Museum offers look at restored coal car Rebuilt car gets brief window for Valley viewing

The Northwest Railway Museum recently wrapped up a reconstruction project on a vintage coal car owned by the Renton History Museum.

The Northwest Railway Museum recently wrapped up a reconstruction project on a vintage coal car owned by the Renton History Museum.

The project, funded by 4Culture, is finished and the car will soon be installed in the Renton museum’s main gallery.

But before it departs the Valley, residents will get a chance to see the historic car, tour the Railway Museum’s Conservation and Research Center (CRC), learn about the project, and talk to the museum’s staff, on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Tour participants board the train, ride to the CRC and participate in a 30 minute tour.

Trains depart every 75 minutes, beginning at 11:01 a.m. from the Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 S.E. King Street, and at 11:26 a.m. from the North Bend Depot at 205 McClellan Street. The last train returning to North Bend departs the Snoqualmie Depot at 3:31 p.m. Roundtrip fares are $7 for children ages 2 to 12, $10 for adults, and $9 for seniors age 62 and up.

Visitors to the museum experience the excitement of a working railroad while learning about the important role railroads played in shaping the character of the Pacific Northwest. Self-guided walking tour information is available at the Snoqualmie Depot. The depot and bookstore are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

For more information, visit the museum on the Web at www.trainmuseum.org or call (425) 888-3030.