Railway museum project awaits approval

Published 12:58 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – The Northwest Railway Museum’s desire to get its visitors up close and personal to the work it does on historic railway engines and cars passed by another stop earlier this month.

The city of Snoqualmie held a public hearing on Thursday, Jan. 16, to look at a conditional use permit and two variances it would have to grant in order to allow the museum to build a Conservation and Restoration Center (CRC) off Stoen Quarry Road.

If completed, the $1.2-million, 8,180-square-foot CRC would house the museum’s trains or cars while they are being restored. Two tracks would go into the CRC, which would feature a walkway that allows visitors to see the restoration efforts.

“Although our museum has been successful in operating numerous public programs and attracting visitors, it is limited in its growth by the absence of a proper collection care facility and CRC,” said Northwest Railway Museum Executive Director Richard Anderson.

The conditional use permit would allow the museum to build the CRC on land it owns off Stoen Quarry Road, which is currently zoned as parks and open space.

For the complete story, pick up a copy of this week’s Valley Record