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Now Boarding!
Discover the Trains of Washington State
By Teresa Nordheim
Trains depart from both the Snoqualmie Depot and North Bend Depot. Both trains travel up to the Snoqualmie Falls and back. The ride is one hour and 15 minutes long.
The Santa train is the museum's most popular seasonal program. Refreshments are served from the museum's railway kitchen car where cookies are fresh baked in a large coal stove. The trip ends with a visit to Santa Claus where children receive a small gift. The School Train Program is also a popular attraction. Designed for 3rd through 5th graders, the program is adaptable to other age groups.
The train rides, museum, scenic views and train graveyard make this a stop you can't miss. Their Web site, www.trainmuseum.org, includes fares, schedules and educational train information.
The Iron Horse Inn Bed and Breakfast sits in the Cascade Mountain foothills in the town of, Cle Elum, Wash. The inn was built in 1909 by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. It once served as temporary housing for the men building railroad tracks over some of the most treacherous areas in the state. The inn still features historic memorabilia, photos and artifacts from those days. Because of their wonderful preservation, they are on the National Register of Historic Places.
The inn features seven rooms upstairs. Each room honors a railroad crewmember who stayed there. If you want a night to remember, rent one of the three caboose cars. Yes, you read correct. These fully renovated caboose cars are comfortable but still hold all of their original charm and character.