Ride the Train
Please join us for Santa Train the first four weekends after Thanksgiving! During this two-hour event, guests board the Museum's railway at the North Bend Depot for a 20 minute, 3.5-mile trip to Snoqualmie. Once in Snoqualmie, they enter the restored and seasonally decorated 1890-built Snoqualmie Depot for a visit with Santa Claus. Children receive a small gift from Santa. Participants step on to the Museum's restored railway kitchen car for refreshments where they have a cookies and choice of hot cocoa or coffee. There is a little bit of time to visit local shops and attractions before boarding the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad for the return trip to North Bend.
Thank you for joining us for the 2019 season, regularly scheduled trains ran Saturdays and Sundays, April through October. Tickets for the Regularly Scheduled Trains were available day of via walk up purchase from ticket agents at the depots or via advance purchase.
For more information about the 2020 season, departure times and pricing click below.
The Program
Celebrate over 50 years of public programs at the Northwest Railway Museum.
Ride the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad aboard historic railroad coaches through the Upper Snoqualmie Valley along 5.5 miles of the original 1880s Seattle Lake Shore and Eastern Railway. Standard schedule train excursions depart from both the Snoqualmie Depot and the North Bend Depot for a 2 hour round trip including a 30 minute stopover at the Railway History Center for visit in the Train Shed Exhibit Building. Following their Train Shed visit, passengers reboard the train and continue west to the top of Snoqualmie Falls with views of the scenic lower river valley. The train then goes back east with a stop at the Snoqualmie Depot. Passengers may disembark at any stop to visit and catch a later train back to their depot.Trains operate on Saturdays and Sundays, April through October. The Snoqualmie Valley Railroad is also the centerpiece for many Museum Programs including Mother's and Father's Day Weekend Excursions, the Running Trades Volunteer Program, School Train, Santa Train, and Day Out With ThomasTM.
2020 Standard Schedule
Standard Schedule
Departing Saturdays & Sundays, April through October*Board in Snoqualmie, North Bend, Railway History Center or Snoqualmie Falls PSE Hydroelectric Museum**. Return on any train. Round trip: approx. one hour and forty-five minutes. Includes a stop at the Railway History Center.
Snoqualmie Depot
38625 SE King St, Snoqualmie
11:00 AM
1:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:20 PM (to Falls & back only)
North Bend Depot
205 E McClellan St, North Bend
11:25 AM
1:25 PM
3:25 PM (no return to North Bend)
Railway History Center
9320 Stone Quarry Rd, Snoqualmie
12:10 PM
2:10 PM
4:10 (to Falls & back only)
Snoqualmie Falls PSE Hydroelectric Museum**
12:35 PM
2:35 PM
**Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day
Standard Round Trip Fares
Adult $20.00
Senior (62+) $16.00
Child (2-12) $10.00
Children under the age of 2 are free!
* No passes, discounts, coupons, groups rates, or free member rides accepted during Mother's and Father's Day Weekends, Railroad Days Weekend, Day Out With Thomas, Halloween Train or Santa Train.
**Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day
The Museum accepts cash, checks with a western Washington address and phone number, Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Sorry, prices are subject to change without notice.
Group Discounts
The Northwest Railway Museum is pleased to extend a discount of 10% to groups of 10 or more when one person pays for all. Groups of 20 or more that book and pay for their tickets at least one week in advance are entitled to a 20% discount. Sorry, group discounts may not be combined with any other offer.
Mothers ride free with a paying child on Mother's Day Weekend2019 & 2020 Special Events
2019 Special Events
Santa Train®* - The four weekends after Thanksgiving, 2019**! Ride the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad to visit Santa Claus inside the Snoqualmie Depot. Santa Train sells out every year, so get your tickets early. Members receive early notice and a discount. Advanced purchase required.
*BLACKOUT DATES: No passes, discounts, coupons, groups rates, passes or free member rides accepted.
Tentative 2020 Special Events
Easter Weekend - Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, 2020.
Wine Train* - Saturdays, April 25, May 16, June 13, August 8, September 12, October 3, 2020. Advanced purchase required.
Mother's Day Special* - Mom rides free with a paying child of any age on Mother's Day Weekend, May 9-10, 2020!
Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday thru Monday, May 23-25, 2020. To commemorate the holiday, the museum offers a $5 roundtrip train fare to anyone with a valid current military ID card & their dependant family members.
Father's Day Weekend* - Dad rides free with a paying child of any age on Father's Day Weekend, June 20-21, 2020!
Independence Day Weekend - Saturday and Sunday, July 4-5, 2020.
Day Out With Thomas* - Friday to Sunday, July 10-12 and July 18-19, 2020. Regular excursions will be suspended to allow for this special children's event featuring the well-known locomotive. Sorry, the Snoqualmie Depot and grounds will not be accessible to visitors without tickets. Members have an opportunity to purchase tickets in advance by mail (beginning in the spring). Please note that regular trains do not operate during this event. Advanced purchase required.
North Bend Festival at Mt. Si - Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9, 2020.
Snoqualmie Railroad Days* - Saturday and Sunday, August 15-16, 2020.
Labor Day Weekend- Saturday thru Monday, September 5-7, 2020.
Grandparent's Grand Excursion - A grandparent rides free with a paying grandchild of any age on Grandparent's Day Weekend, September 12-13, 2020.
Halloween Train* - Saturdays and Sundays, October 17-18, 24-25, and 31, 2020. Halloween Storytelling Train, purchase tickets the day of, regular train ride admission includes all activities.
Santa Train®* - The four weekends after Thanksgiving, 2019! November 28-29, December 5-6, 12-13 and 18**-19, 2020. Ride the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad to visit Santa Claus inside the Snoqualmie Depot. Santa Train sells out every year, so get your tickets early. Members receive early notice and a discount. Advanced purchase required.
*BLACKOUT DATES: No passes, discounts, coupons, groups rates, passes or free member rides accepted.
** Victorian Santa Train operates on Friday, December 20, 2019 and December 18, 2020.
Santa Train®* - The four weekends after Thanksgiving, 2019**! Ride the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad to visit Santa Claus inside the Snoqualmie Depot. Santa Train sells out every year, so get your tickets early. Members receive early notice and a discount. Advanced purchase required.
*BLACKOUT DATES: No passes, discounts, coupons, groups rates, passes or free member rides accepted.
Tentative 2020 Special Events
Easter Weekend - Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, 2020.
Wine Train* - Saturdays, April 25, May 16, June 13, August 8, September 12, October 3, 2020. Advanced purchase required.
Mother's Day Special* - Mom rides free with a paying child of any age on Mother's Day Weekend, May 9-10, 2020!
Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday thru Monday, May 23-25, 2020. To commemorate the holiday, the museum offers a $5 roundtrip train fare to anyone with a valid current military ID card & their dependant family members.
Father's Day Weekend* - Dad rides free with a paying child of any age on Father's Day Weekend, June 20-21, 2020!
Independence Day Weekend - Saturday and Sunday, July 4-5, 2020.
Day Out With Thomas* - Friday to Sunday, July 10-12 and July 18-19, 2020. Regular excursions will be suspended to allow for this special children's event featuring the well-known locomotive. Sorry, the Snoqualmie Depot and grounds will not be accessible to visitors without tickets. Members have an opportunity to purchase tickets in advance by mail (beginning in the spring). Please note that regular trains do not operate during this event. Advanced purchase required.
North Bend Festival at Mt. Si - Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9, 2020.
Snoqualmie Railroad Days* - Saturday and Sunday, August 15-16, 2020.
Labor Day Weekend- Saturday thru Monday, September 5-7, 2020.
Grandparent's Grand Excursion - A grandparent rides free with a paying grandchild of any age on Grandparent's Day Weekend, September 12-13, 2020.
Halloween Train* - Saturdays and Sundays, October 17-18, 24-25, and 31, 2020. Halloween Storytelling Train, purchase tickets the day of, regular train ride admission includes all activities.
Santa Train®* - The four weekends after Thanksgiving, 2019! November 28-29, December 5-6, 12-13 and 18**-19, 2020. Ride the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad to visit Santa Claus inside the Snoqualmie Depot. Santa Train sells out every year, so get your tickets early. Members receive early notice and a discount. Advanced purchase required.
*BLACKOUT DATES: No passes, discounts, coupons, groups rates, passes or free member rides accepted.
** Victorian Santa Train operates on Friday, December 20, 2019 and December 18, 2020.
Tips for a More Enjoyable Ride
1. Arrive early to purchase your tickets and enjoy the downtown. This way there is no rush to find parking and get tickets before the train leaves at its departure time.
2. Before boarding the train check out the restroom at the depot. There are no restrooms on the train, but there will be another opportunity at our half hour stop at the Railway History Center.
3. Dress for the weather. If it is a cool, rainy day, bring jackets. If it is a warm, sunny day, dress in layers to stay cool if its too warm. Bring an extra bottle of water for the ride.
4. Do the little ones need a snack? Bring a picnic and eat at the picnic tables at the Railway History Center. No snack, we got your back! Snacks are available across the street from the depot or our ticket agent at the Railway History Center carries bottled water and light snacks.
5. Bring a camera. There are some amazing views and neat artifacts along the way.
6. Turn off the phone and have fun! Take the time to enjoy what it might have been like to ride a train a hundred years ago.
2. Before boarding the train check out the restroom at the depot. There are no restrooms on the train, but there will be another opportunity at our half hour stop at the Railway History Center.
3. Dress for the weather. If it is a cool, rainy day, bring jackets. If it is a warm, sunny day, dress in layers to stay cool if its too warm. Bring an extra bottle of water for the ride.
4. Do the little ones need a snack? Bring a picnic and eat at the picnic tables at the Railway History Center. No snack, we got your back! Snacks are available across the street from the depot or our ticket agent at the Railway History Center carries bottled water and light snacks.
5. Bring a camera. There are some amazing views and neat artifacts along the way.
6. Turn off the phone and have fun! Take the time to enjoy what it might have been like to ride a train a hundred years ago.
Notes
- Regular train excursions are suspended during Day Out With ThomasTM, 2019. Grounds are closed to non-ticket holders.
- Train schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Please, no smoking, food, drinks or pets on the train.
Visitors prepare to board the train during the annual Railroad Days festival.
Accessibility
Northwest Railway Museum coaches are authentic and historically accurate. They feature limited doorway widths and steep stairwells not fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Our train crews are always prepared to assist you when entraining or detraining. However train crews are not permitted to lift or carry passengers on or off the train, but we do have a hand-crank wheel chair lift for wheelchair bound passengers. Please advise the train crew about your special needs prior to boarding so they may best meet your requirements.
