After years of planning and consultation with the community and visitors, the Northwest Railway Museum is poised to complete its Master Plan with the addition of the Roundhouse Exhibit Gallery and Turntable—an outdoor exhibition—and an inclusive learning space that caters to the diverse needs of the Museum’s visitors. This campus expansion will be constructed immediately behind the existing Train Shed Exhibit Hall.
Inside this 2-story, 35,000-square-foot facility, visitors will experience an engaging, multidimensional story that highlights the railway’s role in the region’s cultural, economic, and environmental history. The experience will culminate in exhibits that showcase how railways continue to influence our daily lives, inviting visitors to celebrate the technological and industrial advancements they have brought and thoughtfully reflect on their broad and varied cultural impacts.
Visitor experiences will include:
- A railway turntable with tracks leading to the Roundhouse featuring Pacific Northwest artifacts
- New exhibit spaces showcasing eight landmark railway artifacts
- Multi-use classroom and program spaces, children’s learning areas, and galleries
- A 5,000-square-foot HO scale working model railway exhibit
Artifacts
More than eight significant artifacts will be rehabilitated during this campaign. The work required to research, rebuild, and repair each of these artifacts is a testament to the craftsmanship and skill performed by Museum professionals and volunteers. The rehabilitation is sequenced to accommodate the Train Shed space, environmental needs, and construction.
- 1908 Puget Sound Electric Railway Interurban Car 523
- 1950 Spokane, Portland & Seattle Pullman Sleeping Car 701
- 1998 Amtrak Cascades Bistro 7304
- 1907 Northern Pacific Railway Rotary Snowplow 10
- 1943 Plymouth Locomotive 463 used to build, then fund Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway
- 1908 Spokane, Portland & Seattle Steam Crane with Flat Car X-5
- 1913 Cafe Observation Car 1590
Campus and Infrastructure Improvements
Another signature part of this campaign is campus improvements – including updating all five signalized rail crossings, reroofing the historic Snoqualmie Depot, and replacing the Depot Platform. Enhancements to the Signal Garden will feature Pacific Northwest native landscapes, and the expansion of the Railway History Campus parking area will accommodate an additional 35 vehicles, providing additional accessible spaces. Solar panels will be installed on the Train Shed at the Railway History Campus, along with extra technology, security upgrades, and fencing.
Join us aboard the Tracks to the Future
Tracks to the Future is a 7-year project divided into 5 phases. Launched in 2024, the campaign’s private fundraising phase began in 2025, and we hope to complete fundraising by 2032 with private philanthropic and government grants. Construction and extensive artifact restoration will be ongoing as resources become available. The project is scheduled for completion in 2033.
Help the Museum share history with all. To learn more about the Tracks to the Future Campaign and how to financially support the project, please don’t hesitate to contact either Richard Anderson or Erin McCallum at ErinM@TrainMuseum.org to schedule a time to discuss further or arrange a tour.
If you would like to donate online, please visit the Museum’s donation page.
