Lake Whatcom Railway in Wickersham, Washington
Heritage railroad with a museumRegular excursions are not currently running; confirm with the railway before you travel
The Lake Whatcom Railway set out to be a living preservation of America's railway heritage, running Northern Pacific steam engine 1070 and Pullman coaches more than a century old from Wickersham, at the start of the old Northern Pacific Bellingham Branch.
- Northern Pacific steam engine 1070
- Pullman coaches over 100 years old
- Start of the NP Bellingham Branch
- Regular rides not currently running
Lake Whatcom Railway at a glance
- Hours
- No current public schedule posted; call (360) 441-0719
- Admission
- Not posted online
- Train rides
- The website lists rides and a Buy Tickets page, but regular excursions do not appear to be running; confirm before visiting
- Best for
- Northern Pacific and steam history fans
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- AddressNP Road, Wickersham, WA(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(360) 441-0719
- Emailinfo@lakewhatcomrailway.com
- Websitelakewhatcomrailway.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow Lake Whatcom Railway
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Lake Whatcom Railway? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Wickersham.
Rally Takes the Train
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Northern Pacific steam on the Bellingham Branch
The Lake Whatcom Railway was built around a simple promise: a ride on an authentic, full-size, old-time Northern Pacific train. Trains left from Wickersham, a small town on Highway 9 between Sedro-Woolley and Deming, where the Northern Pacific's Bellingham Branch began and met the line between Seattle and Sumas.
Its star was Northern Pacific steam locomotive 1070, which the railway describes as the last steam engine the Northern Pacific retired from regular service. At Wickersham it kept working so that it could say it operated in every decade of the twentieth century. Behind it ran coaches more than 100 years old that had stayed in railroad service ever since they left the Pullman factory, cars once used in transcontinental travel, including a Pullman car built for the opening of Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan.
A 2024 Cascadia Daily article described the railway as a living museum fading from memory, with the old spur toward Lake Whatcom overgrown in places. The railway's website still describes its trains, so anyone hoping to ride should confirm the current situation directly.
What the railway preserved
The railway's collection centered on Northern Pacific steam engine 1070 and a set of century-old Pullman passenger coaches, with a track running from Wickersham toward the southern tip of Lake Whatcom. Whether any of the equipment can be seen by the public today is not posted online, so call (360) 441-0719 or message the railway's Facebook page before going.
Don’t miss
- Northern Pacific 1070Described by the railway as the last steam locomotive retired from regular service by the Northern Pacific.
- The Penn Station Pullman carA Pullman coach built for the opening of Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, still in railroad service more than a century later.
Before you promise a ride
When it ran, the railway offered kids a real steam train and coaches older than their great-grandparents. Because regular trips do not appear to be running now, check with the railway before telling young train fans they will ride. For a sure thing, several Washington museums run steam and diesel trains on a set schedule.
Plan your visit: tips for Lake Whatcom Railway
- Call (360) 441-0719 or email info@lakewhatcomrailway.com before driving out.
- Check the railway's Facebook page for the latest news.
- Mail goes to PO Box 91, Acme, WA 98220; trains left from Wickersham on Highway 9.
Keeping Northern Pacific history in the valley
The Lake Whatcom Railway was kept going by people devoted to Northern Pacific history, who kept 1070 and its Pullman coaches in service for decades. Anyone who wants to help, share photos or ask about the equipment can reach the railway at info@lakewhatcomrailway.com or through its Facebook page.
Rail rides you can count on
For a working train ride, the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie is about 79 miles away, the Great Northern & Cascade Railway in Skykomish is about 76 miles, and the Issaquah Valley Trolley is about 78 miles away. See Washington's train museums for the full list.
- Seattle Center Monorail historic exhibitsSeattle, WA · about 71 mi
- Great Northern & Cascade RailwaySkykomish, WA · about 76 mi
- Issaquah Valley TrolleyIssaquah, WA · about 78 mi
- Northwest Railway MuseumSnoqualmie, WA · about 79 mi
- Pacific Northwest Railroad ArchiveBurien, WA · about 82 mi
- Washington State History Museum railroad exhibitsTacoma, WA · about 97 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
I keep thinking about those Pullman coaches here, in service for more than a hundred years. So many conductors must have walked those aisles. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform reaches out a kind hand to welcome Rally and his parents aboard. My mom imagined that moment long before I painted it, and I like to think of every old coach as full of welcomes like that.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Washington: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Washington
- Halloween train rides in Washington
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Lake Whatcom Railway?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Lake Whatcom Railway official website(opens in a new tab)
- Lake Whatcom Railway on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Lake Whatcom Railway: 20 questions about the old NP line
Is the Lake Whatcom Railway still running?
Regular excursions do not appear to be running. A 2024 Cascadia Daily article described the railway as a living museum fading from memory, with the track overgrown in places, though the railway's website still describes its trains. Call (360) 441-0719 or check its Facebook page before planning a trip.
Where is the Lake Whatcom Railway?
The Lake Whatcom Railway is in Wickersham, Washington, a small town on Highway 9 between Sedro-Woolley and Deming, with listings placing it on NP Road. Its mailing address is PO Box 91, Acme, WA 98220. The track runs from Wickersham toward the southern tip of Lake Whatcom.
What is Lake Whatcom Railway 1070?
Northern Pacific 1070 is the railway's steam locomotive. The railway says it was the last steam engine the Northern Pacific retired from regular service, and that it moved to Lake Whatcom to keep operating so it could run in every decade of the twentieth century.
How do I buy Lake Whatcom Railway tickets?
The railway's website has a Buy Tickets page, but no current dates or prices are posted, and regular rides do not appear to be operating. Before you try to book, call (360) 441-0719 or email info@lakewhatcomrailway.com to ask whether any trips are planned.
What is the Lake Whatcom Railway schedule?
No current schedule is posted online. In the past, the railway listed special events and rides through the year on its website. Given reports that operations have faded, the best way to learn about any upcoming trains is to call (360) 441-0719 or watch its Facebook page.
What were the coaches like on the Lake Whatcom Railway?
The railway's coaches are more than 100 years old and have stayed in railroad service since they left the Pullman factory. They were once used in transcontinental travel, and one Pullman car was built for the opening of Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan.
Where did the Lake Whatcom Railway train go?
Trains left from Wickersham, where the Northern Pacific's Bellingham Branch began and met the railroad between Seattle and Sumas. The line runs from Wickersham west toward the southern end of Lake Whatcom. A detailed route map is not posted on the railway's website.
Is there a Lake Whatcom Railway map?
The railway does not post a route map online. The line runs between Wickersham, on Highway 9 between Sedro-Woolley and Deming, and the southern tip of Lake Whatcom along the old Northern Pacific Bellingham Branch. A mapping app search for Wickersham, WA is the easiest way to see the area.
Where can I see Lake Whatcom Railway photos?
The railway's Facebook page has photos and followers who share memories of riding, and its website shows historic images, including Northern Pacific locomotives gathered around a turntable. The 2024 Cascadia Daily article also includes recent pictures of the site.
Does the Lake Whatcom Railway have a Facebook page?
Yes. The Lake Whatcom Railway has a Facebook page listed as a landmark and historical place in Wickersham, with a few thousand followers. It is the most likely place to find news, photos and any announcements about future trains or events.
Is there a Lake Whatcom Railway Wikipedia article?
No Wikipedia article for the Lake Whatcom Railway is linked from its own materials. The best sources are the railway's website, its Facebook page, and local reporting such as the 2024 Cascadia Daily story about the railway's history and current condition.
What is the latest Lake Whatcom Railway news?
The most recent detailed coverage is a July 2024 Cascadia Daily article that called the railway a living museum fading from memory and described the overgrown track near Lake Whatcom. For anything newer, check the railway's Facebook page or call (360) 441-0719.
What do Lake Whatcom Railway reviews say?
The railway does not collect reviews on its own site, so its Facebook page, with a few thousand followers, is the best place to read what riders remember. Since regular trips do not appear to be running, older reviews you find online may not reflect what you would find in Wickersham today.
Which railroad does the Lake Whatcom Railway preserve?
The railway preserves the Northern Pacific. Its steam engine, 1070, is a Northern Pacific locomotive, and its trains ran from the start of the Northern Pacific's Bellingham Branch in Wickersham. The railway calls itself a living preservation of America's grand railway heritage.
Is the Lake Whatcom Railway good for kids?
When it ran, a steam train and antique coaches were a wonderful outing for train-loving kids. Right now there is no public schedule, so it is not a reliable family stop. Choose an operating Washington railroad for a guaranteed ride, and check back with Lake Whatcom for news.
Does the Lake Whatcom Railway run Christmas trains?
No holiday trains are posted for the Lake Whatcom Railway at this time. For a Christmas ride in Washington, the Northwest Railway Museum and other heritage railroads run Santa trains in December. Watch the railway's Facebook page in case it announces a special event.
How do I contact the Lake Whatcom Railway?
Call (360) 441-0719, email info@lakewhatcomrailway.com, or write to PO Box 91, Acme, WA 98220. The railway's Facebook page is another way to send a message. Reaching out is the only reliable way to learn about the current status of trains and equipment.
Can I visit the Lake Whatcom Railway equipment?
The railway does not post public hours for viewing its locomotive or coaches. Some equipment may still be in Wickersham, but call (360) 441-0719 before visiting, and stay off railroad property unless invited. The railway's Facebook page may share opportunities to see 1070 and the Pullman cars.
How can I help the Lake Whatcom Railway?
The railway does not post a volunteer or donation program online. If you would like to help preserve Northern Pacific 1070 and the Pullman coaches, email info@lakewhatcomrailway.com or message its Facebook page to ask what support is most useful.
What train rides are near the Lake Whatcom Railway?
The Great Northern and Cascade Railway in Skykomish is about 76 miles away, the Issaquah Valley Trolley about 78 miles, and the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie about 79 miles, which runs trains on a regular weekend schedule. The Seattle Center Monorail exhibits are about 71 miles away.
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