Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien, Washington

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Burien, Washington · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Rail preservation groupResearch archive; no public hours posted, contact before visiting

The Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive is a climate-controlled home in downtown Burien for the records of the region's railroads, from ledgers and maps to timetables and photographs, shared with researchers around the world online.

  • Formed in 2010
  • Three-floor building in downtown Burien
  • Climate-controlled storage
  • Maps, ledgers, timetables and photos
  • Collections searchable online

Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive at a glance

Hours
Not posted online; contact the archive before visiting
Admission
Not posted online; ask when you contact the archive
Seasonal events
Presentations and meetings, some with Highline Heritage Museum
Best for
Researchers, rail historians and genealogists
Best ages
Teens and adults

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive? 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 Burien.

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.

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

Rail heritage groups pooling their paper under one roof

The Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive, known as PNRA, was formed in 2010 by a consortium of nonprofit Railroad Heritage Organizations. That same year the group bought a three-floor building in downtown Burien, giving its members affordable, climate-controlled space to keep the histories of their railroads safe.

Its mission is to be a permanent home for railroad records from the greater Pacific Northwest and to make them available over the internet. PNRA runs research websites for its member organizations, which act as the archive's front door for people who cannot visit in person. The archive also asks the public for help: if you know of a family holding a railroad collection that might be thrown away, PNRA wants to hear about it before that happens. Its work is supported in part by 4Culture.

What the archive holds

This is a working archive rather than a display museum. The collections are paper and photographs: company ledgers, maps, railroad timetables and photo collections preserved by the member groups. Much of it can be explored through PNRA's research websites and online catalog. The archive does not post walk-in hours, so if you hope to see material in person, contact the staff first.

Don’t miss

  1. The research websitesPNRA manages websites for its member rail heritage organizations, so you can search their collections from home.
  2. In-person presentationsThe archive hosts meetings and presentations through the year, some with the Highline Heritage Museum.

Best for older students and researchers

There are no trains to climb here. The archive suits older students working on a history project, model railroaders researching a prototype, and families tracing a relative who worked for a railroad. Younger train fans will have more fun at one of the operating railroads or museums nearby.

Plan your visit: tips for Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive

  • Email info@pnrarchive.org or call 206-402-6519 before visiting.
  • Start with the archive's online research websites; much of the material is searchable from home.
  • Mail packages to PNRA c/o Water District 49, 415 SW 153rd Street, Burien, not to the archive building.
  • If you know of a railroad collection at risk of being discarded, tell PNRA.

Run by the region's rail heritage groups

PNRA is a nonprofit owned and operated by a consortium of nonprofit Railroad Heritage Organizations, with support in part from 4Culture. The most useful thing many visitors can do is help it find collections: old railroad photos, timetables and paperwork sitting in an attic are exactly what it exists to save.

Trains to see near Burien

For something kids can ride, the Issaquah Valley Trolley is about 15 miles away and the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie is about 24 miles. In Tacoma, about 16 miles south, the Washington State History Museum has railroad exhibits. See all train museums in Washington for more.

Every train museum in Washington

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Before his trip, Rally packs a turtle toy, a green bone and a yellow ball, because those are the things that matter to him. I think about that when I read about this archive saving old timetables, maps and family photos that might otherwise get tossed out. What we choose to keep says who we are. My mom's idea for this book was one of those things I knew I had to keep, which I write about on our story page.

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 Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

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.

Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive: 20 common questions

What is the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

The Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive, or PNRA, is a nonprofit research archive in downtown Burien, Washington that preserves railroad records from the greater Pacific Northwest. It stores ledgers, maps, timetables and photographs in a climate-controlled building and shares many collections online through research websites run for its member rail heritage groups.

Where can I find Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive photos?

Start online. PNRA manages research websites for its member rail heritage organizations, and these give worldwide access to many of the photo collections kept at the archive, along with an online catalog. The archive's Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts also share images. For a specific photo request, email info@pnrarchive.org.

Where is the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive located?

The archive is at 425 SW 153rd St in downtown Burien, Washington 98166, in a three-floor building the organization bought in 2010. Because it is a research facility without posted public hours, contact the archive before you drive over to make sure someone can meet you.

What are the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive hours?

The archive does not post public hours online. It is a working research archive rather than a walk-in museum, so the best approach is to email info@pnrarchive.org, call 206-402-6519, or use the contact form on its website to arrange a visit or ask a research question.

Does it cost anything to visit the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

The archive does not post admission or research fees online. Ask when you contact the staff at info@pnrarchive.org or 206-402-6519. Much of the material can be explored free through the research websites PNRA runs for its member groups.

Is the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive a train museum?

Not in the usual sense. There are no locomotives or train rides here. PNRA is an archive that keeps the paper and photographic history of Northwest railroads, such as ledgers, maps and timetables, safe in climate-controlled storage. Families looking for trains to climb on should look at the operating railroads and museums nearby.

When was the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive founded?

PNRA was formed in 2010 by a group of nonprofit Railroad Heritage Organizations, and it bought its three-floor Burien building that same year. The idea was to give these groups affordable space to own and operate a shared archive and preserve the histories of their railroads.

Who runs the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

The archive is owned and operated by a consortium of nonprofit Railroad Heritage Organizations, which PNRA calls its member groups. It is supported in part by 4Culture. Each member organization's collections are housed in the Burien building and many are shared through dedicated research websites.

What kinds of records does the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive keep?

The archive stores old railroad ledgers, maps, timetables and photographs. Its stated mission is to be a permanent home for railroad records from the greater Pacific Northwest and to make them available over the internet, so researchers anywhere can use them.

Can I research a railroad or a family member at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

That is what the archive is for. Begin with the online research websites and catalog, then email info@pnrarchive.org or call 206-402-6519 with your question. Staff can tell you whether the records you need are in the collection and how to arrange access.

How do I donate a railroad collection to the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

Contact PNRA directly. The archive says it wants to hear about railroad collections that need a new home, especially ones whose owners or families do not know the archive exists, before they are discarded. Email info@pnrarchive.org or call 206-402-6519 to start the conversation.

Where should I mail a package to the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

Packages go to a different address than the building. The archive asks that mailed packages be addressed to PNRA c/o Water District 49, 415 SW 153rd Street, Burien, WA 98166. Call 206-402-6519 first if you are sending something large or fragile.

Does the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive host events?

Yes. PNRA hosts in-person meetings and presentations through the year, and some are held in partnership with the Highline Heritage Museum. Dates are posted on the archive's Events and Presentations page and shared on its Facebook page.

Is the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive good for kids?

It is best for older students and adults with a research goal. There is nothing to climb or ride, and the collections are documents and photographs. A teen working on a history project or a model railroader could get a lot out of it, but younger children will enjoy a nearby trolley or railway museum more.

Is the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive wheelchair accessible?

The archive does not post accessibility details online. The building has three floors, so if you need step-free access, ask about it when you arrange your visit by calling 206-402-6519 or emailing info@pnrarchive.org. Much of the collection can also be searched online, which may save a trip.

Is there parking at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

The archive does not list parking details online. It is in downtown Burien on SW 153rd Street, so plan for street or nearby lot parking and ask the staff about the best option when you confirm your visit.

Is the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive on social media?

Yes. PNRA has a Facebook page with several thousand followers, plus Instagram and YouTube accounts. These are good places to see items from the collections, catch news about presentations, and send a quick message. Search for Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive on each platform to find them.

How can I support the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

Help it find collections that need saving, attend its presentations, and follow and share its work online. The archive does not post membership or donation details on its main pages, so contact info@pnrarchive.org to ask how individuals can contribute or volunteer.

How do I contact the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

Email info@pnrarchive.org, call 206-402-6519, or use the message form on the Contact page of the archive's website. You can also write to the archive by mail. Staff say they will respond to messages sent through the form.

What train museums are near the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive?

The Seattle Center Monorail is about 11 miles from Burien, the Issaquah Valley Trolley about 15 miles, and the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma about 16 miles. The Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie is about 24 miles away and has trains families can ride.

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