Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Snoqualmie, Washington · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesDepot open daily; trains run on weekends, February to September, plus holiday events

The Northwest Railway Museum preserves and runs a working railway in the Snoqualmie Valley, from the 1890 Snoqualmie Depot to a 25,000 square foot Train Shed Exhibit Hall, to show how the railway changed the Pacific Northwest.

  • 1890 Snoqualmie Depot, free to visit
  • 5.5 miles of historic track
  • 25,000 sq. ft. Train Shed Exhibit Hall
  • Chapel Car 5 Messenger of Peace
  • Weekend train rides February to September
  • Free Train Shed admission on Wednesdays

Northwest Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
Snoqualmie Depot 10 am to 5 pm daily; Train Shed Exhibit Hall 11 am to 4 pm (Wed to Mon April to December; Fri to Mon late January to March)
Admission
Depot and grounds free; Train Shed Exhibit Hall $5 to $10, included with a train ride, free on Wednesdays through December 16
Train rides
Saturdays February to March and Saturdays and Sundays April to September, from North Bend (10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm) and Snoqualmie (11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm)
Seasonal events
Halloween Train, North Pole Limited, Yuletide Express, Day Out With Thomas, Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train, Veterans Day Food Drive Train Ride
Plan for
Half a day for a train ride plus the Train Shed
Best for
Families who want a real train ride and rail fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12
Accessibility
The museum has an accessibility page on its website; check it or call before you go.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Northwest Railway Museum? 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 Snoqualmie.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A Victorian depot, a valley railroad and the idea that the railway changed everything

The museum's story starts at the Snoqualmie Depot, built in 1890 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a City of Snoqualmie and King County Landmark, and the museum describes it as the longest continuously operating train depot in Washington. The old gentlemen's waiting room and freight room now hold railroad history exhibits, while the former ladies' waiting room has become the Depot Bookstore. Some people still know the building simply as the Snoqualmie Depot Museum.

From that depot the museum grew into what it calls the region's largest railway museum, with 5.5 miles of historic track and two campuses. Its organizing idea is simple and big: the railway changed settlement patterns, food, trade, industry and leisure across the Pacific Northwest, and the collection is used to show how.

The second campus, the Northwest Railway Museum's Railway History Campus on Stone Quarry Road, is where much of the newer work has happened. It holds the 25,000 square foot Train Shed Exhibit Hall, an 8,200 square foot Conservation and Restoration Workshop, and the Railway Education Center with its archival vault, library and classroom. A Roundhouse Exhibit Gallery is under way. Tripadvisor's listing puts the collection at more than 70 locomotives, passenger and freight cars and specialized pieces.

Full-time staff and volunteers share the restoration work in the workshop, stabilizing and rebuilding locomotives, coaches, freight cars and maintenance vehicles. The museum invites volunteers to learn from skilled craftspeople there, which is how much of the collection gets its second life.

Two depots, a train ride and a train shed to explore

Most visits begin at the Snoqualmie Depot on SE King Street, which is free and open every day. Look through the exhibits inside, browse the bookstore, and walk the grounds, where train cars and large artifacts are displayed outdoors. On weekends, trains on the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad board here and at the North Bend Depot, a community space owned by the City of North Bend that serves museum passengers on weekends.

A train ride includes entry to the Train Shed Exhibit Hall at the Railway History Campus. Inside, locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and maintenance-of-way cars sit under cover, about a third of the large collection, alongside the award-winning exhibit Wellington Remembered, The Railroad Built the Pacific Northwest, and displays about the lives of railway workers. Researchers can book time in the library and archives by appointment.

Don’t miss

  1. Snoqualmie Depot (1890)A National Register landmark and, by the museum's account, the longest continuously operating train depot in Washington, with exhibits and a bookstore inside.
  2. Chapel Car 5 Messenger of PeaceA restored chapel car in the Train Shed, and the place where Santa greets children during the North Pole Limited.
  3. Wellington RememberedAn award-winning exhibit in the Train Shed Exhibit Hall, also offered as one of the museum's online exhibits.
  4. White River Lumber Co. Caboose 001One of the restored pieces displayed indoors at the Train Shed Exhibit Hall.
  5. Canadian Pacific Railway #25Sheltered in the Train Shed while it waits for restoration, a reminder of the work still ahead for the crews.
  6. Conservation and Restoration WorkshopAn 8,200 square foot shop where staff and volunteers stabilize, restore and rebuild locomotives and cars.

Story time, Santa, costumes and a real train ride

The train ride is the main event for little ones: departures leave North Bend and Snoqualmie several times a day on ride weekends, and the ticket also covers the Train Shed Exhibit Hall. The calendar lists a Story Time at 11 am in the Train Shed on select days, often paired with free admission days, which suits preschoolers well.

Holiday trains are built for families. The Halloween Train encourages costumes for all ages and adds cider pressing and apple coring, and both Christmas trains give every child a gift from Santa. Children age 2 and up need a ticket on the holiday trains. The free depot and its outdoor cars make an easy stop for toddlers on any day of the week.

Plan your visit: tips for Northwest Railway Museum

  • Buy train tickets in advance; the museum recommends it.
  • Your train ticket includes Train Shed Exhibit Hall admission.
  • The depot is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, with limited access during Day Out With Thomas and Santa train events.
  • Free and reduced admission is available through Museums for All and the King County Library System.
  • The Train Shed and depot are at different addresses, so plan the short drive between them.

Holidays are the museum's busiest season. The Halloween Train runs on October weekends with hot cider, cider press demonstrations, live music and costumes. After Thanksgiving, the two-hour North Pole Limited leaves North Bend for the Railway History Campus, where families get cookies, cocoa, crafts and a visit with Santa in Chapel Car 5, and the shorter Yuletide Express climbs from Snoqualmie to the top of Snoqualmie Falls with Santa aboard. For more ideas, see our guides to Halloween train rides in Washington and Christmas train rides in Washington.

Staff, volunteers and community partners

A team of full-time staff and volunteers runs the trains, staffs the depot and restores equipment in the workshop, and the museum welcomes new volunteers to learn alongside skilled craftspeople. Visitors can help by riding the train, shopping at the Depot Bookstore, donating online, or bringing food to the Veterans Day food drive ride, which supports the Snoqualmie Food Bank.

More rail stops around the Snoqualmie Valley

The Issaquah Valley Trolley is only about 10 miles away, and the Great Northern & Cascade Railway in Skykomish is about 25 miles away. For another scenic train, the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad is about 56 miles away. See every train museum in Washington to plan a longer trip.

Every train museum in Washington

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The Yuletide Express climbs to the top of Snoqualmie Falls for a winter view of the river valley, and I can just see a little nose pressed to that glass. In our book, Rally looks out an arched window at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. Different view, same wide-eyed wonder. If your kids want to color their own train window, our coloring pages are free to print.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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

Work or volunteer at Northwest Railway Museum?

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

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Northwest Railway Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Northwest Railway Museum?

The Northwest Railway Museum is in Snoqualmie, Washington, and has several sites. The historic Snoqualmie Depot is at 38625 SE King Street, Snoqualmie, WA 98065. The Railway History Campus with the Train Shed Exhibit Hall is on Stone Quarry Road in Snoqualmie, and trains also board at the North Bend Depot, 205 E McClellan Street, North Bend.

What is at the Snoqualmie Depot?

The Snoqualmie Depot is the museum's 1890 station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside you will find railroad history exhibits in the former gentlemen's waiting room and freight room, and the Depot Bookstore in the old ladies' waiting room. Train cars and large artifacts are displayed outside. Visiting the depot and grounds is free.

What are the Northwest Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the Snoqualmie Depot and Bookstore are open 10 am to 5 pm every day, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The Train Shed Exhibit Hall is open 11 am to 4 pm, Wednesday to Monday from April to December and Friday to Monday from late January through March. Check trainmuseum.org for changes.

How much does the Northwest Railway Museum cost?

The Snoqualmie Depot and its grounds are free. As of October 2026, admission to the Train Shed Exhibit Hall is $5 to $10, and it is included when you buy a train ride. The Train Shed is free on Wednesdays through December 16, and the museum takes part in Museums for All and King County Library System programs.

How do I buy Northwest Railway Museum train tickets?

Buy train tickets online through trainmuseum.org, choosing either the North Bend Depot or the Snoqualmie Depot as your boarding point. The museum recommends buying in advance, and holiday trains like the North Pole Limited require a ticket for everyone age 2 and up. For ticket questions, email info@TrainMuseum.org or call (425) 888-3030 ext. 7202.

Is there a Northwest Railway Museum promo code?

The museum does not post promo codes on its website. The best ways to save are the free Wednesdays at the Train Shed Exhibit Hall, the free depot, and the Museums for All and King County Library System free and reduced admission programs. Ask Visitor Services at (425) 888-3030 ext. 7202 about any current offers.

When does the Northwest Railway Museum train ride run?

As of October 2026, regular train excursions run on Saturdays from February through March and on Saturdays and Sundays from April through September. Trains leave North Bend at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm, and Snoqualmie at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. Holiday trains run on their own fall and winter schedule.

Can I board at the North Bend Depot?

Yes. The North Bend Depot at 205 E McClellan Street is a boarding point for Northwest Railway Museum trains on weekends. The City of North Bend owns and operates it as a community space. The North Pole Limited Christmas train starts from North Bend, so check which depot your ticket lists before you leave home.

Does the Northwest Railway Museum have Day Out With Thomas?

Day Out With Thomas appears on the museum's event calendar, and the depot notes limited access during Day Out With Thomas events, so it has been part of the museum's schedule. Dates for the next visit from Thomas are not posted yet. Watch the calendar on trainmuseum.org or the museum's Facebook page for the announcement.

Does the Northwest Railway Museum have a Santa train?

Yes, two. As of October 2026, the North Pole Limited runs Saturdays and Sundays from November 28 to December 20, a two-hour trip from North Bend with cookies, cocoa, crafts and Santa in Chapel Car 5. The shorter Yuletide Express runs Friday evenings in December from Snoqualmie to the top of Snoqualmie Falls with Santa aboard.

What is the Northwest Railway Museum Halloween Train?

The Halloween Train is an autumn ride with slightly spooky fun: hot cider, cider press demonstrations, live music, hands-on apple coring and costumes for all ages. As of October 2026, it runs October 10 and 11, 17 and 18, 24 and 25, 31, and November 1, leaving from both North Bend and Snoqualmie on the regular schedule.

What else is happening at the Northwest Railway Museum?

Beyond the holiday trains, the calendar includes Story Time at 11 am in the Train Shed, free admission days, the Snoqualmie Valley Wine Train for adults 21 and over, and a Veterans Day Food Drive Train Ride on November 11 where a food or cash donation earns a ride. The calendar on trainmuseum.org is filled in a few months ahead.

What is in the Train Shed Exhibit Hall?

The Train Shed Exhibit Hall is a 25,000 square foot building holding locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and maintenance-of-way cars. It houses the award-winning Wellington Remembered, The Railroad Built the Pacific Northwest, and exhibits on railway workers, plus Chapel Car 5 Messenger of Peace and White River Lumber Co. Caboose 001. About a third of the large collection is kept here.

Where do you park for the Northwest Railway Museum?

The museum does not post parking details online. The depot is on SE King Street in downtown Snoqualmie, and the Train Shed is on Stone Quarry Road, so you may drive between them. Call Visitor Services at (425) 888-3030 ext. 7202 for parking advice, especially on holiday train days.

How long should I plan at the Northwest Railway Museum?

Plan on about half a day if you ride the train and visit the Train Shed Exhibit Hall. The North Pole Limited alone is a two-hour outing. A stop at the free Snoqualmie Depot, with its exhibits, bookstore and outdoor cars, can take under an hour if you are short on time.

Is the Northwest Railway Museum good for toddlers?

Yes. The free depot with outdoor train cars is an easy first stop, and the train ride gives little ones the real thing. Story Time at the Train Shed suits preschoolers, and the holiday trains include crafts, treats and Santa. Children under 2 ride holiday trains free, but everyone 2 and up needs a ticket.

Can I book a birthday party at the Northwest Railway Museum?

The museum's website has a Parties and Rentals section under Events and Programs, but no party package details are posted. Email info@TrainMuseum.org or call (425) 888-3030 ext. 7202 to ask about birthday options, group tickets and space at the Railway History Campus.

Does the Northwest Railway Museum offer school field trips?

Yes. The School Train Field Trip includes a train ride, tour and activities for $10 per passenger, with a 25-person minimum, on select Thursdays March to June and in October. The Trackside Field Trip skips the train for $5 per person. Educators and one chaperone per 10 students are free. Email info@TrainMuseum.org to book.

Can I visit the Northwest Railway Museum library and archives?

Yes, by appointment. The Railway Education Center at the Railway History Campus holds the museum's library and archives: engineering records, photographs, blueprints, timetables, maps, oral histories and union meeting minutes. The public can use the non-circulating collection in a reading room. Email info@TrainMuseum.org to arrange a visit.

What train museums are near the Northwest Railway Museum?

The Issaquah Valley Trolley is about 10 miles away, the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien about 24 miles, and the Great Northern and Cascade Railway in Skykomish about 25 miles. The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad in Elbe is about 56 miles away, an easy pairing for a train weekend in western Washington.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
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