My wife and I are heading out to the Seattle area the last week of April and I am wondering if anyone could help with some suggestions for some day trips? I am involved with the MNG two foot engines, their repair and operations, so would like to see something more than the usual. Thanks, Rick.

enginman@gis.net

> You could drive over to eastern Oregon To the Sumpter Valley Ry. We'll be getting equipment ready for our operating season....Jerry

lmcx@eoni.com

How far from Seattle is:

Sumpter Valley?
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railway?
SP 4449 in Portland?
Not sure what you could see at any of these places if you just show up. Does anybody know?

And, don't forget the Northwest Rwy Museum in Snoqualmie, a short drive from Seattle, and get to see Snoqualmie Falls too.

There's the King Street Station in downtown Seattle.

And an active roundhouse in the BNSF yard just north of Seattle, although I haven't figured out how to see it except from the train going by. Looks like there are near by bridges and hills which would mkae good vantage points.

Isn't there something in Tacoma also?

Be sure and check out the Washington Steam site at the link below. That'll cover anything I missed, which is probably quite a lot as I'm still feeling my way around up here.

Washington Steam
hkading@rypn.org

> My wife and I are heading out to the Seattle
> area the last week of April and I am
> wondering if anyone could help with some
> suggestions for some day trips? I am
> involved with the MNG two foot engines,
> their repair and operations, so would like
> to see something more than the usual.
> Thanks, Rick.

If you get out a little earlier you can either see or ride behind the SP&S 700 on her "Homecoming Excursion" from Vancouver, WA to Spokane and return April 20-23. After that, she can be visited in the Brooklyn Roundhouse next door to the 4449. Excursion and ticket information available at: www.sps700.org
John Cox


johnpcox@juno.com

> Isn't there something in Tacoma also?

> Be sure and check out the Washington Steam
> site at the link below. That'll cover
> anything I missed, which is probably quite a
> lot as I'm still feeling my way around up
> here.

In Tacoma's Point Defiance Park is Camp 6. A logging railway museum. We usually start operating in April. Hopefully we will have the Whitcom diesel running, if not the little Plymouth will be operating. Our Pacific Coast Shay is still a couple of years away from running. We have several steam powered donkeys on display, including a rigged spar tree, and a lidgerwood skidder.


Camp 6 museum
crisolite@aol.com

You can visit thr Northern Pacific Railway Museum in Toppenish, WA (about twenty miles south of Yakima in central Washington). We don't formally open till May 1st, but, our work days are Tues, Thurs and Sat. You can come by and visit on those days. We have an almost fully restored 1912 NP depot and work is progressing on NP S-4 #1364 (Baldwin 4-6-0 1902). There are many other projects going on also. If you need more info call me at (509)574-0989. BTW Please ignore our website as it is very badly out of date and we are working on a new site. Regards, Karl

NPRY1364@aol.com

> My wife and I are heading out to the Seattle
> area the last week of April and I am
> wondering if anyone could help with some
> suggestions for some day trips? I am
> involved with the MNG two foot engines,
> their repair and operations, so would like
> to see something more than the usual.
> Thanks, Rick.

If "the end of April" can be stretched to May 5th then you can catch the Mt. Rainier Scenic's two "Mikes", #5 and #17, at Tacoma Railfan days. #15 from the Chehalis-Centralia is usually there too.

http://www.mrsr.com/railfan_day.html

Where do your interests lie? There's quite a lot to see and do in western WA and you can combine a scenic tour and railfanning quite easily.

Washington Steam Railroads and Locomotives
brianfr@speakeasy.org

A couple of years ago my wife and visited Seattle and went down to the Mt Ranier Senic Railway. I was able to get a terrific CAB RIDE in their 2-8-2-T over the whole 1 hour trip! I whole-heartedly recommend you try to do the same.

Rick,

At Mt. Rainier Scenic RR at the end of April we will be preparing locos and coaches for our Tacoma Railfan trips first weekend in May.

The shop is open except Sunday and Monday. We always have a big work party every Saturday 9-5.

In the shop are two locomotives being restored with completion dates in late June. Lococ are a 60-ton 2-truck Heisler and a 42-ton Baldwin 2-6-2 T. There are 5 operable locos on site.

You would certainly be welcome. Call 360-492-5391 (the shop) with questions.


steamrr@mashell.com