the National Trust and American Express; for those projects the total number of votes will be a consideration.

The Northwest Railway Museum is delighted to learn that Partners in Preservation has selected the railroad chapel car to compete for funding in the Seattle initiative. This is the first railroad car and railway museum to be involved in this five-year-old initiative, and the program is an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of this little-known but impactful part of history. In all, 25 projects are competing for a share of funding; project values range from $65,000 to $125,000. The Chapel Car is competing for $100,000.

Chapel car 5 Messenger of Peace was built by Barney and Smith in 1898 and served the Baptist Publication Society, Baptist Home Mission Society and the Railroad YMCA for fifty years. It operated in at least 11 states and traveled extensively in the Pacific Northwest. After retirement, it was used in several creative ways from 1948 until 2006 including as a roadside diner, seaside cottage, and an unlicensed pharmaceutical distribution facility. In 2007 it was donated and moved to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The chapel car requires extensive rehabilitation and restoration to return it to the glory of its period of significance. The Save America’s Treasures grant awarded in December 2009 will combine with a Washington State Historical Society grant, funding from 4Culture and private contributions to allow carbody work to begin. Partners in Preservation funding, if awarded, will allow substantial completion of the project including fabrication of missing pews for the sanctuary.

To learn more and vote, visit http://www.trainmuseum.org/ Be the chapel car's saviour - vote today and every day until May 12!

A new city hall for Snoqualmie

A healthy and prosperous community has many dimensions, and according to A healthy community: a strategy for giving report released by the Seattle Foundation in June 2009, arts and culture are a vital part of it. But a healthy community is also more than a museum, and includes substantial investment by many stakeholders including private property owners and government. So the Northwest Railway Museum is pleased to see completion of a new Snoqualmie City Hall in historic downtown. This is an impressive vote of confidence in the community, and will prove to be a substantial economic stimulus.

The $6 million project was dedicated on 9 January 2010 and consolidates most city services and functions in one location. It is just one block from the Snoqualmie Depot and represents a significant investment in the historic downtown Snoqualmie. Snoqualmie could have easily built the new city hall on Snoqualmie Ridge or near the new fire station on the parkway, but chose to invest in the heart of the original town. This took great courage and determination, and additional expense to mitigate poor soils and a location in an urban floodplain. But the results are spectacular and are a credit to the community.

Check out the stunning views Mt. Si, the historic Methodist church, and the River Street railroad crossing seen from Mayor Matt Larson’s office. Congratulations to the City of Snoqualmie, and thank you for making this substantial investment in the historic downtown.

Giving Thanks in 2009

15 things the Northwest Railway Museum is thankful for (in no particular order):

1. Sprinkler systems! (The Snoqualmie Depot was spared from major fire damage by sprinkler heads located on the structure’s exterior.)

2. Successful flood recovery. (On January 8 the Museum experienced the most significant flood event in its history and recovered in time to operate trains in April as scheduled.)

3. Broad base of community support from a truly successful community. (Participation through programs, volunteering, contributing funds, donating goods and services, and helping protect the museum from fire, flood and even petty crime.)

4. Popular programs. (2009 experienced record-setting participation in the Museum’s programs.)

5. Beautiful scenery in a great location. (A beautiful location helps the Museum be successful, and is part of railroad's legacy in the Northwest.)

6. A Collection of Northwest railway history truly representative of the region. (Locomotives, a depot, bridges, freight cars, coaches, lanterns, books, photographs, maps, and examples of pretty much anything else imaginable that was used to build, operate or maintain a railroad.)

7. Great volunteers. (Over 200 people have participated this year in everything from flood recovery to staffing all programs.)

8. Dedicated staff. (Five full time and four part time staff provide management and general support for museum programs.)

9. Supportive local government (Snoqualmie, North Bend and King County have all helped the Museum become more successful.)

10. Awesome elected officials at all levels of government from the City of Snoqualmie Council all the way to Congress.

11. Irreplaceable support from the State of Washington and the United States. (Together, the State and Federal government are funding nearly 40% of the new Train Shed.)

12. Museum members. (Membership remains as one of the Museum’s critical support mechanisms.)

13. Generous funders. (Recent new support received from 4Culture, North American Railway Foundation, the Quest for Truth Foundation, the City of Snoqualmie and dozens of individuals.)

14. Effective and dedicated Board of Trustees. (Museum is governed by 11 volunteer trustees. Members include rail historians, museum volunteers, and community representatives.)

15. The best bells and whistles of any museum in the County!

Train Shed official ground breaking

The site was cleared and graded, equipment was mobilized, the temperature was a comfortable 72 degrees, and then the sun came out making it a perfect Northwest evening. So on the eve of the beginning of the foundation construction (specifically, of the driving of 76 augercast piles) supporters gathered for a brief ceremony. Standing in what will be the main entrance of the new Train Shed, shovel was put to dirt. Performing the honors were (L to R) City of Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, Museum President Susan Hankins, Benjamin and Kaela Getz (who together were representing all youth), Museum Executive Director Richard Anderson and Washington State Representative (5th District) Jay Rodne.

Speaking at the ceremony held Wednesday, August 5th, 2009, Representative Jay Rodne spoke of the important role the Northwest Railway Museum plays in connecting generations. "This project is about preserving the past, but it is also about our future: our youth."

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson who has been instrumental in supporting the project also spoke adding, "This is an important project for Snoqualmie and I hope it will be one of the things my administration will be remembered for."

Museum Executive Director Richard Anderson took the opportunity to announce a funding partnership with the North American Railway Foundation who will be supporting two public access components of the project. Their support will total more than $62,000 and is another important step in completing this cultural facility.

Museum President Susan Hankins thanked everyone for supporting the project and talked about the importance of community. Hankins spoke of the long road (rail, of course) it took for the Museum to get to this moment and of the significant work remaining to complete the vision.

But surely the highlight of the evening was the opportunity for over 100 supporters to visit the new site and see for themselves how big 25,000 square feet is. Many who attended gathered for a group photo and were afterwards rewarded with ice cream donated by Kyle T. from Tweede’s Cafe in North Bend. Thanks Kyle!

Scouts improve safety and security

Troup 466 of the Boy Scouts of America. Quite a remarkable troop actually. In the last several years they have turned out more than a dozen Eagle Scouts. In fact so many Eagle Scouts that it is easy to forget that becoming an Eagle Scout is a remarkable achievement, and is not common place.

So the remarkable Alex C. planned his obligatory Eagle Scout project last spring. He offered to undertake a project at the Northwest Railway Museum. And the Museum came up with quite a project: 400 feet of fencing to improve safety and security. 400 feet of fence to keep accidental trespassers from wandering onto an active railroad. 400 feet of fence to keep the not so accidental trespassers from doing, well, inappropriate things.

More than 16 people participated under Alex's direction (14 plus Alex are shown in the photo and inset). His father drove a tractor, his younger brother helped measure, other adults operated concrete mixers, and other scouts poured concrete, stretched fencing fabric, and helped make the Snoqualmie Valley a better place.

So congratulations Alex on a project well planned and managed. You and your team have completed a project and teh Northwest Railway Museum is grateful for your contribution.

Caboose 001 project receives Spellman Award

Last year the Northwest Railway Museum's intrepid group of collection care volunteers completed rehabilitation of White River Lumber Company caboose 001. This year their efforts were acknowledged with the John D. Spellman award for outstanding achievement in restoration.

The Award is named for the first King County Executive John D. Spellman, who held office from 1969 - 1980 and later went on to become Governor of Washington. This year, the presentation was made by Congressman Dave Reichert in a ceremony held at the Meadowbrook Farm Interpretive Center in North Bend. Depicted in the photo l to r, Congressman Reichert, Caboose volunteers Dale Campbell, Martin Nemerever, Richard Wilkens, Dan Calhoun and Museum Executive Director Richard R. Anderson. Not present was Dickie Huntamer.

Five volunteers contributed over 75% of the efforts to restore caboose 001, a project that consumed over 5,000 person hours. Volunteer Martin Nemerever's site describes the process: http://wrl001.restorations-nrm.com/

The Spellman Award acknowledges this significant achievement and its overall contribution to historic preservation in King County. It is given each year to outstanding projects in King County. Other recipients this year include the Interpretation of the Iron Goat Trail in Steven's Pass performed by Volunteers for Outdoor Washington, David Cook's reconstruction of the Cook Building in North Bend, and Peter LaHay's adaptive reuse that created the Woodman Lodge in Snoqualmie behind the Snoqualmie Depot.

King County photo by Ned Ahrens

Going Once, Going Twice

The level of excitement is building as the Save Our Rails fundraiser draws near. Tickets to the event are selling fast, but great seats for dinner at the Woodman Lodge are still available. April 30, 2009 will be an evening to remember, with a wonderful dinner, train ride, wine tasting and silent auction.

Train excursions to the top of Snoqualmie Falls will depart from the Snoqualmie Depot throughout the evening. A wine tasting featuring South American and Italian wines will be happening along with a silent auction. Auction items are pouring in and the bidding should be brisk. Items donated for the auction include “Engineer for a Hour,” an overnight stay and breakfast at the Salish Lodge & Spa, and a beach chair and towel from Costco. (Yes, you will need it soon; summer is coming!)

So, call 425.888.4441 and secure your tickets today. You won’t want to miss it!

Save Our Rails!

Flood recovery is nearly complete and now it’s time to pay the piper! So we’re planning a fun evening on April 30 at the Woodman Lodge to help raise funds to pay for the repairs. Save Our Rails will be held Thursday, April 30, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM and there will be several seating options throughout the evening. If you have not eaten at the Woodman's Lodge, this is a great opportunity to try it out!

The Woodman Lodge is the new steakhouse that opened in downtown Snoqualmie's restored Odd Fellows Hall last summer. (This building is located right behind the Snoqualmie Depot and is also a City of Snoqualmie Landmark.) They will be offering a choice of 4 delicious entrees, along with music and a unique atmosphere. The evening will also include a short excursion to Snoqualmie Falls on the Museum’s just-repaired railway. A silent auction will feature a handful of truly unique items including a very rare opportunity to be a locomotive engineer for an hour!

Save Our Rails tickets are $85 each or $150 per couple; a portion of the ticket price may be available to you as a tax deduction. For tickets and information, please call (425) 888-4441, email tickets@woodmanlodge.com or click here to read the news release.

Locals and Visitors Adore Isadora's

Visiting the Northwest Railway Museum and riding the train can give you quite an appetite. So, where is a great place to have lunch? One that we're fond of is Isadora’s.

A favorite among locals, Isadora’s Café recently came under the new ownership of Jody Sands. Jody grew up in Snoqualmie, had worked at Isadora’s and always loved it. When the cafe became available, she jumped at the chance to own her favorite place.

Isadora’s is offering an expanded menu and featuring breakfast on the weekends. It’s the same great food in an expanded format. Jody has upgraded the menu by offering more choices, like potatoes or rice with breakfast. All of the food is made from scratch; even the Panini bread for the delicious sandwiches available for lunch.

In addition to the delectable food, Isadora’s supports the arts by featuring the work of local artists. You can find handmade ornaments, painting and photography for sale at Isadora’s. The Enigma Rag spotlights local poets, artists and authors. Check out the entertainment lineup when you’re looking for a special musical night out.

Mark your calendars for Isadora’s newest offering: Toddler Train Story Time. Jody plans to offer this opportunity for parents and their toddlers, on the first Thursday of each month, beginning April 2nd. Timed between dropping the older kids off for school and naptime, this is sure to become a favorite among the preschool set. Kids, don’t forget to bring your parents!

Be sure and check out this local jewel the next time you’re in Snoqualmie.

A Train Runs Through It

Attribute it to luck, good fortune or just plain hard work. Once again, the beauty of the upper scenic Snoqualmie Valley will be showcased through the windows of our antique train, as it glides along the rails of our newly restored right-of-way. We’re pleased and grateful to announce that thanks to public agencies, such as 4Culture, the City of Snoqualmie, and the heroic efforts of private individuals who donated funds and/or volunteer hours to aid in the clean up, the Northwest Railway Museum season will officially open April 4, resuming full train service through the scenic Upper Snoqualmie Valley. While there are still repairs to perform and funds to raise, repairing the track is well underway and work on that segment of the flood damage should be completed in another week. So beginning on Saturday, April 4, and on each Saturday and Sunday through October, the Northwest Railway Museum will offer 75-minute round-trip train rides to the top of Snoqualmie Falls. A full schedule is available here .

Snoqualmie Valley Railroad’s 2009 season features two new offerings on its schedule: Easter Train (April 11 & 12) and Snoqualmie Railroad Days (August 22.) Greatly anticipated are the return of the Museum’s other popular family programs, including Mothers Ride Free, Fathers Ride Free, Grandparents’ Grand Excursion, Halloween Train, Santa Train® and Day Out with ThomasTM.

Visitors to the Northwest Railway Museum experience the excitement of a working railroad while learning about the important role railroads played in shaping the character of the Pacific Northwest. The depot and bookstore are open to the public 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily.

Coffee, trains & Koko Beans

Coffee and railroads have a long and proud tradition. Rare was the caboose that didn’t have a coffee pot simmering on the stove. Even today many modern locomotives are furnished with a hot plate and percolator, so it’s natural that coffee would fit well with a railway museum too. And in Snoqualmie, there are no less than four places to buy good coffee within minutes of the trains. On your next visit to the museum, consider buying a coffee and taking a walk along the Centennial Trail or a stroll about the depot.

Koko Beans is the newest coffee shop in the historic downtown and is across the street from the Snoqualmie Depot. New owner Bethany C. has recently taken the reins from founder John G. and she appreciates railway museum patrons. In her earlier years, she was a ticket agent at the Snoqualmie Depot, clerked in the bookstore, and helped run the retail tent during Day Out With Thomas™. She has committed to maintaining her coffee house as a local gathering place and source of great coffee drinks (OK, tea and hot chocolate too, but Spike usually drinks coffee). In the last few weeks, she has added pastries and bagels to her menu. And distinguishing her shop from the others is a fireplace and a broad selection of artwork, some of which depict artifacts found at the Northwest Railway Museum. So another place to visit on your next visit to Snoqualmie and the Northwest Railway Museum is Koko Beans. You’ll help support a successful community so we can continue building a successful museum!

Neighbors helping neighbors

As recovery from the recent flood event proceeds, I am thrilled by the sight of people helping each other by volunteering their time and energy. Over 100 volunteers have turned out in Snoqualmie. They go door-to-door, helping residents pull out carpeting and haul furniture and water-soaked belongings to the curb for pick up. Trucks circulate through town, picking up refuse and hauling it to the corner of King Street and Railroad Ave, where heavy equipment is used to load it into dumpsters. The phone calls offering volunteer assistance and donations of household items are still pouring in. The volunteers come from church and civic groups, from the nearby communities of North Bend, Issaquah and Sammamish, from Snoqualmie itself, and even further afield from Redmond and Seattle. Not only have they already been working side by side with City of Snoqualmie staff and local residents, but even more volunteers are already signed up to help this weekend.

Volunteers and City of Snoqualmie staff have been helping pick up debris along the Museum’s right-of-way. Last Sunday, for instance, 10 community volunteers collected debris from along the track that filled more than 12 steel 55 gallon drums. In the days ahead, the Museum will continue clean up of the track, the CRC, and perform track and signal repairs. We are all so grateful for the help and support, but remain mindful of the tremendous effort and continuing need that will go on for weeks and months.

This was a flood of historic proportions. The tremendous positive response by our neighbors should also be noted. It will almost certainly allow us to recover in time for our regular trains in April.

Funding the Museum

We’re often asked how the Northwest Railway Museum is funded, and perhaps more to the point, people want to know how donor funds are “invested” in the Museum. This is a great question, particularly in light of the recent awareness of how some investor-owned businesses have been spending investor money. So here it is: unless otherwise directed by the donor, contributions are invested in new facilities and in collection care. However at this point in the Museum’s history, it is really in the facilities where donors can make the biggest difference.

The Conservation and Restoration Center is one such facility and it was completed in 2006 at a cost of $2.4 million after years of permitting and fundraising. This collection care facility is allowing the Museum to perform some truly awesome work on really important objects. Caboose 001, built by White River Lumber in 1945 is an example and is shown here in a 2008 post-rehabilitation photo. Incidentally, donor funds paid for materials and over 5,000 volunteer hours performed the rehabilitation.

The next facility will be an exhibit building to place large objects such as locomotives and coaches inside, out of the weather. This 25,000 square foot facility will revolutionize how the Museum preserves and exhibits its collection. This project is expected to cost approximately $3.7 million (exact cost will be determined in a bidding process) and $2.7 million has been pledged or received.

So how can supporters contribute? The Museum’s web site has a secure donation page here. There is also the Giving Express program through American Express that can be used to donate cash, or even membership rewards points. And you can always visit in person – the Depot Bookstore is open every day except New Years, Christmas and Thanksgiving – and speak with a real person. But you don’t have to give money to be a supporter. You can volunteer, come and participate in programs, or simply tell your friends and family about what we are doing and why you believe in it. Thank you!

Santa Train

Today is the first day of Santa Train, the Museum’s grand holiday tradition that first ran in 1969 right here in Snoqualmie. 40 years of Santa Train has brought many changes, not the least of which has expanded the audience to nearly 11,000 patrons. Harvey Girl and I will be writing several posts about Santa Train and today I am going to talk about the evolution of this event. In future posts, we will be talking about why we run Santa Train, what goes into transforming the depot for Santa Train, and talking about some of the people who attend Santa Train.
The Northwest Railway Museum began its first regularly-scheduled public programs in 1967 with a short rail excursion along the reconstructed Niblock Spur. (This line served the Snoqualmie Coal and Coke Company beginning in 1889, and later was used as a log reload spur. It was removed circa 1954.) In that era, Snoqualmie was a rural community far removed from Seattle and Bellevue and patrons had to be more deliberate about visiting. Volunteers wanted to find a way to thank the people who had supported the program so the Museum decided to host a Santa Train. For a modest fare, patrons could ride ½ mile into the woods, visit with Santa and enjoy a hot cocoa and cookie baked in a railway kitchen. Popularity was instant. Line ups to buy tickets stretched as far as the eye could see and by the following year the “thank you event” had become an annual program.
Santa Train in the woods continued to be popular but in 1976 an opportunity to improve the event arrived: the Burlington Northern Railroad donated the Snoqualmie Depot and a portion of the Snoqualmie Branch to the Museum. While the Depot needed substantial restoration, it was a big improvement over a camp in the woods (particularly when it was raining) and became the host location where people boarded the train, got their refreshments and visited with Santa. Popularity remained high and by midday often hundreds of people were in line to buy tickets.
By the late eighties, popularity – Santa Train now served several thousand patrons - was hampering the enjoyment of the event for many people. In response, the Museum introduced advance ticket sales where people could order tickets by telephone. In an era before the Internet was popularized and when credit cards were less common, there was some trepidation. However after the first season, this approach had proved itself and patrons began to expect the presale of tickets.
More change came in 1987 with the dedication of the North Bend Depot. Museum planners saw the opportunity to have people board in North Bend, travel by train to Snoqualmie, get off the train to visit with Santa and enjoy refreshments, and then board the train for their return to North Bend. This destination model was adopted a few years later and continues to this day.
Other improvements have been added in recent years too. Santa has been giving a small gift to children for over 10 years. Web-based ticketing was introduced in 2002 and now nearly 90% of all tickets are sold there. A fifth and sixth day were added in 1996; a seventh day in 2007. And for the future? This year's event sold out on November 1st but tickets for Santa Train 2009 will go on sale to members in August 2009. Why not find out for yourself?

Giving Thanks

The Northwest Railway Museum is a community resource. It could not offer great programs or even exist were it not for awesome levels of community support. And what is community support? It takes many forms and comes from every part of our community. So on this day of Thanks the museum Board of Trustees and staff humbly extend our Thanks to the community:
Thanks to our members for your continued confidence and support.
Thanks to Snoqualmie City Council, Mayor, and City Staff for supporting our programs and facilitating a major land exchange.
Thanks to City of North Bend Council, Mayor, and City Staff for supporting our programs and facilitating a major land exchange.
Thanks to King County, State of Washington and United States elected officials and employees who support funding and legislative initiatives.
Thanks to major funding partners – foundations and corporations - for supporting programs and facility development.
Thanks to individual donors who contribute objects to the collection, materials for collection care, and funds to support buildings and programs.
Thanks to 200 volunteers who contribute over 14,000 hours per year staffing programs and caring for the collection.
But most importantly, Thanks to the many thousands of people who every year visit our museum in Snoqualmie or stop by the web site. We are honored you continue to choose us as a place to spend some of your precious time.