Puget Sound Railway Historical Association in 1994

In 1994, we stopped by the Puget Sound Railway Historical Association (now the Northwest Railway Museum) in Snoqualmie, Washington. I photographed the equipment by the depot, even though most of it was in the shade.

Spokane, Portland & Seattle combine #272 was built by Barney & Smith in 1915 as a coach. It was converted to a combine in 1955. The Spokane, Portland & Seattle was merged into Burlington Northern in March 1970. The museum purchased the car from Burlington Northern in 1977.

45-Tonner #7320 was built by General Electric in 1941. It was originally used in the construction of the Elwood Ordinance Plant in Wilmington, Illinois by contractors Sanderson & Porter. It was later transferred to the U.S. Army Transportation Corps and became #7320. It was transferred to the U.S. Navy around 1956 for use at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. After it was retired, the museum leased it from Washington State Parks in 1976.

U.S. Army Ambulance Kitchen Car #89601 was built by St. Louis Car Co. in 1953. It was originally built to provide meal service for ambulance trains carrying injured troops, but soon after it was built, aircraft became the Army’s primary means of transporting troops. It was stored at Fort Lewis for over 20 years without ever being placed in service. After retirement, it was sold to the Kennecott Copper Company to be converted to a tool car at a Utah mine, however the mine was shut down before the car was converted. It was donated by Kennecott Copper Company in 1987.

Great Northern baggage car #485 was built by Pullman in 1921 as a 12 Section - 1 Drawing Room sleeping car named Epicurus. It became Tourist Sleeper #1056 in 1941. It was retired in 1948 and sold to Great Northern and rebuilt as baggage car #485. The Great Northern was merged into Burlington Northern in March 1970. After Amtrak took over passenger service in 1971, Burlington Northern assigned the car to maintenance of way service as #950190. It was purchased from Burlington Northern in 1986.

This Kershaw Ballast Regulator was built in 1963 for Great Northern.

This former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy caboose is in the yard of a home in Snoqualmie near the depot, but is not part of the museum.

Spokane, Portland & Seattle coach #276 was built by Barney & Smith in 1915. The Spokane, Portland & Seattle was merged into Burlington Northern in March 1970. It was purchased from Burlington Northern in 1972.

Spokane, Portland & Seattle coach #213 was built by Barney & Smith in 1912. The wooden car was retired by 1950. The museum purchased it from a private owner in 1977.

Kennecott Copper Company #201 is an RSD-4 built by the American Locomotive Company (Alco) in 1951. A total of 36 RSD-4s were built from 1951 to 1952, compared to 204 RSD-5s built from 1952 to 1956, which were identical except for the main generator. This was the only RSD-4 purchased by Kennecott Copper and is the only remaining RSD-4 in existence. It was donated to the museum in 1983.

The Snoqualmie Depot was built in 1890 by the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway. In 1896, the railroad was reorganized as the Seattle International Railway, and it was taken over by the Northern Pacific Railway in 1901. The Northern Pacific was merged into the Burlington Northern in March, 1970, and by the mid-1970s, freight trains to Snoqualmie were being routed over the Milwaukee Road line. The Burlington Northern abandoned the line in 1975, donating the Snoqualmie depot and several miles of track to the Puget Sound Railway Historical Association. In 1981, the depot was restored to its 1890s appearance.